134 OXYNASPIS CELATA. 



relation is much closer to the latter genus than to Lepas i 

 it differs from both these genera in the manner of growth 

 of the scuta, which is both upwards and downwards, the 

 primordial valve being situated in nearly the middle of 

 the occludent margin. In this respect, and in the shape 

 of the carina and terga, there is an almost absolute identity 

 with Scalpellum ; I may, however, remark that in Scal- 

 pellum, the scuta first grow downwards, and afterwards 

 in most of the species upwards, whereas here from the 

 beginning, the growth is both upwards and downwards. 

 In the mouth and cirri, there is rather more resemblance 

 to Scalpellum than to Psecilasma and Lepas : in habits, 

 also, this genus agrees with Scalpellum, and if it had 

 possessed a lower whorl of valves, it would have quite 

 naturally entered that genus. It is unfortunate, that so 

 insignificant and poorly characterised a form should require 

 a generic appellation. In natural position, it appears to 

 lead from Scalpellum through Psecilasma to Lepas. 



1. OXYNASPIS CELATA. PL III, fig. 1. 



Madeira; attached in numbers to an Antipathes; Rev. R. T. Lowe. 

 Mus., Hancock, 



General Appearance. — The capitulum is rather thin, 

 and broad in proportion to its length ; it seems always 

 entirely covered by the horny muricated bark of the 

 Antipathes, and hence externally is coloured rich brown 

 and covered with little horny spines. The membrane 

 over the valves is very thin, and is with difficulty sepa- 

 rated from the Antipathes j it has, I believe, no spines of 

 its own. The corium lining the peduncle is a fine 

 purple. All the individuals are attached to the coralline, 

 with their capitulums upwards in the direction of the 

 branches, and in this respect fig. 1. is erroneous. 



The valves, when cleared of the bark, are white, or are 

 strongly tinged with pinkish-orange. The upper parts 

 of the scuta and terga are plainly furrowed in lines 



