53 
cially when thus in motion, it appeared most brilliantly phosphores- 
cent; the light flashing progressively but very rapidly along the 
body, especially from all the branchial tufts and the edges of the 
veil and crest. At other times it remained quiescently adhering to 
the sides of the glass, or moving slowly up and down as if in search 
of food; seeming to use the veil as a feeler, but with the tentacles 
reflexed. Sometimes it crawled in the usual inverted posture along 
the surface of the water. It is by no means a shy or timid animal. 
After five or six days, it deposited in the night-time a pale orange- 
coloured long and narrow riband of eggs, resembling a tape-worm, 
and loosely coiled up spirally on the side of the glass, to which it 
was partially attached by one edge. ‘This egg-band was about three 
inches and a half long and two lines broad, narrowing a little to- 
wards one end. On two subsequent occasions, at intervals of ten 
days or a fortnight, it again deposited two similar but smaller bands ; 
after which, though apparently remaining in full vigour, it retained 
not more than two-thirds of its former bulk. 
Its mode of swimming perfectly resembles that of the larva of the 
gnat so common in our English cisterns of rain- water. 
The next paper read was from W. J. Broderip, Esq. In this 
paper the author proceeds with his descriptions of Shells brought to 
this country by H. Cuming, Esq. 
In the second volume-of the ‘ Zoological Journal’ will be found my 
notice of the Voluta aulica of Solander, a shell which formed one of 
the principal ornaments of the Portland Museum, of that of M. de 
Calonne (in the catalogues of which it is noted as unique), of the 
Tankerville collection (in the catalogue of which Mr. Sowerby 
speaks of it as ‘“‘ an extremely scarce and fine shell; the only speci- 
men we have seen’’), and of my own cabinet, which is now in the 
British Museum. 
Mr. Cuming has laid before me some Volutes which he brought 
from the Philippine Islands, and which, after a careful examination, 
I think must be referred to this scarce species. Not one of them, 
however, is identical with the variety in the British Museum (var. a.), 
which is still, as far as I know, unique. 
Voluta aulica. 
Var. a. Without nodules or bands, spotted with large red flakes : 
Mus. Brit. Figured in the Tankerville catalogue (G. B. Sowerby). 
Var. 6. Flesh-colour, subnodulous, girt with two broad rich red 
bands mottled with white; spire mottled with red and white, apex 
coral-red. Length nearly 4 inches, breadth 1$. 
_ Var. c. Flesh-colour, nodulous, lineated longitudinally with close- 
set, red, somewhat undulated lines, mottled here and there with white, 
girt by two interrupted rich red bands; spire mottled with red and 
white, apex coral-red. Length 45, breadth 23th inches. 
Var. d. Nodulous, whitish, lineated with very close-set, delicate, 
pale yellowish’ undulated lines ; body whorl girt with two broad yel- 
Jowish red bands mottled finely with the ground-colour. The upper 
