28 



POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



tuberculated, and curved back into the aperture. Animal, 

 body globose, having eight tentacula, two of which are 

 thin and dilated, all having two rows of suckers. Eyes 

 very large, ovate, prominent, and covered on the upper 

 edge with a thin eyelid. — 6 species: also fossil. 



The curious and beautiful shells of the Argonauta Argo, 

 or Paper Nautilus, are found in the seas of warm latitudes, 

 particularly those of the Mediterranean, New Holland, the 

 Cape of Good Hope, and, Mr. Cumming remarks, of South 

 America. 



An interesting series of experiments was made a few 

 years ago by Madame Power, for the purpose of ascertain- 

 ing the nature and habits of the Argonauta, about which 

 much controversy had existed, as to whether the mollusc 

 found in the shell also constructed it — this had been long 

 doubted ; but the question has been set at rest by her 

 observations, and those of others, who have lately studied 

 the subject. This lady, who was residing at Messina, had 

 a kind of case constructed in the sea on the coast, and 

 enclosed in it several of the living animals, which she 

 kept supplied with their natural food, consisting of small 

 molluscs. She had them of all sizes, from the small naked 

 octopod just issued from the egg, to those full grown. 

 Her observations proved that, after twelve days, the two 

 frontal arms of the young animal became dilated at the 

 extremity, and that they then commenced forming the 

 thin delicate shell ; that the animal is not, or but slightly 

 attached to the shell, though when under water it adheres 

 firmly to it by these dilated arms, which are turned over 

 and affixed to the outside, entirely covering it. The shell, 

 which is remarkably brittle when exposed to the air, is 

 perfectly pliable in water, and is thus enabled to escape 

 the destruction which would otherwise appear likely to be 

 met with by so thin and tender a fabric. 



