135 UNIVALVES. PATELLA. 



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WITHOUT A REGULAR SPIRE. 



PATELLA. — Limpet or Dish-Shell. 



Animal — a Limax: Shell univalve, subconic, shaped like 

 a bason, without a spire. 



This numerous genus contains no fewer tlian two hun- 

 dred and forty species. The variety in so great a num- 

 ber is of course immense; however, the Patellfe, with 

 some few exceptions, generally retain their leading cha- 

 racteristics throughout the genus. Their form is in- 

 variably more or less conical, but with regard to the co- 

 lors and workings, which cover their surface, they differ 

 exceedingly : some being perfectly smooth, others deeply 

 striate; many are covered with elevated tuberculate 

 rays, whilst others are strongly granulate and spinous. 

 There are some few species which are perforated in the 

 region where the beak is usually situated, these are com- 

 monly called key-hole limpets. 



Among those species which are furnished with an in- 

 ternal lip, and whose shells are entire, may be included 

 the Patella equestris, Patella Sinensis, and Patella neri- 

 toidea, some of them are rough and scaly, whilst others 

 are perfectly smooth and polished ; they are known by 

 the name of cup-and-sauccr limpets. 



