S4.() 



Remarks on a Species 



imperfect, that I have not been able to assign the present 

 specimen to any of the species they mention. The goose- 

 bernacle (Zepas «natifera, ,y%-. 77. p. 343.) approaches the 

 nearest, and it may be a variety of it. I am almost, however, 

 inclined to consider it a new species. The genus iepas be- 

 longs to the order Fermes testacea [w^orms in shells] ; shell 

 multivalvular, or of many valves, unequal, sometimes fixed 

 by a pedicle or stem, and sometimes not. Animal, a triton, 

 with tentacula. The species fl'natifera consists of five-valved 

 shells, irregular, somewhat depressed, affixed to a pedicle, 

 and in clusters ; colour, a reddish purple, which runs into a 

 dark brown purple near the base of the shell. The one 

 under consideration has a shell of five valves, irregular, de- 

 pressed, attached to a stem, but not in clusters ; every shell 

 having its own pedicle, which is perfectly transparent, and 

 nearly colourless, inclining slightly to a reddish purple as it 

 approaches the shell, and then assuming a darker purple 

 colour, which gradually grows deeper until it reaches the base. 

 Hence it differs from the <2natifera in two very marked par- 

 ticulars : — 1st, By having undivided and much longer stems ; 

 and, 2dly, by having a much less dense colour. 



Fig.76. a is about the ordinary length and size of those cast 

 on shore in November last. The stem is represented to be 



