508 
MR. OSLER’S OBSERVATIONS ON THE ANATOMY 
tion ; at least, I have kept alive for some days a muscle which the Buccinuin 
had begun to eat. The trunk is therefore projected at first through the hole 
which it has drilled. But when, from the death of the animal, the limpet sepa¬ 
rates from the rock, or the bivalve gapes, the Buccinum devours the remainder 
by the natural opening. 
The slow penetration of Buccinum lapillus is explained by the weakness of 
the instrument, which is so small that I have not been able to dissect it. My 
description of this extraordinary weapon must therefore refer-to that of Buc- 
cinum undatum, in which the parts are sufficiently large to admit of being shown 
distinctly. 
Since this species undoubtedly feeds on carrion,—for it takes the fishermen’s 
baits, while, from its semipelagic habits, it is never seen in the act of boring a 
shell-fish,—some proof will be required that it really feeds in this manner. It 
would probably be sufficient to state, that the shores of sandy bays, in which 
Buccinum undatum abounds, are strewed with immense quantities of perforated 
shells of the bivalves inhabiting sand; and that the perforations in these are 
much larger than could be effected by lapillus, which indeed is never found 
upon sandy shores. But I once obtained a decisive proof, in witnessing a Buc¬ 
cinum undatum discharge with its faeces the extremity of the foot, and the tubes 
of a Lutraria compressa. 
Cuvier, in his Anatomy of this animal, has given a description of its boring 
trunk, illustrated by six figures; and I may be required to explain why I go 
over the same ground. It will be sufficient to state, that his description of all 
the more essential parts is vague, defective, and erroneous. The cartilages 
he represents, fig. 12, have no existence, and several of the most important 
muscles are overlooked. His different figures are not even consistent with 
each other. Thus, in fig. 10. the opening of the trunk is represented as a ver¬ 
tical slit, forming a pair of armed lips, and he describes it accordingly at p. 3 ; 
while in fig. 7, 8, and 9, it is correctly shown as a terminal and circular orifice. 
The tongue of Buccinum undatum is about an inch in length, strap-shaped, 
and set with three longitudinal rows of teeth, which are short and straight in 
the centre, but large and hooked on either side, forming a perfect centre-bit. 
The disposition of the teeth is shown in fig. 18. The portions of the tongue 
which support the outer rows of teeth fold over upon the centre, and allow the 
