26 PHRONIMID^E. 



derable development, although still shorter and compara- 

 tively more robust than in the perfect animal. The eyes, 

 in the perfect state, have afforded very interesting details. 

 In addition to the lateral pair of the ordinary form, 

 connected with the lateral extremities of the brain, are a 

 superior pair of organs of sight, the nerves of which are 

 considerably elongated, arising from intermediate dila- 

 tations of the brain, and terminating in a mass of small 

 knobs. The basal portion of these nerve-filaments 

 forms a dark red mass, so that, in these respects, the 

 animal is quite analogous toAmpelisca Gai?nardii, described 

 in our Vol. i. p. 128. 



The only specimen of this species which we have seen 

 as a native of the British coast, is one in the British 

 Museum, taken by Dr. Fleming on the 3rd November, 

 1809, at Burray, in Zetland, amongst rejectamenta of the 

 sea. This specimen, unfortunately, is in a very dilapi- 

 dated condition. We have, therefore, found it necessary 

 to present our readers with a figure drawn from a speci- 

 men of unknown habitat, with which we have compared 

 the British type. Other specimens from the Shetland 

 Islands were obtained by the late Dr. Johnston, and 

 exhibited by him before the Berwickshire Naturalists' 

 Club in 1855 (Proceedings, iii. p. 212). 



The animal is more abundant in warmer latitudes; 

 and the fact of its having been found so far north is to be 

 attributed, probably, to the currents of the Great Gulf 

 Stream. Risso describes the animal as being transparent, 

 shining, and covered with red spots. Desmarest says 

 that it is to be found mostly in the cavities of Pyro- 

 soma and Beroe. Several specimens of the Phronima 

 within the latter animals, open at both ends, are pre- 

 served in the Hopeian Collection at Oxford ; the cavity 

 of the latter, in one instance, containing a large num- 



