TESTACELLUS. 



Cuvkr. — ^Annales du Mus. v. 5. 



TESTA univalvis, subcochleariformis^ spird brevis- 

 sima ; apertura oblonga^ amplissimaj supeme 

 emarginata ; labium externum integrum internum 

 incrassatum;, revolutum: Impressio muscularis 

 transversa^ lunulatim oblonga^ in parte inferiore 

 testae posita. 



A Genus rendered so extremely interesting, when con- 

 sidered in connection with the animal which produces it, that 

 we could not resist a favourable opportunity afforded us of 

 giving representations of the living animals of two species, 

 though we do not intend to pledge ourselves, and we are 

 sensible it will not be in our power to do this often. We 

 shall not attempt a description of this singular animal, al- 

 ready so well described by De Ferussac, in his superb work 

 on the MoUusques terrestres et fluviatiles, p. 88. our plate 

 will give a very good general idea of its form and structure ; 

 nor shall we enter into the detail of its history, it is suffi- 

 cient to observe that it was first noticed by Dugue, in a 

 garden at Dieppe, in 1740, but that it had scarcely engaged 

 the attention of Naturalists until a few years ago, when 

 Mauge brought some specimens from the Island of Tene- 

 riffe ; since which, it has also been found in several parts 

 of France, and in Spain, and more lately in a garden at 

 Bristol. 



Some specimens from the last mentioned place have 

 been handed to us by Mr. Miller* of that City. It feeds 

 upon earth-worms, having the power of elongating its body 

 to such a degree that it is able to follow them in all their 

 subterranean windings : we have observed them attentively, 

 and were rather surprized that an animal generally so ex- 

 tremely sluggish in its motions, after discovering its prey, 

 by means of its tentacula, thrusting from its large mouth 

 its white crenulated revolute tongue, should instantly seize 

 upon with extraordinary rapidity, and firmly retain an 



* Author of a very useful and elaborate Monograph on the " CRliSOIDEA." 



