[ 5 86 ] 
iential qualities of fnails, I thought I might give 
them the name j for they have no particular appella- 
tion in this country. Some call them pifs-a beds, 
fome fea-cats, and others a lefs modeft name, tapecon y 
taken from Pliny. The Negroes and country people 
difagree upon this fubjedt; and therefore I thought 
all their names ought to be rejedted, in order to adopt 
a more fignificant one, which I have given them ; 
and that altho’ they are without fhells, a quality ef- 
fential to fnails, they had a right to that clals by their 
other properties and qualities. 
This fifh is commonly four inches long, and two 
thick ; of a greenifh colour, fpotted with black, each 
of which forms a circle. The under part is like that 
of I nails, flat, with kinds of mantilla , or rugoflties, 
which are adhefive ; by means of which they ad- 
vance in a vermicular motion ; and when touched 
become round, by retracing their neck and head ; 
and afterwards protrude them confiderably, accord- 
ing to their motion and progreflion, crawling upon 
rocks to feek their food. 
The head of this animal has a flatnefs, or is in- 
clinable to a fquare or parallelogram. On each fide 
there are membranes or fkins, which form kinds of 
ears ; and under them others, which at times fill 
with water, and are then tranfparent. Under this 
thick fkin there is a cranium , of a kind of coriaceous 
or cartilaginous matter ; and in the cranium we find 
the brain, which is a white fubflance, and very firm. 
At the bafis of the head its oval wide mouth is 
placed, being above two lines long, which often dis- 
covers a white hard edge, with which he crops the 
fucus’s, and other fea-plants, for his nourifhment. 
About half an inch from the ears there arc two 
* horns. 
