66 



Family VII. SCYLL^E'ID^E. 



BODY compressed : mantle produced into lateral lobes, which 

 bear the branchial processes: tentacles with sheaths: mouth 

 armed with corneous jaws. 



Genus SCYLL^'A [*], Linne. 

 [PL III. f. 1.] 



BODY strongly compressed laterally and produced into large 

 erect lobes on each side of the back, on the inner surface of 

 which the plumose or tufted branchial processes are scattered : 

 Jiead-veil rudimentary: tentacles laminated, with large sheaths: 

 vent lateral : odontophore broad, with numerous lateral spines 

 and a broad central one ; all the spines are denticulated. 



SCYLL^IA PELA'GICA, Linne. 



S. pelagica, Linn. S. N. p. 1094; A. & H. Brit. Nud. Moll. p. 47. 



BODY higher than broad, creamcoloured, transparent : ten- 

 tacles rather small, laminated, issuing from large, compressed, 

 trumpet- shaped sheaths, frilled posteriorly : branchial pro- 

 cesses consisting of two lobes on each side of the back (which 

 are large, flattened, and rather irregularly shaped, each bearing 

 tufts of branchial filaments over their inner surface), and of a 

 central posterior, crest- shaped lobe (also bearing filaments) 

 towards the tail : foot linear, the sides thin and capable of 

 being drawn together for clasping. L. 1-5. 



HABITAT : Three living specimens were met with by Mr. 

 Cocks in 1847, adhering to a weather-beaten Laminaria bul- 

 bosa cast on shore at Falmouth. 



This is a pelagic species, and is usually found on the floating 

 gulf-weed of the Atlantic ; but this instance of its occurrence 

 on a Laminaria shows that it may occasionally -be an inhabi- 

 tant of our coast. [ JEgean, 4 f. (Forbes).] 



[* Belonging to the classical rock Scylla.] 



