Aplysiidae and Oxynoeidae 195 



tentacles, with a short slit, on the upper, forward end, behind which 

 are a pair of eyes, near the outer sides of the bases of the ten- 

 tacles; behind these the rhinopores. Pleuropodia or "swimming 

 lobes" are united behind, only where both join the heavy, elongate, 

 oval foot, somewhat squared at the interior extremity, forming 

 corners which can be turned inward for use as clasping processes. 

 Also the entire extent of the lateral borders of the foot can be re- 

 flected over the plantar surface and used as clasps. They crawl with 

 speed and facility, in snail fashion. They swim freely and rapidly 

 by means of a winglike motion of these lobes, and can sustain 

 themselves m a reversed position beneath the surface of the water. 

 Body is patterned with a varied mixture of opaque sea-green, olive- 

 gray and purple in irregular blotches and spots. When disturbed they 

 exude large amounts of a beautiful deep purple fluid and escape in 

 a smoke screen of this diffused fluid. 



The eggs are laid m capsules contained in a greenish-white 

 tangled mass of gelatmous strmglike threads, in the quiet, shallow 

 water of the bays and coves, among the eel grass and sea weeds. The 

 Chmese and many native South Sea races eat these eggs which are 

 said to be quite palatable. Though the Tethys are vegetarian, they 

 will sometimes eat their eggs, especially when in captivity. 



Family OXYNOEIDAE 



Intermediate between T ectibranchiata and Ascoglossa, nearer 

 the latter. Few species are known and only one species of Lobiger 

 has been found in the United States, in about six fathoms off 

 Sanibel Island, Florida. Two specimens were dredged, entangled in 

 a mass of bright green seaweed, Caulerfa crassifolia (C. Ag. ) J. Ag. 



Other species of Oxynoe and Lobiger from the Mediterranean, 

 West Indies, and Indo-Pacific. 



Genus LOBIGER Krohn, 1847 

 Lobiger365 pjlsbryi Schwengel PI. 55, fig. 365 



Length, 12.5 mm.; width, 8.5 mm., with convexity of 5.5 mm. 

 Shell oval, involute, thin and nearly transparent; surface closely and 

 finely striate along lines of growth; aperture greatly expanded, col- 

 umellar margin reflected; shell wholly external, mantle only nar- 



^^° Gr., lobos, lobe. 



