Mr. J. Alder on the Animal of Kellia rubra. 55 



May 31st. — I procured from Gwyllyn Vase several fine and 

 healthy specimens of K. rubra and K suborbicularis. The K. rubra 

 protruded its siphons, and the ingress of water, &c. was very ap- 

 parent, as also the ejectment of faeces per posterior siphon, within a 

 few minutes after immersion. — K. sub orbicularis : ingress of water 

 per anterior siphon and egress of faeces per posterior siphon : — at 

 intervals a slight spasmodic twitch of valves, but unable to detect 

 a discharge of water per anterior siphon. [Here follows a re- 

 gister of observations daily made from the 1st to the 8th of 

 June with the same result, excepting that on the 7th, when the 

 water was changed, K. suborbicularis showed " a discharge of 

 water per anterior siphon." 8th. K. suborbicularis : this action 

 " subdued — flow of water per (into) anterior siphon regular."] 

 From the 4th to the noon of the 7th they were allowed to re- 

 main in the glass without changing the water : in the evening 

 of that day I put them into fresh water. The K. rubra absorbed 

 the water and its contents freely and ejected faeces ; and although 

 I employed powerful glasses, was unable to detect any (egress) 

 current either anteriorly or posteriorly. Not so with K subor- 

 bicularis. It imbibed water freely and ejected faeces sparingly ; 

 as well as passing a stream from the anterior siphon. I believe 

 that the operation of ejecting water anteriorly by K. suborbicu- 

 laris (with all my tact I have not been able to detect a current 

 from the anterior siphon of K. rubra) is performed by the ani- 

 mal in health with little muscular effort ; but when in confine- 

 ment, poorly supplied with food, and that not to its taste, it 

 becomes atrophized and feeble, consequently every effort of the 

 will is demonstrable. 



The Lichina pygmaa is very common with us on the rocks, 

 and is covered twice a day by the tide to the height of several 

 feet. It forms a good retreat for K. rubra and Turtonia minuta. 

 The Lichina confinis is also plentiful on our rocks, but is gene- 

 rally out of the reach of the waves, although it sips the spray 

 often. I have gathered a great deal of L. confinis, but never 

 found a univalve or bivalve shell attached to it or near it. The 

 Kellia rubra with us is found in situations within tide-marks, 

 covered twice a day with the sea. 



I am, dear Sir, yours very truly, 

 J. Alder, Esq. W. P. Cocks. 



My Dear Sir, Falmouth, June 16, 1849. 



The Kellia rubra and K. suborbicularis imbibe water freely ; 

 and constantly by their anterior siphons. We have had with us 



into fresh sea-water, and is probably a means of cleansing the branchial 

 cavity from the effete water and bathing those organs more completely in 

 the purer element. — J. A. 



