AND THE FISH THEREOF. 13 



Animal life increases where the rocks are covered with hard, brittle 

 and useless sponges, which first make their appearance here, and are 

 so far characteristic of this region as to form the facies of littoral Spongieta. 

 They are of three species : — 1. Sarcotragus spinosulus (which harbours some 

 Annellides, such as Lumbriconereis Nardonis, Polyno'e squamala, P. elcgans); 

 2. Geodia placenta (which, besides the aforenamed Annellides, supports Nereis 

 Costa in large numbers, and Saxicava arctica and S. Guerini embedded in the 

 sponge), resembling the Tethya lyncurnium in its texture, and 3. Reniera 

 calyx. 



On coasts sheltered from the full force of the prevalent winds, Bora and 

 Scirocco, on the surface of rocks covered with Algse, are found elegant 

 Bryozoae, such as the dark Lepralia Heckelii and a bright red Ccllepora; 

 adhering to the rocks, Haliotis tuberculata, a shell extending as far as Guernsey, 

 which is its most northern limit, Patella ccerulca, P. vulgata, Chiton siculus, 

 Fissurella gibba ; species of Trochus, Jldurex; Area barbata, A. laclea, Lima 

 squamosa, Spondyhts gada-ropus. Underneath the rocks several nudibranch 

 sea-snails seek shelter, such as Doris Villafranca, a beautiful dark blue snail 

 with golden, white, and light blue lines, also D. argits and Elysia splendida, 

 a snail of exquisite beauty found and described by Dr. Grube, 1 and displaying 

 the most brilliant colours (it is in many respects similar to Acteon Hopei of 

 Verany). 



Inside the rock swarms of Lithodomus lithophagus, also Galeomma 

 turtoni, Venerupis dries are to be found. The Crustaceans Eriphia spinifrous 

 and species of Sphcrroma likewise hide here, also a number of Annellides, 

 such as Sabclla, Terrebella, Eunice, soft sea-worms of various lengths which 

 inhabit the rocks, E. sanguined, for instance, attaining a length of 2 feet and 

 more, Polyno'e, and sporadically Boncllia viridis. 



Nullipore ground affords protection to Serpula aspera, Eupomatos unci- 

 natus, Terrebella coralliua, T. spiralis, Eulalia macroceros, Polyno'e areolata, 

 P. clypeala, &c, besides several Crustacea. Foremost amongst the latter 

 are Pahemon squilla, Galeomma turtoni, Chiton cajetanus, together with 



Kin Ausflug nach Trieste unci dem Quarnero," p. 86. By Dr. A. E. Grube. Berlfn : 1861. 



