294 BULLIDJE. 



sion of the foot is merely the usual oblique groove in this tribe, 

 which simulates a separation of one part from the other ; and 

 that the gizzard in so small a creature has escaped detection. 

 We hazard these conjectures, as the shell differs little from 

 those of the minute Bullce ; but as this species inhabits 

 Mr. Alder's vicinity, it would give great satisfaction if so 

 competent an observer would communicate fuller notes of this 

 interesting object. We observe that Mr. Alder states the 

 tentacula of his animal to be " short, obtuse in front of the 

 head and before the eyes." M. Loven's description of these 

 organs is discordant, " vibracula brevia, conica, remota, late- 

 ralia :" this is an important variation : are the animals 

 identical ? 



With respect to the minute Bulla strigella of M. Loven 

 and the B. conulus of M. Deshayes, we can only observe, with 

 the authors of the ' British Mollusca/ that they may prove 

 varieties of the B. umbilicata. The so-called " nitidula," 

 which is in our own collection, having been presented to us 

 as a type by a friend, is, we think, a highly polished (by attri- 

 tion) B. umbilicata. 



It appears to us that M. Loven's Cylichna, lately adopted 

 by some authors, might well be dispensed with for the old 

 typical genus Bulla. 



OTINA, Gray. 



We deposit in this family, ad interim, the Otina otis ( Velu- 

 tina, auct.) , a curious and anomalous animal, being apparently 

 as near to the Bullidte as to the Conovuli. Though it has not 

 the tentacula of the latter, it has the singular divided foot of 

 Pedipes, and the eyes embedded in the disk of the head 

 as in Conovulus; and, as in it, there is no operculum, in 

 which point it also resembles Bulla, as well as in the absence 

 of true tentacula. The animal appears to be an intermediate 

 link of the two families. It requires, and we hope to give it, 

 a further examination. At present it can only be considered 

 incertee sedis. From the subjoined account, naturalists may 

 form some opinion of its natural position. 



