^30 Rev. Mr. Berkeley on 3Iodiola, Sfc, 



Dredged up at Weymouth. 



The shelly tube of this Serpula is so variable, that it is difficult 

 to assign characters by which it may be recognised, without the 

 assistance of the animal. I have some specimens before me, in 

 which there are four distinct keels, and intermediate transverse 

 rugae ; which might be taken for a distinct species. Others have 

 the keels less evident, but still discernible, with the rugae faint, 

 while others have the keels quite obsolete with the rugae very 

 distinct. Having taken the shell myself, in all its different stages 

 of grow th, I can safely say that the specimens before me are but 

 varieties of one species.* When the shell becomes free the keels 

 are totally lost, and it may be known from Serpula tubularia by 

 its more slender form and delicate substance ; neither is the aper- 

 ture expanded, as in S. tubularia. The animal differs from that 

 of S, tubularia in its oblong dorsal area, while that of the latter 

 is much attenuated behind ; and in the absence of the operculum. 



This may possibly be the shell figured in Rumph. Mus. t. 41. 

 fig. 3. and Mart. 1. t. 2. fig. 12. A. as well as the Serpula protensa 

 Lam. An. sans vert. Vol. 5. p. 364. which is said to be found in 

 the Mediterranean, but it is not safe to make any positive asser- 

 tion without specimens. 



Serpula Filograna. 



(Tab. Supp. XVni. fig. 3. lente pluries aucta) 



Serp. testa nitidiuscula filiformi, fasciculata; fasciculis can- 

 cellato-ramosis fastigiatis. 



Animal, corpore valde compresso ; postice, segraentis latiusculis, 

 subtricenis, ultimis ciliatis, utrlnque papiilis duabus minimis, 

 nigris, insignibus, pallide cameo, fascia longitudinali obscuriore; 

 antice area dorsali oblonga purpurascente fasci^ longitudinali 

 rufescente : pallio planiusculo, albo ; fasciculis utrinque septem, 

 quorum anteriores confertiores. Membrana terminali branchiarum 

 ciliis octo pennaceis cornels quorum duo media operculum subin- 

 fundibuliforme, oblique truncatum, ferunt. 



♦ May not the shell noticed by Dr. Turton in the Zool. Journal, Vol. ii. 

 p. 567. undt-r the name of Vermilia scabroj be identical with the strongly 

 marked variety. 



