. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Reptiles; Fishes; Mollusks; Natural history; Reptiles; Poissons; Mollusques; Sciences naturelles. liHi. CIlAMLliltKU SMJlLV&-.\uuldu^ VviiquUns. m \l nil i , i|ii>r In tlieiii, the shell is very delicate, and is rolled into a spiral form, something' like tlie ])roboscig of an elephant when curled up. These shells are very common on tlurshures of New Zealand, where they are scattered in thousands, and are sometimes tlaown on the southern shores of England by the waA(?s of tlie (iulf .Stream. Yet the animal which forniwi the shell is extremel
. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Reptiles; Fishes; Mollusks; Natural history; Reptiles; Poissons; Mollusques; Sciences naturelles. liHi. CIlAMLliltKU SMJlLV&-.\uuldu^ VviiquUns. m \l nil i , i|ii>r In tlieiii, the shell is very delicate, and is rolled into a spiral form, something' like tlie ])roboscig of an elephant when curled up. These shells are very common on tlurshures of New Zealand, where they are scattered in thousands, and are sometimes tlaown on the southern shores of England by the waA(?s of tlie (iulf .Stream. Yet the animal which forniwi the shell is extremely rare, and is very seldom lound except in a very frafrmentarv aiiJ battered condition. Another order of cephalopods is called by the luinie of Tetrabranchiata, or Four- gilled animals, because the orj^^ans of resiiirnlion are coniixised of four branchia'. These creatures possess a very stronj,' external shell, which is into a s(!iies uf frnulually increasing compartments connected together l)y a central tube called the siphunde As the animal grows, it continues to enlarge, its home, so that its age can be inferred from tlie number of chambers comprising its shell. In former times these creatures were very abuiuhiiit, but in our day the only known living representative is the CnAMi;i;Ki.;D or I' Xai-tili .^ a section of which is ,>ho\vu in the lUustralion in order to cxhiliitthe lieuutiful spiral bi>me in which the creature resitles, and tlu! structure of the chambers, together witii their connexion liv means of the sii)lnmcle' AVlule the animal .still the sliurt IuIk's that pass thnnigh the walls of the chinnbeis are connected by membranous jiijiis, and even in a specimen that has been lon^'dead these connecting links hold their , provided that the shell lias not been subjirted tn severe shocks. In one of these shells now before me, which I have very rauliously opeued, the, whole .series of membranous tulies can be seen in their places, black
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubj, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectmollusks
