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The family of Slipper Limpets or Boat Shells is one of the 
most numerous on our coast. These clumsy half-decked boats 
live wherever they find a shell, stone or 
bit of wood to cling to. ‘The largest is 
Crepidula fornicata Linn. The curved 
beak (all that is left of what was a spire 
in its ancestors) is quite at the edge of 
the shell. The back is convex, white, 
speckled with reddish, and covered with 
a very thin yellowish epidermis. It is 
= white inside, more or less clouded with 
Crepidulafornicata- + purplish-brown. ~The white deck has a 
wavy edge, and a decided notch on the left side. They live 
in all sorts of places; upon old Fulgur shells especia!ly ; 
and I have often seen individuals with a taste for travel on 
Horse-shoe crabs. 
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Living inside of all sorts and conditions 
of shells, often sharing these shelters with 
Hermit Crabs and its own brethren of the 
preceding species, we find the flat Crepidula 
plana Say. It is snowy-white, flat or con- 
cave outside, according to the curvature of 
its adopted home. The wonder is where such 
a flattened creature finds room for its organs 
Crepidula plana. at all. The deck is convex, its edge wavy, 
like that of Crepidula fornicata. 
Another Boat Shell is found on our coast, Crepidula if 
ShateaSay. This is smaller than ©. fornicata. It is oval, 
~¢onvex, dark colored, about ahalfinch long. The apex forms 
