the coast of South Carolina, in company with my friend, Lieut. 

 T. D. Kurtz, U. S. A., I had the fortune to meet with a new 

 form of parasitic gasteropodous mollusca, living under circum- 

 stances quite unique in this order. We had succeeded in cap- 

 turing some gigantic annelides of the Aphrodita family, (^Aco'etes 

 lupi7ia,) which lived in thick leathery tubes, extending down 

 two or three feet into the mud near low-water mark. Upon 

 drawing one of these worms from its domicil, some bright blood- 

 red objects were found concealed under its scales, which, upon 

 examination, proved to be little shells, resembling in size and 

 shape our common Plaiiorbis exacutus. These were placed in a 

 watch-glass of sea-water, and drawings made of them, which are 

 presented herewith. 



The publication of these figures has been delayed, in the hope 

 that opportunity would occur for a more thorough investigation 

 of the structure of the animal, with the view of determining its 

 place in the system. It has not, however, since been met with ; 

 and as the subject is one of great interest, I have been led to 

 give at this time such information as could be collected from the 

 specimens first discovered. 



For this curious animal, which evidently forms a new genus 

 and species, I would propose the name 



COCHLIOLEPIS PARASITICUS. 



The animal was of a blood-red color ; foot oblong, tapering 

 behind with a rounded extremity, slightly auricled before, ante- 

 riorly bimarginate. Head small, rounded and notched in front, 

 without veil. Tentacles slender, tapering, equalling in length 

 the diameter of the shell. Eyes none. (?) A small supple- 

 mentary plicated gill on the right side, projecting out freely be- 



