284 Scientific Notices. 



platform, and remained afterwards without motion. This property 

 of forming for itself a reservoir of air, by means ,of which it is pre- 

 served under water, is somewhat analagous to the interesting habit 

 of the Argyroneta, although it serves for a different purpose. In 

 the present case, it is doubtless intended to enable the animal to 

 cross the water with safety. T. B. 



AMPHITOITE, A FOSSIL OF VEGETABLE ORIGIN. 



AmphIto'ite was described by M. Desmarest, in 1811, and 

 considered by him, at that time, as forming a particular division 

 in the class of Flexible Polyparia. Many characters concurred to 

 lead him to that opinion, as its ramified and irregular structure ; 

 its distinct articulations, and the presence of impressed points on 

 their superior margins, similar to the cells which, in the Polyparia, 

 form the habitation of the animal ; but he has since discovered 

 that all these indications are fallacious, and that his Amphito'ite is 

 really of vegetable origin, and referable to a very common marine 

 plant, the Zosiera oceanica of Linna3us. M. Desmarest proposes 

 therefore to change the appellation of Amphitu'iie, to that of 

 Zosterite. — Ann. des Sciences Naturelles^ vol. i. p. 331. 



HELIX NEMOHALIS, A CARNIVOROUS ANIMAL? 



March, 1 824. 

 In October or November, 1823, a full grown individual of 

 Ilelix nemoralis was found in a garden in Lambeth, closed up 

 for the winter. In this state it was thrown about by children in 

 a warm room, for a month. Happening to be placed in a garden" 

 pot, it felt the moisture, and soon walked about ; but finding no 

 food, it attached itself to the plant, and returned to its torpid 

 state. When disturbed and moistened it was generally revived ; 

 but although lettuces, primrose leaves, and at least twenty other 

 plants of very various textures, were presented to it, it refused to 



