AKERA. 529 



shape, and (except in the more produced forms, where the 

 moutli is altogether narrower) is broadly rounded below, 

 and gradually attenuates upwards from the swell of the 

 body- whorl. The outer lip is simply arcuated, and in- 

 clined to curl inwards; its posterior advance and anterior 

 recession are both considerable. The pillar, which is 

 peculiarly incurved, is so cut away as to display the 

 internal structure ; it is white, very narrow, and a little 

 reflected, but not flanked by any umbilical crevice. Some 

 of the large Irish specimens attain to an inch and an 

 eighth in length, and almost seven-eighths of an inch in 

 width. 



The animal is of an elongated subcylindrical shape, 

 limaciform in front, truncated behind. The mantle lobes 

 are very large and elongated ; they meet just in front of 

 the centre of the shell. The head lobe is short and oblong, 

 truncated in front, and triangular posteally. There are 

 no eyes. The whole body is deeply tinged and mottled 

 with purple, or with brown. 



It inhabits the littoral zone, ranging between one and 

 fifteen fathoms, usually among weed. It has a wide range, 

 but is only locally abundant. About four miles from 

 Portland bridge, the mud, at high- water mark, is fringed 

 with thousands of them (S. H.). Southampton (Jeffreys); 

 Poole (Barlee) ; Hebrides (Jeffreys) ; Orkney, as in Kirk- 

 wall Bay, ten fathoms (E. F.). In five fathoms, Unst, 

 Zetland (M 'Andrew). Common in oozy bays of the 

 north, east, and west of Ireland (W. Thompson). The 

 figure is taken from a specimen dredged in three fathoms 

 water, Clew Bay, Gal way (E. F.). Bantry Bay (Mrs. 

 Puxley). 



It ranges from Norway to the Mediterranean. 



VOL. III. li V 



