204 MULTIVALVES. 



to escape the vigilance of its enemies. The mol- 

 lusks of the Chitons are of the same form as their 

 shells, the plates of which are fixed in the man- 

 tle ; the gills surround their bodies ; they breathe 

 only water, and have a fleshy foot, upon which 

 they creep. Their abode is in the sea at an in- 

 considerable depth near the shore. They fix 

 themselves for a time to rocks and stones, but 

 they can remove at pleasure. The situation and 

 formation of the valves resemble the plates which 

 constitute a suit of armour, or coat of mail ; and 

 to this resemblance the shell owes its name, 

 which is derived from %iruv, (chiton) a coat of 

 mail. 



CHITON Fascicularis. 



TUFTED CHITON. 



Specific Character. Shell with eight valves, 

 apparently smooth, but when viewed through a 

 glass, found to be rough like shagreen, except 

 on the elevated dorsal ridge ; the margin is sur- 

 rounded with tufts of whitish hairs at the junc- 

 tion of each valve, there are also two tufts in 

 front, making altogether eighteen. The colour 

 is brown or dark grey, often mottled ; the length 

 is rather less than an inch. 



The animal of this Chiton adheres to oysters 

 and other shells, and with them inhabits the 

 deep : it is also found on stones. It is not un- 

 common on the coast of Devonshire ; on those 

 of Barbary it occurs of a much larger size. 



