320 HISTORY OF BRITISH ZOOPHYTES. 



we may call an improved variety of that little gem, L. 

 nitida. It was discovered by Mr. Busk on oyster-shells 

 from the south of England, and on shells from the Thames, 

 sent to him by Lieutenant Thomas. It was also detected 

 by Mrs. Gatty on oyster-shells sent to her from the south 

 of England; and on her specimens some of its distinguish- 

 ing characteristics were first observed. After strict and de- 

 liberate examination, it has been found to be quite entitled 

 to rank as a distinct species, to which the very appropriate 

 name, melolonthay has been assigned, because it has a tail 

 turned up very like a cockchafer^s. It has a hyaline crust, 

 and two turned-up horns on the under lip. I have it from 

 Mrs. Gatty, to whose felicitous pencil I am indebted for all 

 the figures of the Lepralia, Plate XYIIL, except fig. 71, 

 an exquisite representation of L. Gatty cb, by Dr. Greville, of 

 Edinburgh. The following description of L. meloloiitha I 

 owe to the kindness of Mrs. Gatty. 



" This is the variety of L. nitida mentioned by Dr. 

 Johnston as ' branched in a fine dendritic manner, like 

 Alecto dilatans.' It differs from L. nitida in the cells being 

 immersed in a delicate transparent crust ; so that, in some 

 cases, there is a considerable intervening space between 

 each cell. A still more remarkable feature, and the one 



