THE KED-yPECKED PIMPLET. 
201 
concealed ; or a narrow crevice, as between two contiguous 
stones, into which it may thrust its body. The variety 
Iivida, which is not rare in Weymouth Bay, in deep 
water, manifests the same habit, for it is usually found to 
have ensconced itself in one of the angular cells or cham- 
bers formed by the coral-like plates of Eschara foliacea, 
which afford retreat to so many and so various creatures. 
A remarkable peculiarity of this species is the degree to 
which it becomes transparent by distension with water. 
The effect of this is not the general swelling of the body, 
as in T. crassicornis, which is remarkable for the same habit 
effected in another way, but a gi-eat dilatation of the disk 
and tentacles, which then expand to an extraordinary 
degree, becoming so diaphanous as to be almost destitute of 
colour, and showing with absolute clearness the craspeda 
in the intersepts of the visceral cavity. 
The species is hardy in captivity, and the varieties a and 
/8 are veiy beautiful, especially the former. The variety 7 
has not unfrequently beguiled me, on a hasty examination, 
into the notion that S. hellis was before me ; and I think 
that these two species form links by which the families 
Bunodidce and SagartiadcB are connected. There is also a 
remote affinity between this species and Aipt. Couchii. 
My friend, Mr. F. II. West, has received B. Ballii from 
the French coast of the Channel. On our own side it 
ranges in tolerable abundance from the Hampshire coast to 
the Lizard, as the following list will indicate : — 
Selsey; Ventnor, G. G. : Freshwater Bay, F. N. B. : 
Weymouth; Torquay, P. 11 . G. : Falmouth, TF. P. C. 
thallia. 
Sag. bellis. Ballii. Aip. Couchii. 
[cruentata]. 
[Macloviana]. 
