APLYSIA. 7 



names of later date are mustelina of Davies, in the 2nd 

 edition of Pennant, Cuvieri of Delle Chiaje, vulgaris of 

 De Blainville, and varians of Leach ; the young is his 

 Esmia Griffithsiana and the A. nexa of Thompson. 



2. A. depi'lans*, Linne. 



Laplysia depilans, Linn. S. N. p. 1082. 



Body tumid, reddish-brown or liver-coloured, with irregular 

 and variable greyish blotches or spots : head gibbous, with a 

 long and thick neck resembling that of an elephant ; labial 

 processes or false tentacles large, broad, and fringed, placed 

 horizontally : tentacles nearly cylindrical, convolute and erect : 

 eyes very small' and indistinct, pale blue, placed on each side 

 of the head in front of the tentacles : foot somewhat broader 

 than the rest of the body, forming an enormous flap on each 

 side, squarish in front and bluntly pointed behind : gills slightly 

 protruding beyond the margin of the pallial orifice. L. 10-12. 



Shell broadly triangular, depressed, thin, opaque, and 

 glossy ; the outer layer is skin-like and easily separated from 

 the inner layer, which being calcareous often cracks and peels 

 off: sculpture, several slight lines radiating from the apex to 

 the outer edge, and intermediate close-set, very fine and 

 microscopic longitudinal striae, besides equally numerous and 

 irregular concentric marks of growth : colour pale brownish- 

 yellow : spire and mouth as in the other species ; but the dor- 

 sal margin is more rounded. L. 2. B. 1*5. 



Habitat: Guernsey in a few fathoms, outside the 

 new harbour, among Zostera marina. I received a 

 specimen from the late Mr. Gallienne ; but it was then 

 dead and distended with water, and all the parts were 

 much contracted. The contents of its stomach were 

 comminuted seaweeds. From his account, it measured 

 12 inches in length when crawling, and weighed 29 oz. 

 The liquid dye was pale blue, owing probably to the 



* So named from its reputation of causing baldness. 



