776 Marvels of the Universe 
Bulimus, which is tinted a beautiful pale blue-green ; while the large egg of the Worm-eating Slug 
(see page 261) is flexible and will rebound if lightly dropped. 
But the most curious method of egg-protection is that adopted by the marine flesh-eating 
molluscs. These enclose their eggs in horny capsules or purses, each purse containing a varying 
number of ova. These purses are often united in a single mass, or if not joined are deposited 
together on any available rock or stone. 
The most familiar of such capsules are those of the Common Whelk, which are shown on page 
775 attached to an empty scallop-shell. Large bunches of these parchment-like capsules—mostly 
after they have been evacuated by the young whelk—are to be found on every coast. The Dog 
Winkle forms capsules for all the world like yellow grains of rice set very close together on tiny stalks. 
Somewhat similar of arrangement are the “ egg-baskets ” of the Murex family, which are shaped 
like little cones standing close together 
on their apices, the base of each being 
—— bordered with an elaborate horny frill 
8 which suggests the corolla of minute 
auricula, for the largest capsule is 
hardly half an inch in expanse. 
The Fresh-water Snails known as 
Ampullaria or Bottle-shells produce 
very beautiful capsules, which are 
united together round any suitable 
reed-stalk or blade of water-weed, and 
form a mass of tiny, frail, concave 
chalk “ bubbles.”’ Another curious 
ege-cluster is that of the Necklace 
Shell. It is not an uncommon object 
of the South and West coasts of 
England, where it is known as a 
Sand-saucer. The mucus of the 
mollusc is massed into a flat or slightly 
thickened ribbon and curved into a 
rough circle, bearing some resemblance 
to a girdle, while the glutinous nature 
A SAND-SAUCER. of the materia] causes the sand to 
It is the egg-ribbon of the Necklace Shell, and is composed of sand adhere thickly. The eggs are deposited 
and mucus; in this the eggs are laid, arranged in quincunx order. In quincunx Rainier sin ire girdle while 
the composition is still pliable. Soon 
it begins to harden, and forms an impenetrable fortress for the harbourage of the young Necklace 
Shells. 
The Violet Shell has adopted the principle of a float for the safe deposit of her eggs. She excretes 
a quantity of transparent slime which, as it hardens, imprisons bubbles of air. To the under- 
surface of this float she attaches the egg-capsules. Of these capsules it has been observed that 
usually “ those nearest to the animal contain eggs ; those in the middle, young with fully-formed 
shells ; while those at the further end are broken and empty.” 
But the most elaborate of all constructions are the egg-baskets of the Spindle-shell family. 
“ Basket ” is hardly the term for these huge ruffles, which rise coil upon coil from the rock where 
they usually are affixed. Two such coils are shown on the opposite page. They are composed of 
a series of very flat, round capsules like diminutive tale watch-cases with frilled or spiked edges, and 
graduated in size, running on a thread which may attain a length of three or more feet. The girth 
time the sand hardens and effectually protects the eggs. 
