168 APHRODITA. 



The length of specimens apparently full-grown, including antennae 

 and bristles, is eighteen lines, breadth three. Form nearly linear. From 

 fourteen to perhaps eighteen pair of scales, always composed of two 

 colours, cover the body ; each scale having the second colour as a broader 

 or narrower partial marginal border on the interior side, which mar- 

 gins meeting, produce a narrower red, brown, or black stripe, of various 

 intensity, down the back of the animal. 



The colour of different specimens, therefore, is not only very differ- 

 ent, but alternations ensue in the same specimens. 



The scales of the specimen, fig. 10, were wood-brown, with a cres- 

 cent of the inner edge blackish-brown. They were so thin as to expose 

 the animal's head of a reddish colour, which seems common to most 

 of the Aphrodita. It had lost almost all the scales a week after being 

 taken, when the body appeared of the faintest purple, the head more 

 livid, exposing its four black eyes. About forty pencils bordered the 

 sides, and a red line traversed the pearly belly. 



In five days longer only five of the original scales remained. 



Before this time, however, as the loss of the scales was gradual, 

 small distinct circular marks appeared on the upper surface at the root 

 of the pencils, indicating incipient regeneration. Their advances became 

 sensible on the 15th of October, but the middle of the back remained 

 bare, the scales being yet too small to cover it. In six days, however, 

 the edges of each row met, when the margin was there coloured between 

 crimson and purple, though for sometime remaining pale. On the 1st of 

 November, scarcely any difference could be discovered between the ori- 

 ginal scales and those regenerated. Their progress had advanced ; deep 

 purple stained the margin of the whole on the 12th. Already the dark 

 stripe appeared down the back, which had become still more conspicuous 

 on the 21st, by the edges overlapping each other. 



The animal survived a month longer, and never displayed the usual 

 timidity or ready retreat from the light common to its kind. 



The margin of the proboscis is surrounded by about eighteen stout, 

 triangular, flattened, fleshy papillary organs, and the anterior of the pro- 



