LIMA. 271 



all are capable of considerable extension, when the cirrhi 

 appear as if annulated : the largest cirrhi are those above 

 and around the anal region. The branchiae are deep 

 crimson and large. The belly is carinated, and as well as 

 the channeled cylindrical foot, of the same brilliant hue. 

 This species can spin for itself a compact nest of byssal 

 threads entangling small stones, shells and fragments of 

 nullipore ; in the midst of it lies the Lima, resting on a 

 smooth inner coating of fibres. As this animal is much 

 more frequently taken free than found thus imbedded, and 

 as it is a very active creature, swimming through the 

 water with great rapidity, it is most likely that this nest- 

 making habit is connected with some peculiarity in its 

 economv at some particular period of its existence. We 

 have never seen any but full-grown specimens contained 

 in these curious nests. 



This pretty shell is one of the scarcer inhabitants of the 

 British coasts ; it occurs in various depths of water. Spe- 

 cimens from different localities are often easily distinguish- 

 able. Herm, in pools at low-water, alive but scarce 

 (S. H.) ; Penzance, in twenty fathoms, and Anglesey, in 

 twelve fathoms (M'Andrew and E. F.) ; on the north 

 coast of the Isle of Man, in twelve to twenty-five fathoms, 

 on scallop banks, frequent, and attaining considerable 

 dimensions (E. F.). Not uncommon among nullipores in 

 Rothesay and Kames Bays, Isle of Bute, Lamlash Bay, 

 Isle of Arran, and Oban, where it is large (Alder) ; Oban, 

 — the inflated variety, — alive in fifteen fathoms (M'An- 

 drew and E. F.) ; off Sana Island, in forty fathoms 

 (Hyndman). Loch Oarron (Jeffreys). Eda Sound, Ork- 

 ney, in fifteen fathoms (Thomas) ; Belfast Bay, in seven 

 fathoms (Portlock). " Valves have been found in a recent 

 deposit of mud in Belfast Bay, close to the town " ( \ V . 



