The royal natural history . t of obser-vation. The absence of external branchiae is noticeable, and the ramified blood-vessels seen in the lateral expansions of the body are presumed to be connectedwith the respiratory function. This is the only species found upon the shores ofBritain, and is most common on the south and south-west coasts. It is said to mimicthe colour of the different seaweeds upon which it occurs. Limapontia is another 360 MOLLUSCS. example of the Pellibranchs. It is slug-like in form, but without any species figured (L. capitata) is a minute animal, about a si
The royal natural history . t of obser-vation. The absence of external branchiae is noticeable, and the ramified blood-vessels seen in the lateral expansions of the body are presumed to be connectedwith the respiratory function. This is the only species found upon the shores ofBritain, and is most common on the south and south-west coasts. It is said to mimicthe colour of the different seaweeds upon which it occurs. Limapontia is another 360 MOLLUSCS. example of the Pellibranchs. It is slug-like in form, but without any species figured (L. capitata) is a minute animal, about a sixth of an inch in length,chiefly of a black colour, but occasionally somewhat transparent and writes that this curious little animal is probably pretty generally diffused,but on account of its minute size it may readily be overlooked. It is gregarious;and, wherever met with, it has usually been found in abundance, appearing whencontracted like little black dots scattered over the conferva on which it Limapontia capitata (much magnified). It lives between tide-marks, feeding upon small algaj, and deposits its ova in smallpear-shaped capsules, each containing about one hundred eggs. The only form belonging to this group, the position of which isnot settled, is the parasitic genus Entoconcha. The animal is worm-like and spirally coiled, and attaches itself by the oral end (a) to one of theblood-vessels (E), within the visceral cavity of a certain group of species is found in Synapta, and a second (E. muelleri) occurs in thetrepang (Holothuria) of the China Sea. In the very early or larval state Ento-concha is contained in a minute operculated glassy shell. The subsequent changesbetween this and the perfect condition have not yet been observed. It is thelowest type of Nudibranchiata, if indeed it really belongs to that suborder, whichis not absolutely certain, some authors even locating it near Natica. Were it notfor the form of the larva, o
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectnaturalhistory, booksubjectzoology
