430 MURICID^. 



The envelope is coriaceous, of a horny appearance, very 

 transparent, smooth, glossy, and of a yellowish colour; 

 one of the capsules contained three, the other only two 

 embryos. The last were far advanced, and apparently 

 readv to leave the case. Through the transparent cover- 

 ing, when first dredged, I could see them moving about 

 and adhering to the inner surface of the capsule by the 

 expanded foot, the sides of which were of a faint lilac 

 colour. The thin operculum, the flattened tentacles, the 

 diminutive spot-like eyes of these beautiful and interesting 

 creatures were also distinctly visible. The young shell is 

 very thin, brittle, pellucid, brilliantly glossy, and of a pale 

 amber-colour, nipple formed, and perfectly resembles the 

 nucleus or upper whorl of the adult individual, as will be 

 seen by referring to the accompanying plate. Those most 

 advanced in growth have two whorls, and are half an inch 

 in length, by a quarter in width." 



Of the animal of this species, we have seen a pre- 

 served specimen in Mr. Alder's collection, exhibiting traces 

 of purplish markings on a white ground. According to 

 Professor King, the mucro of its male organ is very much 

 produced and spirally disposed, measuring as much as an 

 inch and five-eighths in length ; and the mantle is much 

 thickened on the columellar side of the body- whorl. 



This very rare and very fine shell was added to our 

 fauna by JNIr. Bean, at Scarborough, Professor King, too, 

 procured it from the Doggerbank. Mr. Howse has dredged 

 it in sixty fathoms water off the Durham coast. It ap- 

 pears to be found fossil in the pleistocene beds of Sweden. 



