282 Rev. R. T. Lowe 07i Melampus, ^c. 



afra were kept for some months in a glass of sea-water. They constantly 

 affixed themselves to the side of the glass above the water; at first 

 indeed to the cover; but as the weather grew hotter, they descended 

 lower, fixing themselves in a group to the side, a little above the surface. 

 If any fell into the water, they speedily made their way out of it. When 

 immersed, a bubble of air was always seen between the edge of the mantle 

 and the body of the animal on the right side. No particular attention was 

 paid to them, and the water often was not changed for a fortnight or more. 

 They all remained quite healthy, though altogether inactive. Yet if the 

 cover was left off accidentally at night, most of them were found in the 

 morning to have crawled out of the glass to some distance on the table. 

 No food was given to them the whole time. 

 Experiment 2. 



A repetition of the preceding, for some months, with a fresh set. 

 Habits precisely the same. 



Experiment 3. 



Two specimens of Melampus aqualis were placed m fresh-water : the 

 animals immediately shrunk within the shell, and never came out again 

 while they remained in the water. One of them having been immersed 

 in it an hour or two, recovered on being again placed in sea-water. The 

 other which was left in the fresh-vvater never crawled again, and was dead 

 the next day. 



Experiment 4. 



Numerous specimens of Melampus cpqualis, which have lain neglected 

 in a tin box among wet sponges since February 6th, I took out to-day, 

 (March 1 0th) alive, and they crawled actively about. All the specimens 

 mixed with them of Pedipes afra, (which were also numerous,) and of 

 Melamptis exiguus are quite dead : but others of Littorina vulgaris, 

 /'Turbo littoreus, Linn.,) are quite lively. 

 Experiment 5. 



Melampus exiguus placed in a glass of sea-water remains generally at 

 the bottom : and though sometimes crawling up the sides, never remains 

 above the surface. Nor when below, has it ever the air-bubble on the 

 right side, as in Melampus cEqualis. 



Experiment 6. 



Another set o( Melampus exiguus. They are often seen with an air- 



