218 



It does not appear to be uncommon on fome parts of 

 the weftern coaft. We obferved it in the cabinet of Mr. 

 B.^YER at Weymouth, and was informed by that gentle- 

 man, tb.at he had frequently picked it up between that 

 place and Portland. 



Do6lor PuLTENEY found it in the harl^our at Poole 

 where we alfo noticed it ; but no where fo plentiful as on 

 Studland beach, in Purbeck : an eafterly wind having pre- 

 vailed for fome time, a large quantity of algce was thrown 

 upon this extenfive fandy fliore, amongfl which were 

 thoufands of thefe fliells, in all Rages of growth, from the 

 larojeQ to the moft diminutive, not equal in fizeto a hemp- 

 feed; mofl; of which contained the animal. 



We have likewife taken it mSalcomb bay in DevonJJiire, 

 and at SoufkamOton, but have nevT been able to afcer- 

 tain it on any more eaftern or northern part of our coaft. 



It is faidto be a Mediterranean fpecies, and is defcribed 

 by Gmelin as like the B. aperta; furely he could never 

 have compared thefe two fhells: if he had likened it to 

 the Bulla Naucum we fliould have coincided with him in 

 fimile. 



The animal inhabitant is a fhapelefs mafs, deflitute of 

 either eyes or tentncula; the head, or forepart, has a tr.mf- 

 verfe opening, which run<! along the fides, and forms fin- 

 !ike membranes, that expand on part of the under fide of 



the 



