EGGS OF MOLLUSCA. 65 



occur in groups of ten, twenty, or more together. The 

 egg-clusters of other Univalve Mollusca are equally cu- 

 rious, but they are commonly found in deeper water, or 

 may more properly be noticed when speaking of the 

 rocks. These animals are 

 much more frequent on 

 rocky ground, and naturally 

 prefer the stability of a fixed 

 nursery, such as a rock af- 

 fords, to deposit their eggs. 

 But one species of Sea-snail 

 (Natica monilifera), with a 

 polished, light-brown shell, 

 elegantly marked with dark 

 streaks and spots, either 

 leaves its egg-cluster loose, 



in sandy places, or attaches it so carelessly that it fre- 

 quently becomes loose. These egg-clusters are really 

 very curious and elegantly-formed objects, which must 

 have often attracted the no- 

 tice of a rambler, who felt 

 puzzled to know what they 

 were. They are firmly ge- 

 latinous, or of the consist- 

 ence of gristle ; transparent, 

 or nearly so ; slightly coated 

 with fine sand, and in shape resemble the hoof of an 

 animal. When dry, they look not unlike pieces of thin 

 Scotch oaten-bread. Their surface is marked with little 

 hexagonal spaces, which define the eggs. But what is 

 most to be admired in the structure, is the form of the 



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