Lan^arck's Genera of Shells, 233 



1. Laplysia*. 



Body creeping, obrlong, convex, bordered on each side by a 

 wide mantle^ which, when at rest, covers the back. Head 

 supported by a neck; four tentacula, two superior, auriform t, 

 two near the mouth. Eyes sessile, in front of the auriform 

 tentacula. Scutcheon dorsal, semi-circular, subcartilaginous, 

 fixed by ond side, and covering the branchial cavity. Anus 

 behind the branchise. 



The mouth of the laplysia is cleft longitudinally, almost like 

 that of a hare, and the cavity of the stomach is lined with little 

 solid semi-cartilaginous, pyramidal bodies, which defend the 

 internal surface of that organ. The laplysia swims with ease, 

 but crawls slowly. 



Type. 'Laplysia depilansX- (Idem. Linn.) 



Body livid, .[.blackish brown ; posteriorly obtuse. Shell, a 

 dorsal, subcartilaginous scutcheon. Mediterranean. PI. VII. 

 Fig. 124; , 3 Species. 



2. Dolabella§. 



Body crawling, oblong, contracted anteriorly, posteriorly 

 dilated, and obliquely truncated by an inclined orbicular plane; 

 borders of the mantle folded closely on the back. Four semi- 

 tubular tentacula disposed in pairs. Operculum of the branchiae 

 containing ^ shell, covered by the mantle, aid situated rear 

 the posterio'r''part of the back. Anus dorsal neir the branchiae, 

 in the middlp of the orbicular facet. 



Shell obfijng, slightly arched, securiform ; contracted, thick, 

 callous, and nearly spiral on one side ; wider, flatter, and 

 thinner on the other. 



Type. Dolabella RumpJiii\\. 



Shell thick at the base, callous, subspira ; dilated at the 

 upper part, thin, wedge-shaped. Indian Ocean. PI. VII. 

 Fig. 125. 2 Species. 



* AjrXuiria, a sponge which cannot be cleaned, 



t Their form is similar lo tliat of a hare's ear. 



t Causing the hair tu fall off—axx effect attributed to i fetid whitish mqcu8, 

 which exude& when the animal is touched. It exdtes nausea, and evea 

 vomiting. 

 nhich exudes when the animal is touched. It excites nausea, and even vomiting, 



(} A little axe, or hatchet. 



II OtHumphius. 



