“J 
oo 
GALEOMMA. 
byssal fissure, from which a fasciculus of fine filaments issues, 
which fix the animal so firmly to whatever it is placed on, 
as to require some force to detach it; in fact, the byssus is 
discarded by beg altogether withdrawn from the slit in the 
foot whenever an attempt is made to remove the animal by 
force; but though we repeated this operation several times, 
the little creature did not appear to be injured or less lively, 
but as soon as it had crawled to some distance, we had the 
good fortune to witness the formation of a new byssus, which 
was effected by the discharge of a light green glutinous opake 
matter from the fissure at the heel of the foot, which by its 
ponderosity resolved itself into delicate fibrous filaments that 
instantly adhered to the saucer: we detached the animal 
several times, the byssus was always left, and a new one 
formed. On leaving it for the night, in a marked position, 
we found in the morning that it had detached itself by aban- 
doning the byssus, and formed another at a considerable 
distance. 
The animal marches with great vivacity, by flattening the 
valves into the form of a circular disk; it then, by the foot, 
aided by the muscular margins of the mantle, makes rapid 
progression. We are unable to speak of the branchiz, or the 
particular character of the palpi or labia, and whether they 
are distinct free pendulous palpi, or the drooping folded labia 
of the Nucule; nor is it clear, from M. Mittré’s or Dr. 
Philippi’s account, which of the two forms is the true one. 
I blame myself greatly for my imattention to these points 
when I had it in my power to verify them; they have now 
become important, either to support or impugn my reasons 
for placmg Galeomma in the family of the Arcade. But if 
even the palpi or labia should show a difference from the usual 
structure of those organs in the Arcade, it must be considered 
as an aberration of an aberrant genus; however this may be, 
abundance of facts will be adduced to justify the removal of 
Galeomma to the Arcade. My memory will not allow me to 
say anything of the siphonal apertures, or of the long anterior 
stylet. We have twice taken this beautiful creature alive in 
the coralline zone off Budleigh Salterton, Devon. 
