54 TRIPTERID^. 



These little animals, remarkable for their subulate glassy 

 shells with a produced point or style, are found in the 

 middle of the ocean associated with Cavolincje and Clio ; 

 they are often cast up dead along the shore, which they 

 line at high water-mark with incredible numbers of needles 

 of glass. 



They have been stated by M. Eang to cluster occa- 

 sionally on the Grulf weed, by embracing the leaves and 

 stalks with their fins, a circumstance, however, which has 

 not been confirmed by D'Orbigny. One of the authors 

 has observed them during a calm in the Atlantic, towards 

 the decline of day, shining near the surface like myriads 

 of glassy spicula ; they often remain poised and motionless, 

 and their progression through the water is very irregular. 

 There are five recent and six fossil species. 



Species of Styliola. 



corniformis, UOrh. subulata, Quoy and Gaim. 



recta, Lesiteur. virgula, Eang. 



striata, Rang. 



Fam. TRIPTERIDiE. 



Animal with the body elongate, cylindrical, divided into 

 two distinct parts ; the front part with two large lateral 

 wings, united below to a flat central portion ; the abdo- 

 minal part cylindrical. 



Shell cylindrical or subangular near the mouth, ending 

 in an acute point, separated from the anterior cavity by 

 an entire transverse septum ; the tip is often deciduous in 

 the adult. 



This family, according to M. D'Orbigny, is intermediate 



