APHRODITA. 165 



strong and capacious proboscis, while the victim struggled desperately to 

 be free. The assailant, after retaining the prey for some time, was reluc- 

 tantly compelled to disgorge it. But the suffering animal's back was broke, 

 and some of the scales ruffled off by the rude assault. Next morning 

 only half of the whole remained, the other portion having been devoured, 

 and the victor now darted out the proboscis repeatedly to finish its meal 

 on the rest as it lay in a corner, this organ, like a hard substance, strik- 

 ing the glass. 



This species, like others of the genus, is liable to lose the scales. 

 But individuals are tenacious of life. First, the scales separate, and the 

 body ruptures asunder, yet both portions survive for some time. 



In the middle of July, a large specimen produced an immense num- 

 ber, not fewer than 10,000 ova, or perhaps more. This great pro- 

 fusion, accumulated on the bottom of a glass vessel, was of reddish hue. 

 The individual ovum was minute, white, and globular to the naked eye ; 

 but exposing a darker nucleus under the microscope, within its transpa- 

 rent integument. 



I know not whether the eyes of this, or of any other species of the 

 Aphrodita, are confluent. A large specimen, not shorter than three 

 inches and a half, having reached me from Shetland in June, totally 

 divested of the scales, besides suffering other injuries, I could discover 

 only two eyes, of a rude oval form. By eyes, I mean a dark formation 

 on the usual place of eyes. I concluded this to be a specimen of the 

 Cirro.sa. It had forty-four or forty-five pencils. 



This Aphrodita is the largest, at least the longest, of what I consi- 

 der the genuine race inhabiting the Scotish seas. Like the rest, its 

 favourite retreat is under the surface of shells, where it adheres in a re- 

 versed position. It is extremely timid, roaming abroad at night, and like 

 the rest, apparently watching for prey. It is rare. 



* 

 PLATE XXIV. 



FIG. 1. Aphrodila cirrosa, back. 

 2. Belly. 



