THE EED-SPECKED PIMPLET. 201 



concealed ; or a narrow crevice, as between two contiguous 

 3tones, into which it may thrust its body. The variety 

 h'uida, which is not rare in Weymouth Bay, in deep 

 water, manifests the same habit, for it is usually found to 

 have ensconced itself in one of the angular cells or cham- 

 bers formed by the coral-like plates of Eschara foliacea, 

 which afford retreat to so many and so various creatures. 



A remarkable peculiarity of this species is the degree to 

 which it becomes transparent by distension with water. 

 The effect of this is not the general swelling of the body, 

 as in T. crassicornis, which is remarkable for the same habit 

 effected in another way, but a great dilatation of the disk 

 and tentacles, which then expand to an extraordinary 

 degree, becoming so diaphanous as to be almost destitute of 

 colour, and showing with absolute clearness the craspeda 

 in the intersepts of the visceral cavity. 



The species is hardy in captivity, and the varieties a and 

 /3 are very beautiful, especially the former. The variety 7 

 has not unfrequently beguiled me, on a hasty examination, 

 into the notion that S. bell is was before me ; and I think 

 that these two species form links by which the families 

 Bunodidce and Sagartiadce are connected. There is also a 

 remote affinity between this species and Aipt. Couchii. 



My friend, Mr. F. H. West, has received B. Ballu from 

 the French coast of the Channel. On our own side it 

 ranges in tolerable abundance from the Hampshire coast to 

 the Lizard, as the following list will indicate : — 



Selsey ; Ventnor, G. G. : Freshwater Bay, F. N. B. : 

 Weymouth ; Torquay, P. H. G. : Falmouth, W. P. C. 



thallia. 

 Sag. bellis. Ballu. Aip. Couchii. 



[cruentata]. 

 [Macloviana], 



