APLYSIAD #. 271 
of two lively examples has enabled me to supply some account 
of the beautiful respiratory plume, which, however, scarcely 
differs from that of P. membranaceus ; it proceeds from the 
anterior part of the right side, and lis in the groove of the 
disks. It consists of a gently arcuated stem, having on each 
side 20-25 oblique rami sloping posteriorly, which are finely 
ciliated, to beat the water to extract the air; the two sets of 
strands fall together from each side of the stem, forming when 
expanded an elegant plumose rouleau, tapering gently from its 
origin to a conical though obtuse posterior termination, and 
for a third of its length floating free. 
APLYSIAD. 
This most ancient and celebrated family, from the fabulous 
incidents that have for so many ages been attributed to it, 
has received a greater share of attention from the learned of all 
countries than any other mollusc. This harmless creature, 
like the inoffensive Toad, has immemorially been loathed and 
buffeted, not only by every ignorant rustic, but by the thought- 
less of superior grade; more evils than ever issued from Pan- 
dora’s box have been laid to its charge; it has had the 
character of being the ready agent of every sorceress and 
practised Canidia, to rid the world of fathers who have lived 
too long, and avenge the deadly offences of the lusts and 
passions. The distinguished zoologists of every nation and 
age have described its external and imternal configuration; I 
need only mention the elaborate anatomies of Baron Cuvier, 
M. De Blainville, and M. De Férussac; it would therefore be 
supererogatory and almost presumptuous to meddle with that 
which has received the investigations of such distinguished 
naturalists ; we use a wise discretion in only referring to their 
labours, and particularly to the memoir of M. Cuvier; this 
eminent man must always be regarded as a model of singular 
fidelity combined with admirable descriptive simplicity. 
There is only one well-authenticated British species, the 
