18 



released. In the specimen before me, the shell is exposed to view on each 

 side as represented in the plate ; but I quite agree with Mr. Gray, in believing 

 that it is entirely concealed during the hfe of the animal ; from the ragged 

 edges of the skin it has all the appearance of having contracted and burst, 

 either in drying, or from its contact with the spirits in which it was plunged. 



In perusing the Memoirs above alluded to of M. De Blainville, in 1837, 

 and Mr, Gray, in 1845, it may be observed that the second proposition 

 estabhshed by the former in reference to the Spirula, is, that it has a pair 

 of terminal lateral fins " 2° il a une paire de nageoires laterales et tout-a- 

 fait terminales "; whilst the latter author affirms on the other hand " it 

 differs from the Cuttle-fish in being entirely destitute of any fins." The 

 terminal fuis are so much contracted in this specimen that Mr. Gray appears 

 to have overlooked them ; they are clearly definable, one at each lateral ex- 

 tremity, on either side of the terminal gland, so that I am fully able to con- 

 firm the observation made by M. De BlainviUe. 



The use and connection between the shell of Spirula and the soft parts 

 still remain to be explained^; a curious vignette is given by Martini, Conch. 

 Cab. vol. i. p. 260, representing a fossil slab, in wliich the shell is elongated 

 into a straight tube, but nothing certain can be ascertained until the animal 

 is fairly dissected. At present Mr. Cuming is desirous of preserving the 

 specimen under consideration entire, fuUy anticipating that with the in- 

 structions forwarded to some gentlemen in New Zealand, it will not be long 

 before others are obtained. 



Spirula Peronii. Plate A, — Fig. a, Back view of the animal showing the 

 funnel protruding from the upper part of the mantle, the narrow end 

 of the shell, with the terminal fins very much contracted, d. Side view 

 showing the eye, rather obscured, and the lateral extent of the shell. 

 c. Pront view showing the broad end of the shell the terminal fins at 

 the base, &c. d. Under view of the basal gland, e. Back view of the 

 shell, showing the siphon in the outer chamber. /. Lateral view of 

 the shell. From a specimen in the possession of Mr. Cmning, collected 

 hy Mr. Percy Earl at Port Nicholson, New Zealand. 



No other species known at present. 



* Mr. Gray says on this head, in his Memoir in the ' Annals Nat. Hist.', " I am informed by 

 M. Clausen that he had several specimens of this animal alive, and kept them some time in a vessel 

 filled with sea-water, and that they had the power of ascending and descending at pleasure." This 

 assertion, though highly probable, should, however, be received with caution ; it seems difficult 

 to imagine how any one with the observation displayed by M. Clausen, in keeping several of the 

 Spirulic alive in sea-water, eould have failed to communicate specimens accompanied with that 

 intelligence of I heir structure and habits which uatiu-alists have so long desired to receive. 



