DIODON OF SOWERBY. 193 



By looking at our plate, and perusing the descrip- 

 tion of Sowerby, we learn that the body of this 

 beautiful animal is thick, especially in the middle, 

 diminishing towards the extremities ; the forehead 

 is not prominent but much depressed, and termi- 

 nates in a long muzzle. Mr. Sowerby states that 

 the lower jaw is blunt, longer than the upper, with 

 two short lateral teeth, constituting the distinguish- 

 ing characteristic of the species; the upper jaw, 

 wholly without teeth, is sharp, let into the lower 

 one, and has two depressions corresponding to the 

 teeth ; the eye is very small and oval, the spiracle 

 is stated to be lunated, w r ith its horns pointing 

 forwards ; the pectorals are small ; the dorsal is over 

 the vent ; the tail large and festooned. The colour 

 is black above and nearly white below, and satiny 

 all over. Immediately under the cuticle the sides 

 were observed to be completely covered with white 

 vermicular streaks in every direction, which at a 

 little distance appeared like irregular cuts of a small 

 sharp instrument. The length was sixteen feet, 

 and the circumference eleven at the broadest part. 

 The habitat and habits of this species are wholly 

 unknown. In fact, this is the only specimen whick 

 nas hitherto been noticed and described. 



