190 POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



and are furnished with an internal groove for 

 its reception parallel to the mouth, which is 

 thickened.* 



The animals possess the peculiarity of a large 

 bag opening beneath, and situated on one side 

 of the respiratory organs; this they fill with 

 water, by which means they can exist for a 

 considerable period out of their natural ele- 

 ment. Specimens have been brought from 

 Egypt to Paris alive, although packed up in 

 sawdust; and, as a further instance, the fol- 

 lowing may be adduced. A box sent to M. 

 Caillaud, containing a number of river shells 

 from the Nile, was delayed four months on its 

 road, and when it reached Paris was in such a 

 state, from the putrefaction of the greater part 

 of its contents, that they were all thrown into 

 water. A few hours after a great number 

 of living Ampulla? ice, which had been shut up 

 in this mass of putrefaction, were discovered 

 creeping quietly about, and some of them lived 

 four and six months after. The Indian species 

 lay globular eggs, of a pale green colour, about 

 the size of small peas, which are found in 

 * Swainson, Zoological Illustrations. 



