290 SIR 0. ELIOT ON NUDIBRANCHS [NoV. 29, 



HERMiEID^. 



Stiliger varians, sp. n. (Plate XVI. fig. 6.) 



Several sj)ecimens from Prison Island in Zanzibar Harbour, 

 found in green-branclied seaweed, in which they are practically 

 invisible. The colo\ir was very variable, ranging from dark 

 brown to Avhite, but was as a rule brilliant green. After being 

 kept in captivity for a night, the animals grew perceptibly 

 paler. The main colour was largely hidden, except at the sides 

 of the body and in the centre of the back, by numerous lines 

 of a deeper colour, generally dai-k bright green, and in some, 

 but not all, specimens there were more or less extensive patches 

 of crimson lake. The form was somewhat elongate, and the 

 maximum dimensions 10 mm. by 2 mm. The foot was fairly 

 broad and green. 



The preserved specimens are colourless and semitransparent. 

 They have contracted into an oval or nearly semicircular form, 

 and strongly resemble small tufts of seaweed. The centre of the 

 back is bare, and through its transparent integuments can be 

 seen a great number of circular folliculate organs which are 

 apparently the follicles of the hermaphrodite gland. There are 

 about ten transverse rows of cerata in the largest specimens, con- 

 taining four (or sometimes five) cerata on each side of the central 

 space. The two innermost cerata of each row are large (about 

 3'50 mm. x 2 mm.) and somewhat inflated. The others are very 

 much smaller and look like mere tubercles. They all contain 

 ramifications of the liver, consisting of one large main stem from 

 which spring three or four quite small and short branches. The 

 bladder-like pericardial prominence is somewhat elongate ; in 

 front of it and fused with it is the anal tube. The rhinophores 

 are entire and not grooved. In the lai"gest specimen they are 

 about 3 mm. long and rather thick, as if contracted. Below 

 them are two lumps which may be regarded either as a frontal 

 veil notched in the middle, or as rudimentary tentacles. The 

 anterior angles of the foot are not much produced. The tail is 

 pointed but not long. 



The radula was examined in several specimens, and was found 

 in all to consist of four or five teeth in the ascending part and 

 six in the descending, while the number in the heap did not seem 

 to exceed six or eight. 



The teeth (PI. XYI. fig. 6) are somewhat like those of Ercolania 

 siottii (v. Trinchese, ' Aeolididee del Porto di Genova,' vol. ii. 

 pi. X. figs. 7 & 8), and have a broad spoon-like hollow into which 

 the tooth behind fits. 



In my account of Mr. Gardiner's ISTudibranehs (' Fauna and 

 Geography of the Maldive and Laccadive Archipelagoes,' vol. ii. 

 pt. i. p. 571, and pi. xxxii. figs. 9 & 10) this animal is erroneously 

 figured as Ilermcea minor. It is, however, not a Hermcea and 

 not identical with Mr. Gardiner's specimen. That specimen is a 

 Hermcva, and may possibly be H. minor, as there suggested. 



