360 HABITS OF TEREBELLUM. 



variously situated, in the different systems. Linnaeus 

 referred it to the Butta family, that " refuge for the des- 

 titute;" Cuvier placed it between Ovulum and Oliva; 

 Lamark, between Cypraa and Ancillaria ; Ferussac, be- 

 tween Cyprcea and Terebra; Blainville between Conus 

 and Oliva; Latreille, between Oliva and Ancillaria; 

 and Rang between Mitra and Ancillaria, The animal is 

 described by me in the ' Annals and Magazine of Nat. 

 Hist.' vol. xix. p. 411. 



In its habits the animal of the Terebelhm is exceed- 

 ingly shy and timid, retracting its body into the shell on 

 the slightest alarm. It will remain stationary for a long 

 time, moving its tentacles about cautiously in every 

 direction, when, suddenly, it will roll over with its shell, 

 and continue again perfectly quiet. They appear to have 

 all the muscular energy, vivacity, and, doubtless, preda- 

 tory boldness possessed by the Strombi, which they also 

 resemble in their perfectly organized eyes, and quickness 

 of vision. Mr. Cuming informs me he has seen them 

 leap several inches from the ground, exactly as I have 

 seen the animal of Strombus gibberula. On one occasion, a 

 beautiful specimen was lost to the above-mentioned 

 enthusiastic collector, by the animal suddenly leaping into 

 the water, as he was holding and admiring it in the palm 

 of his hand. Those I kept in confinement died in a few 

 days, and appeared to be of a more delicate constitution 

 than the hardy Strombus. There appears to be a very trifling 

 muscular connexion between the animal and its shell. 



From my observations of the animal of Terebellum, 

 I should imagine the spotted variety to be perfectly 

 distinct as a species. In this, which may be called 



