AND THE FISH THEREOF. 13 



Animal life increases where the rocks are covered with hard, brittle 

 and useless sponges, which first make their appearance here, and are 

 so far characteristic of this region as to form the facies of littoral Spongieta. 

 They are of three species : — 1. Sarcotragns spinosuhts (which harbours some 

 Annellides, such as Lumbriconereis Nardonis, Polynoe squamata, P. elegans); 

 2. Gcodia placenta (which, besides the aforenamed Annellides, supports Nereis 

 Costcv in large numbers, and Saxicava arctica and S. Giicrini embedded in the 

 sponge), resembling the Tethya lyncumium in its texture, and 3. Reniera 

 calyx. 



On coasts sheltered from the full force of the prevalent winds, Bora and 

 Scirocco, on the surface of rocks covered -with Algae, are found elegant 

 Bryozoae, such as the dark Lepralia Heckelii and a bright red Cellcpora ; 

 adhering to the rocks, Haliotis tnberculata, a shell extending as far as Guernsey, 

 which is its most northern limit, Patella ccerulea, P. vulgata, Chiton siculus, 

 Fissurella gibba ; species of Trochus, Murex ; Area barbata, A. lactea, Lima 

 squamosa, Spondyhis gadceropus. Underneath the rocks several nudibranch 

 sea-snails seek shelter, such as Don's Villafranca, a beautiful dark blue snail 

 with golden, white, and light blue lines, also D. argus and Elysia splendida, 

 a snail of exquisite beauty found and described by Dr. Grube, 1 and displaying 

 the most brilliant colours (it is in many respects similar to Acteon Hopei of 

 Ve.rany). 



Inside the rock swarms of Lithodomus lithophagus, also Galcomma 

 turtoni, Venerupis Irus are to be found. The Crustaceans Eriphia spinifrons 

 and species of Sphcsroma likewise hide here, also a number of Annellides, 

 such as Sabella, Tei'rebella, Etcnice, soft sea-worms of various lengths which 

 inhabit the rocks, E. sanguinea, for instance, attaining a length of 2 feet and 

 more, Polynoe, and sporadically Bonellia viridis. 



Nullipore ground affords protection to Serpula aspera, Eupomatos unci- 

 nahis, Terrebella corallina, T. spiralis, Eulalia macroceros, Polynoe areolata, 

 P. clypcata, &c, besides several Crustacea. Foremost amongst the latter 

 are Palcsmon squilla, Galeomma ttirtoni, Chiton cajetanus, together with 



1 " Ein Ausflug nach Trieste und dem Quarnero," p. 86. By Dr. A. E. Grube. Berlin : 1861. 



