98 TETHYS-AUSTRALASIAN. 



Aplysia brunnea HUTT., Trans. N. Z. Inst., vii, p. 279, pi. 21, fig. 

 (1875) ; Man. N. Z. Moll., p. 123. 



T. VENOSA Button. PI. 59, fig. 39. 



Animal yellowish-brown, veined with dark brown, about 6 inches 

 in length. Shell membranous ; the apex rather coarsely concen- 

 trically striated, the rest of the shell smooth and polished ; epi- 

 dermis pale straw color. Length 1*25, breadth 1 inch. (Hutton*). 



Wellington, New Zealand. 



Aplysia venosa HUTT., Trans. N. Z. Inst., vii, p. 279, pi. 21, fig. 

 (1875). 



T. TRYONII Meinertzhagen. 



Animal a dark brown (kelp color), spotted all over with gray 

 pepper colored spots. The edges of the lower lobe of the mantle 

 marked evenly with alternate darker brown and gray. The lobe 

 covering the shell striped with gray, all of which stripes point to, 

 and narrow towards, the apex of the shell. Posterior sides of upper 

 tentacles also a peppery gray color. Shell faintly but finely striated 

 concentrically, horny and flexible at the edges. 



Length of shell 1'15 inches, breadth 0'65 in. Length of animal 

 about 5 inches. 



The above animal appears to me to differ in coloring from A. 

 brunnea, described by Capt. F. W. Hutton. The shell also appears 

 to me to differ in its measurements from those given by Capt. Hut- 

 ton, and in appearance from that figured in his plate, being much 

 longer in comparison with its breadth. The coarse striations and 

 shape of the shell of A. venosa leave no doubt that my specimens 

 differ from, that animal. 



All my specimens discharged the purple fluid (which is character- 

 istic of the genus) on being placed in fresh water, or otherwise an- 

 noyed. I noticed also that the lower lobes, which some authors say 

 are used in swimming by this genus, are only used in that way by 

 this species in a very qualified sense. They attach themselves to a 

 rock or to sea- weed by their tails, and allow their bodies to drift 

 about, simply guiding the direction of their bodies, and maintaining 

 their upright position, by the movement of the lobes. 



As in Parmophorus, Bulla and Haliotus, the shells of younger 

 individuals were much larger in relation to their bodies than those 

 of mature age. (Meinert.*) 



Waimarama, Hawke's Bay, and Napier, New Zealand. 



