330 THE AQUARIAN NATURALIST. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 



APHRODITE ACULEATA. 



" Quell' era anuata di pin fin metallo 

 Ch' avean di piu color gemme distinto ; 

 Rubin veriniglio, crisolito giallo, 

 Verde smeralda, col flavo jacinto." 



AEIOSTO, Orl. Fur. 



" Of metal was her armour bright, 

 With gems of many colours overspread ; 

 The tawny jacinth, yellow chrysolite, 

 The emerald green of hue and ruby red." 



THE aspect of the Aphrodite aculeata (PL VI. fig. 5) 

 is so peculiar that it cannot be mistaken. It is the 

 most brilliant of all the lower animals inhabiting the 

 seas of the British coasts, and has consequently inva- 

 riably attracted the notice of many who have not other- 

 wise much curiosity regarding the works of creation. 

 The body of the largest is sometimes as much as 

 eight inches in length; commonly,, however, it does 

 not exceed five, and is of a long oval figure, with ex- 

 tremities proportionably acute. The back is some- 

 what convex, the belly flat ; a short, thick, brown fur 

 covers the dorsal region, especially towards the sides, 

 interspersed with long bright green and yellow iri- 

 descent hair ; and intermixed with this are transverse 



