246 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



[Haliotidje. 



branchial pectination, composed of a number of 

 slender and tubular foliations. Linnaeus placed 

 these animals with the Serpute ; and even in more 

 recent days they have been regarded as belonging 

 to the Annelids. 



2821.— Th« Muricatid Siliqoaru 

 (Sili'quaria mvncald). This beautiful species is a 

 native of the Indian seas. 



M. Milne Edwards, who refers to the labours of 

 M. Audouin and M. de Blainville on the Sihquariae, 

 observes that these animals were first distinguished 

 by Guettard under the name of Tenagode, and that 

 till lately they were considered as belonging to the 

 Annelids, ami closely related to the Serpula-. This, 

 he adds, is not their true situation ; they should, in 

 fact, be placed near the Vermeti, from the con- 

 formation of their tubiform shell. Indeed M. Sa- 

 vignv had been led to suspect that their affinities to 

 the SerpulsB %vere by no means so immediate as had 

 been imagined ; and M. de Blainville, advancing 

 still farther, recognised in these animals all the 

 leading and essential characters of the true mol- 

 lusks — an opinion the truth of which subsequent 

 investigations have amply confirmed. 



M. Audouin, to whom Cuvier acknowledges him- 

 self indebted for the account which he gives of 

 Siliquaria in the ' Kdgne Animal,' and who had the 

 opportunity of investigating the structure of one of 

 these mollusks, has demonstrated their affinity to 

 the Vermeti, which indeed might be presumed from 

 the characters of the spirally-contorted shell, not- 

 withstanding the fissure which interrupts the com- 

 pletion of the tube. The shell, when recent, is 

 covered with a sort of epidermis, and it is adherent, 

 by its walls, to foreign bodies, much in the manner 

 of the annelidous Serpulse, but less firmly. 



Both Vermetus and Siliquaria occur in a fossil 

 state. Of the former, M. Deshayes records eight 

 living; to which must be added Vermetus denli- 

 ferus, Vermetus Zelandicus, Vermetus giganteus, 

 Vermetus carinarius, and Vermetus roseus, de- 

 scribed by MM. Quoy and Gaimard (' Zoology of 

 the Astrolabe '). They occur at various depths from 

 the surface to twelve fathoms, in sponges, under 

 stones, on shells, and in masses of coral. 



Of the fossil Vermeti M. Deshayes records one 

 species from the tertiary deposits at Angers. The 

 form, however, occurs below the chalk. Dr. Fitton 

 enumerates six species from the upper green-sand, 

 the gault, the lower green-sand, Blackdown, and the 

 Hastings sand. With respect to Siliquaria, in the 

 last edition of Lamarck's ' Animaux sans Vertebres,' 

 six recent species are enumerated, and four fossil ; 

 of which one, the Siliquaria aiiguina (Sei-pula an- 

 guina, Linn.), is found both in a recent and fossil 

 state. 



Mr. Lea records a species, the Siliquaria Claibom- 

 ensis, from the tertiary of Alabama. 



Some species of recent Siliquariae have been found 

 imbedded in sponges. 



ORDER SCUTIBRANCHIATA. 



The order Scutibranchiata, in Cuvier's system, 

 comprehends a certain number of gastrnpodous mol- 

 lusks, exhibiting a tolerably near approximation to 

 the I'ectinibranchiata in the form and position of 

 the branchiae, and also in the general contour of the 

 body, but which are bisexual, each individual con- 

 tinuing the species. The shells are very open, 

 destitute of operculum, and the greater number not 

 at all turbinated, so that they cover these animals, 

 and particularly their branchiae, in the manner of a 

 buckler. In the structure of the heart, which is 

 traversed by a portion of the intestinal tube, they 

 resemble the majority of bivalve mollusks. 



Family HALIOTID./E, or SEA-EARS (Les Ormiers 

 of the French). 



The Hiliotidae constitute the only group of the 

 present order in which the shell presents turbina- 

 tions. The spire, however, is very compressed and 

 small ; the mouth excessively ample, and the whole 

 contour flattened. This form has caused the Hali- 

 otis to be compared to the ear of a quadruped, and 

 given origin to the title. 



In the genus Haiiotis the shell is wonderfully 

 brilliant, with the most beautiful iridescent hues, re- 

 sulting from its nacreous composition. Mingled 

 tints of purple, red, blue, and green, interchanging 

 in various lights, produce an admirable effect. The 

 general form of this splendid shell is oval, more or 

 less depressed, with a small spire, having a lateral 

 aspect posteriorly ; the aperture is as large as the 

 shell, with a continuous border ; the right border is 

 delicate ; the left or columellar border is flattened 

 enlarged, and trenchant ; along this border is a 

 series of orifices, in lineal order, as if drilled in the 

 shell. Muscular impression single, and oval in the 

 centre of the under side. 



