284 Rev. R. T. Lowe o« Melampus, ^c. 



the other side of the body ; indeed all round the aperture of the shell. 

 After this, there was no longer any appearance of an air-bubble, as the 

 animal crawled about. 



In considering the foregoing experiments, it is observable, that the 

 argument which might be drawn in support of the union of Melampus 

 with the Pulmcnea, from the habits, &c. recorded in Nos. 1 and 2, is neu- 

 tralized altogether by No. 5. No. 3 is a strong proof on the other side: 

 for there is no reason why a truly pulmoniferous animal should be sooner 

 drowned in fresh than in sea-water : the fact is, indeed, not so. But it 

 is well known that a marine Pectinibranchia does not long survive a 

 sudden transition into fresh- water ; and that the manner of its death is 

 precisely similar to what is related in Experiment 3. In regard to 

 No. 4, the supposition that all the species in the box belonged truly to 

 the Pectinibranchia, seems to be the one involving fewest difficulties or 

 contradictions; indeed none perhaps but what admit of explanation. 

 In fact, two of the species, Littorina vulgaris and Pedipes afra, un- 

 doubtedly belonging to the Pectinibranchia, the survival of one only of 

 two species of Melampus is no more strange, on the supposition of their 

 beino' also Pectinibranchia, than is the survival of one only of the two 

 former. And at least, the survival of Littorina vulgaris in the same 

 box, and consequently under precisely similar circumstances, does 

 away with the singularity oi Melampus cequalis surviving, when deprived 

 of its native element, on the supposition of its belonging also to the same 



order. 



No. 8 affords an explanation of the remarkable appearance described 

 in No. 7 : an appearance which was at first, it must be confessed, rather 

 puzzling. This appearance, however, it seems is only caused by the 

 attempt to exclude the air, which the animal has accidentally taken into 

 the cavity of the shell, as well as amongst the branchiae, after having been 

 some time out of the water ; as was in fact particularly the case with those 

 of No. 8. It is very possible indeed, that the animal, as long as its 

 branchiae are moist, can breath atmospheric air, and support life ; as do 

 certain Crustacea, Carp, Eels, &c. but the above appearance proves no 

 more. It does not prove that the animal has not pectinated branchiae : 

 while the following experiments go very far to prove that it has. 



