246 BALANID.E. 



terranean, Natal, the Philippine Archipelago, and Sydney ; at the 

 latter place it is said to be rare, but in most places it is the com- 

 monest variety, and is often attached to ships' bottoms. Of var. 2, 

 venustus, I have seen specimens from the west coast of Africa, Natal, 

 and Ceylon, in groups by themselves, and associated with var. com- 

 munis ; it is much less common than var. 1 . The third variety, 

 j)allidus, is not uncommon ; I have seen many specimens from the 

 bottoms of ships, from the West Indies, and the west coast of Africa. 

 Of the var. 4, niveus, I have seen the most perfect graduated series 

 passing into var. 1, both from the West Indies, Florida, and the 

 Mediterranean : I have seen other specimens from the Red Sea and 

 Madagascar. Of the var. 5, modestus, I have seen only one group from 

 an unknown locality ; it is only remarkable from its uniform colouring. 

 The var. 6, Stutsburi, is more remarkable than the foregoing ; until 

 quite lately I did not doubt that it was specifically distinct; but as I 

 have seen every character graduate into other varieties, I am now con- 

 vinced that it is not a true species : all the specimens which I have 

 seen have come on shells, or on ships' bottoms, from West Africa. 

 Of var. 7, obscurus, I have seen three or four groups of specimens from 

 unknown quarters, both on pebbles, shells, and on cork (probably 

 from the Atlantic ocean) ; and likewise some specimens taken from 

 the bottom of Her Majesty's ship " Fly," on the east coast of Australia; 

 these latter are intermediate in character with the next var. variegatus, 

 from the Australian seas, which I at first ranked as an undoubted 

 species, but I have subsequently failed in discovering any sufficient 

 diagnostic character. Lastly, of var. cirratus, I have seen several 

 groups of specimens from India and the Philippine Archipelago, and a 

 group intermediate in character between this and the first and third 

 varieties, from Australia; I retained this variety owing to its peculiar 

 freckled, pale brown colouring and beaded scuta (of which, however, 

 I have seen decided traces in the common variety), as a distinct species, 

 after I had given up all the foregoing forms. I entertain some doubts 

 whether I have now acted right ; but when I found some specimens 

 which, I found it impossible to decide, whether to rank as amphitrite or 

 cirratus, I determined to take the more prudent course, and sink the 

 latter as a species. This variety, also, seems to connect B. amphitrite 

 and concuvus very closely. 



21. Balanus pceciltjs. PI. 5, fig. 3 a, 3 b. 



Shell dull red, freckled with white. Scutum interned/// 

 without an adductor ridge ; tergum with the spur, sharply 

 truncated, almost one third of width of valve. 



Bab. — West coast of South America, Mus. Cuming; attached to an Avicula. 



The appearance of the fragile shell, in the one group of 