The animal is one of the most ornamented of the 

 gastropods. All round its foot, and even over the 



mouth, there runs, at least in the more common 

 snecies, a double membrane, fringed as it were with 

 elegant foliations, and furnisbeu besides with a 

 double row of filaments. The tentacles are long, 

 and on the outside of each is a cylindrical peduncle, 

 on which the eyes are respectively placed. The 

 mantle is deeply fissured on the right side ; and the 

 vrater which is admitted through the holes of the 

 shell can, through this fissure, penetrate into the 

 branchial cavity. Along its edges there are, more- 

 over, three or four filaments, which the animal is 

 capable of protruding through these holes. The 

 mouth is a short proboscis. 



Cuvier observes that Montfort has separated from 

 Haiiotis, info a distinct genus termed Pwdollus, such 

 species as have the shell nearly circular, almost all 

 the holes obliterated, and present a deep furrow, 

 which is continued along the central part of the 

 whorls, following their direction, and is bounded 

 externally by an elevated ridge. 



This genus, Padollus, was admitted by Dr. Leach, 

 but is rejected by Mr. 0. B. Sowerby, who, in his 

 'Genera of Recent and Fossil Shells,' observes that, 

 with the exception of a few species which are com- 

 monly known by collectors as Imperforate Ear- 

 Shells, the genus Haiiotis has suftered no dismem- 

 berments. An attempt indeed, he adds, " has been 

 made by Montfort to separate from the genuine Ha- 

 liotides two or three species under the name of 

 Padollus, in which he has been followed by Leach; 

 but as far as respects general adoption this attempt 

 appears to have been as unsuccessful as it was un- 

 necessary. Not so the separation of the Imperfo- 

 rate Hahotides, which are so easily distinguished by 

 wanting the row of perforations so very character- 

 istic of the true Haiiotis." These imperforate Sea- 

 Ears form the genus Stomatia of Lamarck. The 

 shell is hollower, the spire more elevated, and the 

 row of orifices is wanting. In other respects they 

 resemble the Haliotides, which, says Cuvier, they 

 connect to certain forms of Turbo. Their moUusK 

 is much less ornamented than that of Haiiotis. 



The Haliotides are marine, and littoral in their 

 habits. Covered with their buckler-like shield, and 

 destitute of an operculum, they adhere by their 

 foot-like limpets to the surface of the rocks, near 

 the water's edge, where they creep about, feeding 

 on herbage, which, according to Lamarck, they seek 

 for, during fine summer nights, along the margin of 

 the shore. 



If we except the colder latitudes, the genus Ha- 

 iiotis is distributed through all seas ; the largest, 

 however, are natives of the hotter regions. Of 

 these some are nearly as large as a plate, and are 

 absolutely dazzling from the splendid iridescence 

 of their nacre. One species, the Haiiotis tuber- 

 culata, is common on the coasts of Southern Europe, 

 and was known to the ancients : it is found in toler- 

 able abundance round the coasts of Guernsey and 

 Jersey, and empty shells are occasionally washed 

 upon the southern shores of our island (and more 

 particularly the coast of Devonshire) after violent 

 storms. Yet Mr. Sowerby is of opinion that it can- 

 not be considered in the light of a native of those 

 shores, though it is, doubtless, of the coasts of 

 France, Spain, Italy, &c. 



2822.— The Tuberculated Sea-Ear 



(^Haiiotis tuherculatd). The animal is represented 

 crawling, with its shell uppermost, at a; the inte- 

 rior of the shell is represented at h. 



This species, which, as we have said, is common 

 at Guernsey and Jersey, is used as food ; and pro- 

 bably the other species are equally palatable. A 

 learned writer, who assures us that, as an article of 

 food, this genus is by no means to be despised, 

 adds — "We have eaten Haiiotis fuberculata, and 

 when served by a good cook it is tender and sapid. 

 The large fleshy foot, if not properly managed, is 

 apt to be tough. ' He further informs us that "the 

 people of Guernsey and Jersey ornament their 

 nouses with the shells of this species, disposing 

 them frequently in quincunx order, and placing 

 them so that their bright interior may catch the 

 rays of the sun. We have often thought that some 

 of the large and splendid intertropical species, 

 whose exterior, after removing the outer coat, takes 

 a polish almost equal to the natural brilliancy of 

 the inside, might be converted into dishes for hold- 

 ing fruit: if mounted with good taste, their inde- 

 scribable iridescence would materially add to the 

 richness of air elegant table." 



2823.— The Ribbed Sea-Ear 



(ffnliotls costata). This species is an example of 

 another form of Haiiotis, in which the surface is co- 

 vered with ribs and intervening furrows, following 

 the tournure of the shell. The outer lip is slightly 

 denticulated. 



2824.— The Ruddy Haliotis 

 {Haiiotis nibicunda). Padollus rubicundus, Montf. 

