158 Prof. M'liitosh'si Xuiesfrom the 



fillet, which, though dimiuished, resembles that in front, 

 viz., has a more prominent margin at the lower half. 



It is strictly an inhabitant of the sand. 



Part of Dr. Johnston's description of Nerine coniocephala 

 would apply to Nerine cirratulus, Delle Chiaje, whilst his 

 figure indicates Nerine foliosa. 



The second British species is Nerine cirratulus, Delle 

 Chiiije, which has a wide distribution on both east and west 

 coasts and extends to the Mediterranean. The head is 

 acutely pointed anteiiorly, the central processes passing 

 backward to end in tlie median tentacle. The median ridge 

 is supported by the buccal segment vn each side, so that the 

 snout appciirs to be trilobed. The eyes are four and small, 

 the anterior pair wider apart ; situated in front of tlie 

 occipital tintucle. The body is 6—8 inches in length, and 

 posteriorly terminates in a creuate anus. The branchiae 

 commence on the second foot, and the dorsal lamella is 

 attached to the outer edge in front. At tiist, e. y. from the 

 lUth to the 25th f>ot, the lamella has two divisions, then it 

 becomes single and hatchet-shaped and is fixed only to the 

 base (if the branchia. At the 10th foot the long, almost 

 filiform branchia projects upward, the coil of the included 

 vessel leaving only \ of the length free. Ne;irly a third of 

 the outer border is occupied by the upper flap of the division, 

 and the free papilla at the tip projects upward in addition. 

 Tilt' strong yet finely tapered bristles extend obliquely up- 

 ward beyond the edge of the flap, and only traces of wings 

 are present. The tips of the shorter bristles form a regular 

 series nearer the edge of the flap, and the broader and less 

 tapered extremities of these show indications of wings. All 

 are mlnuiely dotted, as mentioned by De St. Joseph. I'he 

 flap of the inferior division forms an irregular semicircle, 

 shorter from above downward than the superior, but pro- 

 jecting further outward. The dotted bristles also form two 

 series, viz. a lower group with finely tapered tips and a 

 shorter series with slightly winged tips; the upward slope 

 of these bristles being less than in the case of the dorsal. 

 Little change occurs at the 25th foot except the increase of 

 the inferior lamella, the subulate condition of the branchia, 

 and the more slender bristles. The hooks have a bold up- 

 ward curve toward the end of the shaft, then the diminished 

 tip bends backward and ends in a small, blunt fang with a 

 spike on the crown, the whole guarded by wings. At the 

 70th foot bristles still occupy the upper division, so that the 

 southern forms, fiom which ]\Iesnil drew up his description, 



