CELLEPORIDjE : LEPRALIA. 319 



-- * * * Wall of the cell fissured. 



26. L. NITIDA, cells subcylindrical, glassy, crossed with 

 about six fissures interrupted by the smooth medial line ; aper- 

 ture wide, terminal, subquadr angular. Dr. Fleming. 



PLATE LV. FIG. 11. 



Cellepora nitida, Fabr. Faun. Groenl. 435. no. 443. Lam. Anim. a. vert. 2de dit. 

 ii. 259. Berenices nitida, Flem. Brit Anim. 533, Lepralia nitida, Johns. Brit. 

 Zooph. 277. pi. 34. fig. 7. ff assail in Ann. and Mag. N. Hist. vii. 367. W. 

 Thompson in Ann. Nat. Hist. v. 253. Couch Corn. Faun. iii. 114. pi. 22. fig. 3. 



Hob. On rocks, shells, and Laminarise. On shells, rare, Dr. 

 Fleming. Isle of Man, E. Forbes. Scarborough, on Anomia ephip- 

 pium, very rare, W. Bean. In Berwick Bay, on Patella coerulea, G. 

 J. Coast of Ayrshire, Rev. D. Landsborough. Coast of Cornwall, 

 C. W. Peach. Strangford Lough, W. Thompson. 



Crust closely adherent, spreading irregularly, greyish-white, calca- 

 reous : cells contiguous, rowed, horizontal, semi-alternate, sub-cylin- 

 drical, silvery and glistening, the walls fissured with six or seven 

 cross slits which meet on the mesial line ; aperture terminal, wide, 

 subquadrangular, unarmed, but sometimes there is a short spine on 

 each side of its lower angle. Over the aperture there is often found 

 a pearly ovarian capsule, which is globular and smooth, and has a 

 small round opening on one side. 



The remarkable structure of the cells renders this one of the most 

 interesting species under the microscope. I would say of it what 

 Fabricius says of his Cellepora annulata, ..."pulcherrima et perfectis- 

 sima hsec omnium visorum." Mr. Hassall compares the cell to "a 

 miniature human thorax ; the cross pieces representing the ribs, and 

 the broad band into which these are inserted being analogous to a 

 sternum. A distinct spine is frequently to be observed on each side 

 of the lower angle of the mouth of the cell." Mr. Peach has found 

 it with four or more spines at the aperture ; and I have specimens 

 confirmatory of the observation. 



A specimen on the shell of a Mytilus from Kirkwall Bay, present- 

 ed to me by Lieut. Thomas, E..N., is branched in a fine dendritic 

 manner, like Alecto dilatans. 



27. L. INNOMINATA, cells short, sub-orbicular or ovate, fur- 

 rowed, the ribs radiating from the dorsal line ; aperture small, 

 circular, armed with several short denticles or spines not longer 

 than its diameter. C. W. Peach. 



