and Shells of Massachusetts Bay. 79 
stantly to the bottom, upon this coating being pene- 
trated. 
The Tritonie seem to be very sensitive to the various 
conditions of the atmosphere. During dry or windy 
seasons but few were observed near the surface, and 
these quite inert; but in moist weather, and particularly 
after a shower, scores of them were seen at the depth of 
from one inch to two or three feet, creeping among the 
Tubularia and alge that fringed the side of the bathing- 
house where they were discovered. A strong light also 
appears to act upon them very powerfully. On bring- 
ing the glass jar, in which they were placed, near a lamp 
in the evening, if it were done suddenly, they fell in- 
stantly to the bottom, writhing about with great activity 
and in a manner leaping towards the surface. The same 
effect was produced if they were abruptly removed from 
a darkened room into a strong sunlight. 
The nature of their food could not be determined with 
any certainty ; but from the structure of their oral ap- 
` paratus, as well as the fecal matter being always dis- 
charged in hard pellets of a bright red color, I should in- 
fer that it consists chiefly of the minute crustacea abound- 
ing in the water where they dwelt. Every thing of a 
fleshy nature thrown into the jar with them, was left un- 
touched. 
I have great pleasure in naming this beautiful species 
in honor of my friend, J. N. Reynolds, Esq. whose ar- 
duous labors in another field, do not impair his interest in 
natural science, as his donations, recorded in the recent 
catalogue of our Society clearly evince. 
The specimen from which the drawing in the plate 
was made, was one of the largest met with. The color- 
ation differed but little in different individuals, with the 
