2 54 <9/z(?// Life 



same as we have described as ribs crossing the whorls 

 in the case of Lacltesis, Trophon, and others, but 

 in Ocinehra erinacea they are more varicose. In 

 addition there are several spiral ridges running from 

 the mouth to the apex, and in crossing the varices 

 they produce that rugged appearance so characteristic 

 of the species. A figure is given on page 252. The 

 animal is yellowish, mottled with white. It is found 

 chiefly on tlie southern and western coasts, including 

 Wales, and all round Ireland. It inhabits rough 

 ground from a little below low-water mark to about 

 30 fathoms. It is one of the great enemies of the 

 oyster, boring neat round holes in the upper valve of 

 young oysters and so gaining admittance. It is from 

 this nefarious practice that the fishermen interested 

 in oyster-beds have called it the Sting-winkle, its 

 " sting " being the proboscis with its boring implement. 

 Like the Miirex truncidus so well known to the 

 ancients, and like Piirpura, the Sting- winkle carries 

 about a small quantity of fluid capable of d^ang 

 fabrics violet or purple, and which is probably ejected 

 in the water for defensive purposes. The shell 

 attains a length of about 2 J inches. The triangular 

 egg-capsules, each containing from a dozen to twenty 

 eggs, are deposited separately but in little groups. 

 The Small Sting -winkle (0. aciculata) is similar 

 in appearance, but of a dark red-brown colour, 

 with more numerous spiral ridges, and only about 

 half an inch in length. The animal is bright red, 

 sometimes flecked with yellow. It has been found 

 only in the Channel Islands, where it is moderately 

 plentiful. 



The Purple {Purjnira lapillus), commonly known 



