Mr. E. Forbes on neiv Marine Animals. 243 



rous Marsupialia of which the dentition is known, have all 

 more incisors in the upper than in the lower jaw. In the 

 number of incisors and canines, Antechinus agrees with 

 Centenes among Insectivora, and with the Ursidce, Canidcs, 

 and Felidce in general. From its ninnber of teeth and general 

 aspect, I conceive it will, when better known, be indubitably 

 assigned to the group of Insectivora. 



XXX. — On two remarkable Marine Invertebrata inhabiting 

 the JEgean Sea. Bv Edward Forbes. M.W.S., For. Sec. 

 B.S., &c.* 



[With a Plate.] 



The harbour of Nousa, in the island of Paros, though of 

 small extent, is extremely rich in marine animals, abounding 

 in Fish of various kinds, jMoUusca, Annelida, and Radiata. 

 As the surveying' ship Beacon, Capt. Graves, has made this 

 bay its summer quarters, I am enabled to examine its zoology 

 under very favourable circumstances ; and, through the kind 

 assistance of the commander and his officers, especially Lieut. 

 Freeland and Mr. Sprat, a number of rare and interesting 

 animals undergo a careful examination daily. 



The depth of the bay generally is from seven to ten fathoms ; 

 the bottom sand and weed, chiefly Zostera ; at the entrance 

 there is deeper water, from seventeen to thirty fathoms, ^vith 

 a bottom of corallines. The animals are different, according 

 to the bottom and depth. The coast is generally of rock ; in 

 some places mica-slate, in others white marble. There are 

 also a number of sandy bights, which in places where streams 

 run in are crowded with Cerithia, in others are inhabited by 

 sand-burrowing bivalves. Mixed with the sand are great 

 numbers of minute Testacea and Foraminifera. In these 

 sandy nooks live two animals, the one an Annelide, the 

 other a Polype, so remarkable on account of peculiarities of 

 form or habit that I have thought it might prove interesting 

 to transmit this short notice of them to the Association, re- 

 serving the general natural histoiy of the bay for a connected 

 view of the marine zoology of the Cyclades, which I hope to 

 submit to the Association at a future meeting. 



The animals in question are, 1st. a Zoophyte of the family 

 Actiniadce which is free and vermiform, and which lives in a 

 tube of its own constructing, a combination of characters, as 

 far as I know, hitherto unnoticed among the Helianthoid Po- 

 lypes ; and 2nd, a tubicolar Annelide which lives in a strong 

 gelatinous tube, bearing a remarkable analogy to the sac of 

 certain Entozoa. 



* Head in the Section of Zoology and Botany at the Meeting of the British 

 Associntior, PJyn.outh, and communicated by the Author. 



R2 



