Bibliographical Notice. 423 
Immediately below the constriction there is a slight tinge of 
yellowish colouring. 
The web that unites the lower portions of the tentacles forms 
a rather deep cup round the proboscis, and is coloured by the 
batteries of thread-cells that occur between each pair of arms. 
These intertentacular thread-cells are similar to those which 
thickly cover the capitulum of the snake-like organs. They 
emit a very long thread, with a barbed sheath at its base. 
These slender filaments may be seen cast forth beyond the ten- 
tacles, and intermingling with them, and must constitute an 
effective auxiliary force for the capture of prey. The arms are 
held alternately elevated and depressed. 
The chitinous tube that encloses the base of the tentaculoid 
appendages is small and somewhat trumpet-shaped. 
The Ophiodes, it will be seen, combines a large number of 
interesting characters ; and one or two of its most striking fea- 
tures are unique. It presents a really remarkable array of 
curious structures—the distinct funnel-shaped head crowning 
the tapering body, and itself crowned by the tentacular verticil 
with its battery of thread-cells at every embrasure, the elegant 
calycle, the strange snake-like organ near it, either resting 
motionless and sentinel-like or twisting vehemently about, 
bristling above at times with barbs, and casting abroad its fatal 
threads, and the number of similar organs below, twirling them- 
selves about in the maddest fashion, as if to scare away any 
invaders. 
- Hab. On weed, dredged in shallow water (5-8 fathoms), 
Swanage Bay, Dorset. Not uncommon. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE XIV. 
Figs. 1 & 2. Ophiodes mirabilis, Hincks, highly magnified. 
Fig. 3. One of the tentaculoid organs. 
Fig. 4. A portion of the tentacular circle, showing the connecting web 
with its clusters of thread-cells. 
Fig. 5. A calycle, showing the cup-shaped chamber which encloses the 
base of the polypite. 
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE. 
Annuario della Societa dei Naturalisti in Modena. Annol. Mo- 
dena, Maggio 1866. 8vo, pp. 152, with 8 plates. 
Tue political development of Italy is attended by a gradual and 
steady progress of science. Scientific publications have been until 
lately comparatively few in number; and such as have appeared have 
been more or less marked by some irregularity in the manner of their 
