Mr. Jeffreys on British Mollusca, 125 



the British Tertiary Brachiopoda, p. 10) seems to question its being 

 an Argiope. 



A very minute Brachiopodous shell (-^th of an inch in length, 

 and J^th in breadth) has been found by Mr. Norman in shell-sand 

 from Plymouth, which he received from Mr. Webster ; and it is so 

 peculiar in form as to deserve special notice. It is egg-shaped and 

 slightly compressed towards the sides and front margin, and is sub- 

 opake and rather solid for its size. Foramen rather small. Auricles 

 or lateral prolongations indistinct. The surface is closely punctured 

 and quasi-tuberculated as in A. cistellula. It is of a horn-colour. 

 Being so excessively small as to defy any attempt to examine the 

 internal structure without danger of breaking or injuring the speci- 

 men, it is impossible to say whether it is an Argiope ; but having 

 carefully compared it with analogous examples of A. cistellula, 

 which, as I before mentioned, vary greatly in form, I am inclined at 

 present to consider it an extreme variety of that species. Nearly a 

 similar variation of form, dependent on growth, occurs in specimens 

 of A. decollata. The discovery of more and adult examples will 

 probably clear up the doubt. By the kind permission of Mr. Nor- 

 man and the assistance of my friend Mr. Alder (who concurs with me 

 in the allocation of this specimen), I have given a representation of 

 it at fig. 4 a, b, in the plate attached to this paper. 



Pteropoda. 



Spinalis Flemingii, ii. 384. Guernsey (Edgar Macculloch, Esq.), 

 and in trawl- refuse from Plymouth. 



S. Jeffreysii, ii. 386. The true locality for this species as British 

 is Tenby ; that given by Forbes and Hanley (" shores of the British 

 Channel") not being quite correct. The mistake is probably owing 

 to a misprint of the word "British" for "Bristol." 



Gasteropoda Prosobranchiata. 



Patella vulgata, ii. 421. The shell, in its very young state, has 

 an excentric spire, which afterwards becomes absorbed, as in Acmcea 

 and other genera. The importance of embryology in determining 

 the laws of growth and classification is now fully admitted. With 

 respect to the habits of the animal, Dr. Lukis informs me that in 

 taking up the common Limpet, while in the act of crawling, he has 

 noticed young ones attached to the grooves of the foot or sustenta- 

 culum ; and he infers that the parent carries its offspring about with 

 it for protection. I had heard of an oyster being " crossed in love," 

 but I was not prepared for this wonderful instance of molluscan 

 oTopy//. 



Trochus millegranus, ii. 502, var. conica. Guernsey and Ply- 

 mouth. 



Margarita (Trochus) pusilla, ii. 584. Guernsey. Mr. M 'Andrew 

 has taken it in the Mediterranean. 



M. exilis. Trochus exilis, Phil. ii. 156. t. xxv. f. 15. Skenea 

 Cutleriana, iii. 164, and (Trochus) it. 270. In dredged sand from 



