Pvn H,i I'UitlS

300 CYPRIXID^E.
live Crag, and. it is not uncommon in a layer of brick-
earth near Christiania containing shells of arctic species.
Lilljeborg has dredged
it as far north as Molde fiord near
Christiansund ; and, according to Maravigna
and Phi-
lippic it occurs as far south as Sicily. Many instances
mav be enumerated of its inhabiting the Scandinavian
as well as Mediterranean seas, at depths varying from
15 to 80 fathoms.
By far the best account which has been given of the
in the second
animal is that by the Rev. James Bulwer,
volume of the '
Zoological Journal/ He procured a
considerable number of live specimens, taken by trawl-
ing in very deep
water on the east coast of Ireland.
Although this account has been twice republished, it is
so interesting and evidently so accurate, that I cannot
refrain from inserting here a portion of it. He says,
" On being placed in a vessel of sea-water the valves of
the shell gradually opened, to the extent represented in
the drawing [which accompanies the description] : the
feelers or ciliated fringe of the upper* orifice of the
mantle moved slowlv,
as if in search of animalcule.
Having remained in this situation about ten minutes,
water was ejected with considerable force from the
lower [upper or excurrent] orifice, which had till now
remained motionless. The expulsion of the water appeared
to be effected by a sudden contraction of the
muscles, because this was never done without the valves
nearly closing at the same instant. After a few seconds
the valves gradually returned to their open position, and
remained quiescent as before, till the water was again
ejected with a jerk : this alternating process was re-
* [The Isocaratd is delineated in a horizontal position, and this orifice
being
rent oriiice.]
next to the foot and furthest from the beaks is the lower or incur