Fam. 1, Plate 5. 



DORIS JOHNSTONI, Alder and Hancock. 



D. flavescens, interdum maculis fuscis : pallio granulis minutis confertis : branchiis 15, tripinnatis, 

 anum forma calicis cingentibus, intra foramen retractilibus : tentaculis brevibus, crassis, fasco-maculatis. 



Doris obvelata, Johns, in Ann. Nat. Hist. vol. 1, p. 52. 



Hab. Among rocks near low-water mark. Berwick Bay, Cullercoats, and Newbiggin, Northum- 

 berland. Eothesay, Isle of Bute. Skerries, off the Dublin Coast, G. C. Hyndman, Esq. Scarborough, 

 J. S. Bowerbank, Esq. Torbay. 



Body an inch and a half or two inches long, ovate when at rest, but capable of great 

 extension, rather convex on the back and depressed towards the sides, generally yellowish 

 white or pale cream-coloured, occasionally of a huffish orange or lemon yellow. Cloak ample, 

 • closely covered with very minute, equal, linear, and spiculose tubercles, scarcely visible to 

 the naked eye, and giving the cloak a granular appearance. It is blotched with pale 

 brownish patches, and sometimes with a few small dark chocolate-brown or blackish spots, 

 arranged in two or three longitudinal rows. The under side is smooth or very slightly 

 granulated. Dorsal tentacles short, broad, and much rounded above, the apex projecting in 

 a small nipple-like point; lamellated with 10 to 15 close-set plates, and covered with 

 numerous dark brown spots ; without sheaths, but having the margins of the cavity slightly 

 raised and minutely tuberculated. Branchial plumes 15, tripinnate, yellowish white or 

 sometimes pure white, encircling the brown tubular anus, and forming a beautiful blossom-like 

 cup. They are retractile within a single cavity, the margin of which, when the plumes are 

 extended, rises into a distinct rim ; the plumes issuing from this, when viewed in profile, 

 have a peculiarly elegant appearance. Mouth slightly proboscidiform, with two long, 

 linear oral tentacles. Foot elliptical, yellowish, deeply grooved in front, the upper portion 

 divided into two lobes below the mouth. It projects a little behind the cloak when the animal 

 is in progression. 



This species appears to be pretty generally diffused on our coasts, but nowhere common. 

 It may, however, have been sometimes overlooked in consequence of its general resemblance, 

 on a superficial view, to D. tuherculata. It was first described by Dr. Johnston from a small 

 specimen found by one of the authors of this work while exploring with him the rocks in 

 Berwick Bay. Dr. Johnston referred it to D. obvelata of Muller ; but as we cannot agree 

 with our friend in this opinion, we gladly dedicate the species to its talented describer, to 

 whom we attribute the impulse that first led our studies in this direction. Muller describes 

 his Doris obvelata to be covered with unequal convex papillae, and the cloak veined beneath; 

 the branchiae he calls a confused serrated lobe, and the oral tentacles auriform lobes. Now 

 in this species the tubercles are equal, nearly linear, close, and much smaller than those of 



