Mr H. D. S. Goodsir on (tvo New Species of Leachia, 311 



The proximal extremity of the abdomen bulges very much, 

 assuming the appearance of one of the thoracic segments, and* 

 from this it tapers very gradually to a very fine point. Colour 

 dirty white, with brown spots. 



Hab. Firth of Forth, off Anstruther. 



I have also met with the L. lacertosa of Johnston {Arcturus 

 longicornisy Westwood) in the Frith of Forth, and in deep wa- 

 ter in the German Ocean. My specimens of this species pre- 

 sent all the characters recorded by Johnston, Westwood, and 

 Milne Edwards. It occurs more frequently than the two new 

 species; but all three are rare, probably in consequence of 

 their pelagic habitats. With the dredge I have procured 

 specimens of all the species alive, and have kept them in 

 glass-jars of sea-water with sand and corallines, and have 

 thus been enabled to watch their habits closely. 



Under the circumstances just stated, each individual will 

 select a branch of coralline, will keep that branch exclusively 

 to itself, and will defend it with the greatest vigour against 

 all intruders. It fixes itself to its resting-place by means of 

 its true thoracic feet, and seldom uses these for progression. 

 When it falls to the bottom of the vessel, it fixes its long 

 pointed antennae firmly into the sand, and, with the assistance 

 of the true feet, drags and pushes itself forward. This, how- 

 ever, may not be a natural mode of progression, but may be 

 adopted in consequence of the artificial circumstances in which 

 the animal is placed. 



Swimming is the natural mode of progression. It is amus- 

 ing to see one of these animals resting, in an erect posture, 

 on a branch of coralline, by means of its true thoracic feet, 

 waving its body backwards and forwards, throwing about its 

 long inferior antennae, and ever and anon drawing them 

 through its anterior fringed feet, for the purpose of cleaning 

 them. It frequently darts from its branch, with the rapidity 

 of lightning, to seize with its long antennae some minute crus- 

 taceous animal, and returns to its resting-place to devour its 

 prey at pleasure. 



In this manner the antennae are the only organs employed 

 in seizing and enclosing the prey, which they drag to the an- 

 terior thoracic feet which hold it while it is being devoured. 



