found on the South Coast of Devonshire. 81 



come equally extended in a spiral direction ; the plumes on the 

 lower part of the tentacula meet near the mouth, which is very 

 little protruded ; these are of a light yellow brown, banded and 

 mottled with chesnut : behind the head a ruff or scalloped mem- 

 branaceous reflected margin, composed of four parts or petals, 

 which almost* meet underneath, of a dark purple colour in the 

 front, edged with white ; pale beneath : scutellum composed of 

 ten joints, with three rows of plates ; those of the middle largest, 

 and of a yellow colour ; the sides purplish : the other part of^he 

 body above is formed of four series of plates or scales, with a 

 slight sulcus down the middle of the back ; the segments of this 

 part are about eighty, of a dark purple brown colour : on each 

 side is a row of tubercles, one at each annulation, and a small 

 pencil of retractile bristles ; those on the sides of the scutel- 

 lum are most conspicuous : the plates or segments beneath are 



single. 



This elegant species of Amphitrite was taken by dredging for 

 oysters, and was brought to us alive in sea water. In this situa- 

 tion an opportunity offered of examining the curious structure of 

 its beautiful tentacula, which far exceeds the pencil of the 

 artist. These are not in the least retractile, but are capable of 

 more or less extension, by more or less contortion, and may pos- 

 sibly at times be thrown out at full length ; but the animal never 

 showed any such inclination after it was taken, though kept alive 

 for several days, and when dead was more contorted than before. 

 The fibres are sometimes laid close, at other times expanded at 

 right angles, showing the columella or stalk. 



The animals of this genus are usually of a soft nature, and ge* 

 nerally protect their tender bodies by a tubular case, into which 

 they can wholly recede: this, on the contrary, by the firmness of 



VOL. VII. M l ** 



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