119 



Fam. patellid^e. 

 pa tell a.— limpet. 



Patella vulgata, Linnaeus. Limpet, — Shell oval 

 and conical in shape; apex central, or nearly so, strong, 

 sometimes with ribs diverging from the apex to the 

 margin, and sometimes quite smooth. Colours various, 

 pale greyish-yellow or greenish-brown, inside generally 

 showing the same colour through, and the markings of 

 the ribs distinctly towards the margin ; the inside of the 

 apex an opaque bluish- white, and the whole slightly po- 

 lished. 



The common limpet is found distributed all round 

 our coasts, where it is greatly valued as bait by fisher- 

 men, and Dr. Johnson calculates that in Berwick alone, 

 there is an annual consumption of no fewer than 

 11,880,000 limpets for that purpose.* At low tide, lim- 

 pets may be collected in great numbers from the rocks 

 and boulders. Some are seen safely ensconced in holes 

 or depressions made by means of the muscular action of 

 their foot or disk, which is the width of the shell; 

 others are seen creeping about in search of fresh rest- 

 ing-places, or food, with their tentacles slightly pro- 

 truding beyond the shell, till alarmed by some touch or 

 otherwise; and they adhere with wonderful strength to 

 the rocks. Wordsworth says : — 



" And should the strongest arm endeavour 

 The limpet from its rock to sever, 

 'Tis seen its loved support to clasp, 

 With such tenacity of grasp, 

 We wonder that such strength should dwell 

 In such a small and simple shell." 



On the Devonshire coast I have found them very 



* Forbes and Hanley, Brit. Mollusca, vol. ii. p. 425. 



