2 MULTI VALVES CHITON. 



The Chiton, in its natural state, resembles a well 

 known insect often met with in decayed timber, com- 

 monly called the wood-louse. Like the limpet, it is 

 usually found adhering to rocks, and requires consi- 

 derable force to detach it; it is occasionally seen rolled 

 up in the form of a ball, among sea-weed and stones. 

 It is common on our own coast, and is met with in 

 France, Spain, and the Mediterranean, where it seldom 

 exceeds an inch, but is generally much smaller, and in 

 tropical climates it sometimes occurs three or fqur 

 inches long. 



When the animal is extracted, the form of the Chi- 

 ton is not unlike a boat. The termination of the 

 valves which are seldom more or less than eight, is 

 surrounded by a scaly or rough ligament, which en- 

 ables the animal to expand and contract its shell 

 freely. 



The general appearance of the exterior of the Chi- 

 ton is dull. Its color is dark brown, but it passes 

 i nto different shades of green ; some are variegated with 

 beautiful pink, yellowish or bluish white; others 

 exhibit various markings, in lively colors. The interior 

 admits of considerable variation with regard to color, 

 but the most prevalent is bluish black or white, diver- 

 sified with yellow; also brown, green, and pink. The 

 color of the margin is sometimes yellowish brown, 

 or olive-green, with a reddish tint, but more com- 

 monly brown, approaching black. 



The margins of some of the species have very differ- 

 ent characters, which form distinctions for three divi- 



m 



