OCEANIA GLOBUiiOSA. 29 



4. Oceania globulosa, Forbes. 

 Plate III, Fig. 3. 



This is a minute species, — not larger than a pea, — but so very distinct, that it cannot 

 possibly be confounded with any of its congeners as yet described. The umbrella is glo- 

 bular, inflated, and very wide, extending much beyond the orifice on every side, quite smooth 

 and transparent. The sub-umbrella is also globular, and occupies rather more than half of 

 the interior. Down it run four broad radiating vessels, to join an ample marginal vessel. 

 Round the margin are forty close-set purple bulbs, the bases df as many filiform white ten- 

 tacula. When the bulbs are magnified, their colour is seen to depend upon rich purple 

 ocelli. From the centre of the sub-umbrella hangs a broad and rather short campanulate 

 peduncle, of a fawn colour, including, in its upper part, four double, convoluted, orange brown 

 reproductive glands. The orifice of the peduncle has four pale, tawny, fimbriated lips. 



I procured two specimens of this singular Oceania in the Sound of Bressay, in 1835. 

 It differs so much from the other British species of the genus, that I had some hesitation in 

 placing it among the Oceaniee. In some respects it approaches more closely Turris; but the 

 inconspicuous character of the muscular tissue of the sub-umbrella prevents our assigning it 

 to that highly-developed group. Plate III, fig. 3, a, represents it, much magnified, as seen 

 from the side ; and 3, b, as seen from above ; 3, c, is the peduncle with the included ovaries ; 

 3, d, the bulb of a tentacle with its ocellus ; and 3, e, the annulated appearance presented by 

 a tentacle when in its most extended state. 



