APLYSIA. 



TESTA clypeiformis, tenuis, pelliicida, prsecipufe 

 cornea, compressa, postiee acuminatiuseula, 

 dorso convexo, antic^ lamellari, rotundata. 



Related to Dolabella, and united to it by DeFerussac, 

 who has favoured naturalists with a very complete account 

 of the family. It is remarkable that the shell, which 

 consists almost entirely of horny epidermis, is nearly 

 covered by the integuments of the animal; it seems to 

 serve as a protection to the pectinated branchiae. The 

 animal is much larger than the shell, and when it rests 

 not unaptly resembles the hare crouching upon the ground, 

 whence it has the common appellation of Sea Hare, Lievre 

 marin, &c. Its singular structure, together with its ana- 

 tomical peculiarities are well described by Cuvier in his 

 Memoires sur les MoUusques. It may not, however, be 

 uninteresting here to mention that when disturbed this 

 animal transudes a quantity of purple liquor which has 

 been supposed to possess depilatory properties, but which 

 we apprehend to be rather intended to conceal the animal 

 from its enemies. 



Shell clypeiform, thin, pellucid, consisting tor the 

 most part of horny epidermal matter, with a very little 

 testaceous matter within ; it is of a somewhat oval shape, 

 convex on the back, rather acuminated at the posterior 

 extremity, rounded and very thin and lamellar in front. 



The Aplysise, which have been improperly called 

 Laplysiae* are marine ; they appear to belong to all cli- 



* Lamarck has very improperly endeavoured to perpetuate an accidental 

 error in the name given by Linne to this animal, by continuing to call it 

 Laplysia and bringing a false charge against later naturalists of changing it to 

 Aplysia. The ancient word is Aplysia, as Cuvier has shown, which signifies, 

 " that which is unclean." 



