Observations on some British Sh'pula. 421 



This has been proposed in a paper printed in No. xx. of the 

 Zoological Journal, but not yet published. 



The following are the synonymes alluded to above : — 



Serpula (Sabella nob.) tubularia ilibw^. ; Serpula tubularia ilibw^. Test. 



Brit. pt. 2. p. 513., Johnst. Mag. Nat. Hist. vii. 126.; Serpula arundo 



Turt. Conch. Diet. p. 155., Berk. Zool. Journ. v. 3. p. 229., Tab. Supp. 



xviii. f. 2. 

 Serpula MuUeri nob. ; Serpula «;ermicularis Mont. Test. Brit. pt. 2. p. 



509., Mont. Supp. p. 157. (with reference to Zool. Dan. t. 86.), Turt, 



Conch. Diet. p. 152. 

 var. b. Lam. An. sans Vert. t. v. p. 862. 



I am obliged to designate this species, which is characterised 

 by the double infundibuliform operculum, by a new name, as, 

 in the confusion of synonymes, I know not that there is any 

 which can be unobjectionably applied to it. The name now 

 proposed will have the advantage of calling attention to the 

 figure of the animal in Zoologia Danica, and thereby prevent 

 any confusion which might arise from the similarity of its 

 shell to that of any other species. I have received from the 

 Western Hebrides a species exactly resembling this as regards 

 the testaceous covering, but furnished with two double infun- 

 dibuliform opercula. Though the animal was preserved in 

 spirits, it was so decayed that, unfortunately, I could not trace 

 the connection of the opercula with the branchial fringe, and, 

 therefore, do not venture to propose it as decidedly distinct. 



Serpula t'ermicularis Linn. ; Serpula z;ermiciilaris Lam. An. sans Vert, 

 t. V. p. 362. ; Tubus «;ermicularis ElliSy Corall. t. 38. f. 2. ; Serpula 

 triquetra Mont. Test. Brit. pt. 2. p. 511. not Suppl. p. 157.; Serpula 

 tubularia Turt. Conch. Diet. p. 154. f. 84. 



This species is distinguished from the following, in every 

 stage of growth, by its corneous striated operculum. It is 

 seldom found above the ordinary low-water mark. 



Serpula triquetra Linn. ; Serpula triquetra Mont. Supp. p. 157. not 

 Mont. Test. Brit. pt. 2. p. 511., Turt. Conch. Diet. p. 152., Sow. 

 Genera of Shells; Vermllia triquetra Lam. An. sans Vert. t. v. p. 369. 



This is perhaps the most common of all the British Ser- 

 pulae. The operculum, which is testaceous, is very variable. 

 Specimens occur in which the testaceous coating is a mere 

 pellicle : but in this case there is no difficulty in distinguish- 

 ing it from the foregoing species, as it is destitute of the beau- 

 tiful radiating striae. Other forms of the operculum are de- 

 scribed by Montagu, in the place quoted above, and figured 

 by Sowerby in his excellent Genera of Shells, 



King's Cliff, Wansford, ^Northamptonshire, 

 Jnly\9. 1834. 



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