190 SEPIA. 



supplement and change of food for the people, and one more re- 

 source for the sea-coast population ; for which reason they are 

 recommended to the attention of pisciculturists. In a single 

 rosette of eggs, I have counted more than a thousand embryos.* 



S. FILLIOUXIT, Lafont. PI. 86, fig. 392 ; pi. 87, fig. 393. 



This is a larger animal than S. officinalia, reaching a length 

 of 14 inches. It is distinguished by its shell, which is propor- 

 tionally shorter and broader, especially towards the base, much 

 flatter on the under side, the excavated portion (that showing 

 the stride) extending over two-thirds of that face, with the layers 

 more remote ; the cartilaginous hood is larger and deeper, and 

 the spike is smaller and less conspicuous ; the granulations of 

 the superior face very large. 



Mediterranean ; Northern and Western Coasts of France. 



This species has been confounded with S. officinalis by most 

 naturalists, from which it may be distinguished externally by its 

 larger size, more reddish tint (that of S. officinalis has a green- 

 ish tendency) and longer arms. The eggs are very large (10 to 

 12 mill.), elongated and very numerous. Lafont states that the 

 males of these two species are continually at warfare, and that 

 he has seen the S. Filliouxii devour small specimens of S. 

 officinalis. 



S. FISCHERI, Lafont. 



Animal not exceeding 8 inches in size. Shell thin, much 

 less thickened than either of the preceding species, the striae of 

 the lower face commencing close to the anterior end (covering 

 nearly the whole face), much higher than S. Filliouxii^ especially 

 in the females ; granulations of the superior surface large, but 

 less detached than in the preceding species. 



This species deposits its eggs later than the others, as ob- 

 served by Mr. Lafont. The shell of the male is sensibly nar- 

 rower than that of S. Filliouxii,. and approaches the form of 

 that of S. officinalis ; that of the female is, on the contrary, 

 wider than in either S. Filliouxii or S- officinalis, is much more 



* Rev. et Mag. de Zool., 369, 1862. 



