HALF AN HOUR WITH SHELL-FISH. 195 



petals of a beautiful flower. These are placed 

 towards the hinder part of the body. Another not 

 uncommon species of nudibranch, to be found under 

 stones, &c., is the Molis, by far the most beautiful of 

 all. The gills are placed as a series of rows of fibres, 

 transversely across the back (Fig. 103), and are of 



Fig. 103. 



is coronata. 



the richest crimson and blue colours, especially 

 noticeable when the creature is placed in an aquarium. 

 The body is long and slender, tapering to a fine 

 point behind. The combined effect of the brilliantly 

 contrasted colours, and of the pellucid gill-fibres, is 

 very charming ; so that there is little wonder this 

 animal should be such a great favourite with 

 naturalists. But innocently lovely though it seems, 

 it is a deadly foe to the sea-anemones, attacking and 

 devouring them as a hungry carnivorous animal 

 would a lamb. Most of the nudibranchs spawn early 

 in the year, generally before May ; and their egg- 

 ribbons form very interesting objects. That of the 

 " Sea-lemon " is like a pasty ribbon, rolled up loosely. 



