The COMMON LIMPET, 
or PATELLA. 
J T is remarkable, that in the hiftories of fhell-fifh, and from very refpe&able au- 
thorities, the Limpet fhould be reprel'ented as a moll inert, formlefs, and torpid 
Atrial, immoveably fixed to the fame rock *, and conftantly adhering fo clofe, as 
^tillered it a myftery which way they could fubfift f. 
The general appearance of this fhell-fifh, when found above low-water mark, and 
, e difficulty of difengaging it from its place of abode, had firft fuggefted thefe opi- 
ni ° ns j and continued to countenance them, in the view of fuch enquirers into nature, 
I av e not given the fubjedt a particular examination. 
t ^ w as therefore prefumed, that it might be acceptable to thofe who have not oppor- 
j ^.'ty of furveying the animals of the Patella race, in their native element, to have a 
0 ^ neadon of the ftrudture of one, as a fpecimen, prefented to them, with a narration 
°rne particulars in their manner of life. 
The infide view of die ftiell D, given at A, with the animal alive in it, fhews 
B the front of a ftrong, cartilaginous, mufcular mafs, wherewith it adheres at 
? ea fure with amazing firmnefs to the rocks, and by the various movements of which, 
i a l° n g in fearch of pafture, with an equable fteady pace, in any direction, as 
in P rom P ts - During this progrefs the horns or feelers feem actively engaged 
^ exa mining the nature of the fubftances wherewith the rocks are covered, and no 
c ° u bthave the capacity of afeertaining how far the courfe is eligible, and the lubftan- 
j. s good for food j for fometimes the feelers feem offended, and retraCt, and then the 
<‘ ne °f walk is altered. “ Here,” fays the Limpet, “ am I travelling in fearch of 
tc ^olefome nourifhment; if I find it in this field, I fhall remain, and exhauft its 
i, ti ea Lres j if not, I will feek after a richer foil, and productions of the rock that are 
rr '° re [ o my tafte.” 
- he . head ofthe animal magnified at C > in the middle of } tS ftraD ® e , m ° U ? V 
1 
, ‘-lue for ce and quicknefs; and feems to be an inftrument of teeth, provided 
ty ee ^ atUre j for rubbing off the nutrimental fubftances from the rock and fea- 
^ fftewn the form of a kind of grater, which it moves up and down with confi- 
9 ) 
Buffon 
f Speftacle de la Nature. 
2 
The. 
