MUEEX. 499 



the minute canal at the upper angle of the outer lip, and the 

 branchial fold that lines the basal canal and floats far beyond 

 it : the prevailing ground colour is sprinkled with minute 

 sulphur-yellow flakes. The head is small, compressed, almost 

 obsolete, and from the vertical fissure under it the usually armed 

 proboscis is exserted. The tentacula are moderately long, with 

 eyes placed externally on offsets half their length ; the terminal 

 portions are slender, setose, and slightly clavate at the tips. 

 The branchise and other organs offer no variations. The foot 

 is pale ethereal blue, with a transparent white narrow border, 

 in front truncate, slightly indented, labiated, and gently curved 

 at the right and left angles into small auricles, narrow, and 

 tapering to a point which extends beyond the spire. 



This minute species displays, in its splendid coloration of 

 azure shot with brilliant snow-white streams, and in the pro- 

 portions of its organs, more deviation than is usually exhibited 

 in this beautiful group, but these elegant distinctions are only 

 specialties. Its habitat extends throughout all the zones. I 

 have had only one opportunity of examining this beautiful 

 minute creature, which being lively, degage, and free from 

 shyness, gave me every assistance, and the mate of this lovely 

 Venus may truly apply to it the Ovidian phrase, " non rustica 

 conjux." The Scotch specimens are of larger growth than 

 those of more southern climes. 



Exmouth, 20th August 1850. I have just met with several 

 live animals in the littoral zone, and I find that in the males 

 the organ of reproduction is exactly the same as in the type. 



M. PURPUREUS, Montagu. 



Mangelia purpurea, Brit. Moll. iii. p. 465, pi. 113. f. 3, 4, 5. 

 I can only speak of this species from recollection ; I exa- 

 mined several of the animals many years ago, but I have not 

 the notes thereon; it is as large or larger than the M.gracilis, 

 and if my memory is correct, bears a close resemblance to 

 it ; I am certain it has no operculum, and that the emargina- 

 tion in the outer lip is as conspicuous as in M. gracilis and 

 M. teres. Full-grown specimens are rare at Exmouth. It 

 inhabits the coralline zone. 



2 K2 



