64 Mr. J. Alder on the Animal of Kellia rubra. 



structure disables it from procuring any food but what is floated 

 into its shell by the agency of water, can possibly live perma- 

 nently out of that element. It is true that oysters and several 

 other bivalves can endure a sort of torpid existence out of water 

 for some time when the valves are closed to prevent the evapo- 

 ration of moisture from the gills ; but Mr. Clark supposes this 

 little Kellia able to walk abroad beyond tide-marks, notwith- 

 standing the desiccation of the branchiae which the opening of 

 the valves might cause. 



Should I have succeeded in showing that the impossibility or 

 even improbability of my views being correct has not been esta- 

 blished, the following interesting letters from Mr. Cocks, de- 

 tailing a series of observations kindly undertaken at my request, 

 will go far to prove my original statement, that the anterior 

 siphon in Kellia rubra is the ingress channel through which 

 w^ater is supplied to the branchiae and to the mouth. The mode 

 by which it makes its exit has not been so satisfactorily made 

 out, but I have great confidence that my views and observations 

 on this point will also ultimately be confirmed. However that 

 may be, if one fact has been established in the animal oeconomy, 

 something has been gained. Mr. Cocks's observations appear to 

 have been more especially directed to the anterior siphon. 



I am, dear Sir, very truly yours, 



Joshua Alder. 



My Dear Sir, Falmouth, June 8, 1849. 



I have repeated the experiments on Kellia rubra and K, subor- 

 biculariSy and the results confirm my former statements*. I 

 witnessed the ingress of water, atoms, Crustacea, &c., very di- 

 stinctly into the anterior siphon of both species, and also the ex- 

 pulsion of faeces from the posterior siphon, but have failed in toto 

 to prove the current of water posteriorly in either, or the expul- 

 sion of water from the anterior siphon of K. rubra, although in 

 K. suborbicularis it takes place : viz. a K. suborbicularis that had 

 been confined several months in one of my experimental bottles, 

 was put into a watch-glass of fresh salt water. It sent forth the 

 anterior siphon : the orifice expanded, and the water, atoms, &c. 

 flowed freely into it for a few seconds : it then closed the aperture, 

 contracted in length, and with a slight convulsive jerk of the 

 animal and a partial closing of the valves, sent forth a jet of 

 water, apparently free from any admixture, through the anterior 

 tube. The operation was performed twice or thrice in a 

 minute t- 



* Mr. Cocks's first letter is not inserted, as the contents of it are sufficiently 

 illustrated in the sequel. 



t This action, according to Mr. Cocks's description, appears to take place 

 more decidedly and frequently when the animal is removed from impure 



