LEPRALIA. 319 



deservedly admired by O. Fabricius. Mr. Hassall's com- 

 parison, though, except to an anatomist, not a pleasing one, 

 gives a good idea of it. It is like " a miniature human 

 thorax; the cross-pieces representing the ribs, and the broad 

 band into which these are inserted being analogous to a 

 sternum." We must suppose it the thorax of a pretty little 

 fairy, for notwithstanding its skeleton-like aspect, it is very 

 beautiful. It is rare in Scotland. The finest specimen I 

 have seen I got on the shore opposite to Port George, In- 

 verness-shire. It was almost equalled by specimens I got 

 from Miss Cutler, at Budleigh Salterton, the whole fabric 

 of which had a metallic appearance ; the tiny ribs seemed 

 made of steel. There are several varieties of it, for the 

 aperture is sometimes unarmed, and at other times with a 

 spine at each side ; those I got at Budleigh Salterton had 

 five long spines on the under lip. It is common on Eschara 

 foliacea in Devonshire. " When living, it is either a 

 yellowish flesh-colour, or intermediate to a silvery white." 

 (CoucL] 



26*. LEPRALIA MELOLONTHA, Busk. (Plate XVIII. 

 fig. 70.) 



This cannot but be regarded as a remarkably beautiful 

 species, seeing that it was for some time considered as what 



