EXTERNAL SHELL. 19 



nearest the surface being the largest. The internal or nacreous 

 layer is also distinctly cellular. 



The body of the animal of Nautilus, which is applied to and 

 forms the septum, is of similar smooth and rounded form, and 

 we may reason from analogy that the arborescent lobes of the 

 septum in the fossil Ammonites, were; likewise moulded upon a 

 similarly formed body. If we seek a reason for this complication 

 of structure in Ammonites, we shall find a possible explanation 

 in the connecting siphon which, piercing the centres of the septa 

 in Nautilus, enables the animal thereby to strengthen its hold 

 upon its shell ; but piercing laterally in Ammonites, gives only 

 an excentric attachment, hi the latter case, the lobes and rami- 

 fications, applied to the corresponding parts of the animal, would 

 tighten its attachment, and partially remedy the want of the 

 central support. 



The outlines of the septa are termed sutures, and when these 

 are folded, as in Ammonites, etc., the elevations are called 

 middle*, and the depressions, l.< tin's. 'Phis frilling or folding is 

 found prineij tally at the junction of the septum with the shell- 

 wall, it being nearly Hat in the middle, even when its sutural 

 complication is extreme. These parts are subdivided thus: A 

 single dorsal lobe surrounds the siphon, and occupies the medial 

 region of the back, and the additional two lobes on either side of 

 it are named the xf/./^y/o/' hi.li> nil luhc* and inferior I ale/nil lobes, 

 whilst other lobes, whatever their number, are called auxiliary 

 lobes; finally, opposed to the dorsal is the renlral lobe. The 

 saddles bear a corresponding nomenclature, that between the 

 dorsal lobe and the superior lateral, being termed the dorsal 

 middle, the next the latt'.rul middle, etc. 



All multilocular cephalopoda have the chambers of their shells 

 connected by a siphon, which traverses the septa, and receives 

 from the latter a series of short investing tubes. 



The siphon pierces the middle of the septa in Nautilus, in 

 Orthoceratites, etc., whilst it is near the infernal edge in Aganides, 

 and the dorsal edge in Goniatites, Ammonites, etc. 



It has been supposed by Buckland, that the siphon, which 

 communicates with a, large sack, discovered by Owen, in the body 

 of Nautilus Pompilius, may constitute a hydraulic apparatus by 

 whicli the animal may vary the weight of its shell at will by 



