51 

 ARCA. 



Area fusca, Doii. Br. Shells v. t. 158. f. 3. 4. FusCA, 



Balanus Bellonii. List. Conch, t. 367. f. 207. 



Shell finely reticulated, of a purplifli-brown colour, def- 

 titute of any markings. 



In habit fimilar to Area J^oee, from which however it differs 

 in the following particulars. It is longer in proportion to 

 its breadth, and the longitudinal Jlriie, except between the 

 two angles at the longer end, are infinitely finer ; the JVo<s 

 being more properly ribbed. In xhefufca the upper angle 

 at the longeft end is ufually confiderably fliorter than the 

 lower angle, which is the reverfe of the other fpecies : but 

 what at once marks the diftin6lion of the two fhells is the 

 undulated, or zigzag chefnut-coloured bands that crofs Area 

 J^oa diagonally, and which appears to be an invariable cha- 

 ra6ler ; whereas in A. fufca thefe markings are wholly 

 wanting. 



At the time Teflacea Britannica was publifhed we had 

 never found more than two very fmall fliells of either of 

 thefe fpecies, and at that time allowing for the lofs of their 

 markings, not being live (hells, had confidered them to be 

 Area J^oce ; as fuch were figured in that work, but which 

 from more recent obfervation, we Iufpe6l were in reality 

 the young of A .fujca, 



G 2 The 



