226 



KELLIIDJL 



beak. Tetlimya lactea, Brown, 111. Rec. Conch, p. 106, pi. xlii. 

 i. 10, 11. 



HABITAT : Fine mud in the cavities of dead bivalves 

 from deep water, and occasionally under stones at the 

 lowest verge of spring tides, sometimes occupying the 

 excavations made by other animals in hard rocks. Its 

 bathymetrical range extends to the line of soundings 

 round our coasts. The variety is not so common ; it is 

 the K. Cailliaudi of Kecluz. The typical form occurs in 

 the Clyde beds (Smith), and in the Red and Coralline 

 Crag (S. Wood). It is found in the Scandinavian seas, 

 as far north as Finmark, in 10-50 fathoms, and also 

 throughout the Atlantic and Mediterranean, the Canary 

 Isles and Sicily being its southernmost known limits. 

 The Rev. P. Carpenter has enumerated it as a Califor- 

 nian species. 



Montagu discovered this pretty shell in hard lime- 

 stone ; and he remarked that the opening of the excava- 

 tions which it inhabited was smaller than the shell, so 

 that it must have entered in a younger state, and never 

 could have got out. It is, however, not a borer. I 

 have often found it in the tortuous and deserted galle- 

 ries made by Annelids; and its shape is sometimes 

 altered or even distorted in consequence of its confined 

 position. The shells of such specimens are thicker 

 than usual, and the epidermis is in a great measure 

 abraded. Both Alder and Clark have published some 

 excellent observations as to the habits of the animal. 

 The former says it moves freely by means of its strap- 

 shaped foot, which is frequently protruded in all direc- 

 tions. Its progress is usually forward ; but sometimes 

 it crawls backwards or sideways, especially when it is 

 ascending a perpendicular surface, which it frequently 

 does for the purpose of suspending itself by its byssus. 



