306 DECEMBER 



We have a pretty attractive little Cynthia in our 

 dredging, the Currant Squirter. 1 It is not uncommon 

 in deep water off this coast, and in Weymouth Bay ; 

 frequently occurring in family groups crowded together 

 on old shells. Generally there is one of superior dimen- 

 sions to the rest, the venerable parent of the colony ; 

 and, surrounding him, others of varying size, and (doubt- 

 less) age, down to very minute infants. The full size is 

 about that of half a small cherry ; but it is more usual 

 to see them not exceeding that of half a red currant. 

 These comparisons will also- give a fair idea of their 

 shape and colour, especially in a state of contraction, 

 as when lifted from the water : for they are little hemi- 

 spheres of a brilliant, scarcely pellucid, crimson hue, 

 seated on the shell by the whole broad base. Under 

 water, and at ease, the form becomes more conical, 

 rising into a point ; whence, in full expansion, the two 

 siphons protrude, slightly divergent, and the one a little 

 superior to the other, each opening by a distinctly qua- 

 drangular orifice. 



Contrasting with this neat and pretty little family, 

 we have here another species of the genus, the Four- 

 angled Squirter. 2 You would hardly suppose this to be 



1 Cynthia grossularia ; of which a group is depicted in Plate xxxiv, 

 seated on an old cockle valve, to the right of the foreground. 

 * Cynthia quadrangularis, represented in the background of Plate 

 rising above the cockle shell which supports the Currants. 