 We have already alluded to the genus Padollus, 



by Montfort, but not admitted by 



characterized 

 Sowerby. 



In the appendix to the ' Narrative of the Survey 

 of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia, 

 performed between the years 1818 and 1822, by 

 Capt. PhiHp Parker Kine, R.N.,' Mr. Gray de- 

 scribes this species, which he regards as the Pa- 

 dollus rubicundus of De MonKbrt, Padollus scala- 

 ris of Leach, and Haiiotis tricostalis of Lamarck. 

 This beautiful and large specimen, which measures 

 three inches and a half by two and a half, was 

 brought to England by Captain King, who procured 

 it upon Rottnest Island, on the west coast of Aus- 

 tralia. The three anterior holes only are open, but 

 these, as well as the others, which are closed, are 

 highly elevated, as is also the ridge following the 

 tournure of the whirls on the upper surface. 



Lamarck says that the Haiiotis tricostalis is a 

 native of the seas of Java, and gives M. Leschenault 

 as his authority. 



With respect to Stomatia, it differs, as we have 

 already said, from Haiiotis. The shell presents two 

 muscular impressions internally, seldom distinct, 

 nearly marginal, and in the open part of the shell. 



The Stomatiic are natives of the East Indian seas, 

 and those of New Holland. They have been found 

 at a depth of seven fathoms, adhering to corals. 



It is very doubtful whether any fossil species of 

 Haiiotis has been discovered (Mr. Sowerby observes 

 I that he has seen incrustations taken up from the sea 

 near the Cape of Good Hope, approximating to this 

 form) ; M.Rang, however, says, we possess one or two 

 in a Ibssil state ; and M. Deshayes records the Haii- 

 otis fuberculata as both living and fossil from Sicily. 

 Cuvier in a note('R6gne Animal,' vol. iii. p. 11) 

 says, " This genus (Haiiotis'), although the fact has 

 been contested, has certainly its analogue among 

 fossils. M. Marcel de Series has described one spe- 

 cies found inthecalcaire of Montpellier, viz. Haiiotis 

 Philberti. (Ann. des Sc. Nat., t. xii. p. xlv. f. A.)" 



Family FISSURELLIDvE (FISSURELLA, EMAR- 

 GINULA, &c.). 



M. de Blainville has constituted an order termed 

 Cervicobranchiata, for the reception of the limpets, 

 which form his family Iletifera, and for the Fissu- 

 rellae, Emarginulae, &c., forming his family Bran- 

 chifera. 



Cuvier observes that the genera Fissurella, Emar- 

 ginula, &c., which have usually been joined to the 

 limpets, belong to the Scutibranchiata. Dismem- 

 bered from the Patellae, he says, they have the shell 

 altogether symmetrical, as well as the position of 

 the heart and branchiae. 



The branchiae are two in number, large, equal, 

 and pectinated. They are in a large cavity, to 

 which leads an opening, pierced at the apex of the 

 shell, or a fissure at the anterior part of the shell, 

 admitting the efflux of the water received through 

 an anterior orifice. 



This will be more clearly understood by the de- 

 scriptions of the genera in detail, and first that 

 termed Fissurella. 



The mollusk of Fissurella is furnished with a 

 large fleshy disc underneath, as in the limpet; a 

 conical shell placed on the middle of the back, but 

 not always entirely covering it, and pierced at the 

 top with a little orifice, which serves for the pass- 

 age of the egesta and the water necessary for re- 

 spiration. This orifice conducts into the branchial 

 cavity situated at the anterior portion of the back, 

 and moreover widely opened above the head. On 

 each side of the cavity, and symmetrically disposed, 

 is a branchial pectination. The tentacles are coni- 

 cal, and the eyes are seated at their base exter- 

 nally. The sides of the foot are fringed with a row 

 of filaments. The shell is conical, and much like 

 that of a limpet; — the muscular impression on its 

 inner surface is in the form of a horse-shoe. Fig. 

 2825 represents the animal and shell of Fissurella; 

 Fig. 282G, the shell of Fissurella viewed from above. 

 The genus Fissurella is very extensively spread ; in 

 its habits it is littoral, frequenting rocky beds and 

 reefs at various depths, ranging from the surface to 

 twenty-five fathoms. 



2827. — TuK Cloudy Fissurella 

 (Fissurella nimbosa). According to M. Deshayes, 

 three distinct species have been conlbunded toge- 

 ther under the title of Fissurella nimbosa, from the 

 time of Linnifus downwards. — The present is the 

 species indicated by Lamarck, and figured by 

 Martini. 



2828. — The Roseate Fissurella 



{Fissurella rosea). The extremities of the shell in 

 this species are raised, forming a sort of canal. It 

 is a native of Guiana, &c. 



2829. — ^The Greek Fissurella 



(Fissurella grccca). The shell of this species is co- 

 nical. It is a native of the Mediterranean and the 

 Indian Ocean. 



