320 HISTORY OF BRITISH ZOOPHYTES. 
we may call an improved variety of that little gem, J. 
nitida, It was discovered by Mr. Busk on oyster-shells 
from the south of England, and on shells from the Thames, 
sent to him by Lieutenant Thomas. It was also detected 
by Mrs. Gatty on oyster-shells sent to her from the south 
of England; and on her specimens some of its distinguish- 
ing characteristics were first observed. After strict and de- 
liberate examination, it has been found to be quite entitled 
to rank as a distinct species, to which the very appropriate 
name, melolontha, has been assigned, because it has a tail 
turned up very like a cockchafer’s. It has a hyaline crust, 
and two turned-up horns on the under lip. I have it from 
Mrs. Gatty, to whose felicitous pencil I am indebted for all 
the figures of the Lepralia, Plate XVIII, except fig. 71, 
an exquisite representation of J. Gattya, by Dr. Greville, of 
Edinburgh. The following description of LZ. melolontha I 
owe to the kindness of Mrs. Gatty. 
“This is the variety of ZL. uzté¢da mentioned by Dr. 
Johnston as ‘branched in a fine dendritic manner, like 
Alecto dilatans.’ It differs from L. nitida in the cells being 
immersed in a delicate transparent crust; so that, in some 
cases, there is a considerable intervening space between 
each cell, A still more remarkable feature, and the one 
