Fam. 3, Plate 38 a. 



Figs. 1 and 3. 

 FIONA NOBILIS, Alder and Hancock. 



F. alba vel flavescens, lsevis; tentaculis longis, accuminatis; branchiis numerosis, ad latera dorsi 

 irregularitur dispositis, lineari-conicis, subcompressis, membrana laterali undata, glandulaque centrali 

 brunnea, apicibus albis opacis splendentibus. 



Oithona nobilis, Aid. and Hanc, in Ann. Nat. Hist., 2d Sei\, v. 8, p. 291. 

 For. and Hani., Brit. Moll., v. 3, p. 589. 



Hab. At low-water mark, Falmouth, Tf . P. Cocks, Esq. 



Body two inches long, pale buff or whitish, smooth. Tentacles long, broad at the 

 base, and tapering to a fine point ; not wrinkled or laminated ; both pairs nearly equal in 

 length, and very similar in appearance, the anterior pair being placed considerably behind the 

 lip, about half way between it and the dorsal pair. BrancJiia very numerous and crowded, 

 commencing behind the tentacles, and set without apparent order on the sides of the back on 

 a sub-pallial expansion, which is a good deal produced posteriorly. They are linear-conical, 

 and rather compressed, particularly towards the base ; the lateral membrane is wide and 

 strongly waved ; the central gland is of a rich dark brown, the sheath and membrane of a 

 transparent buff colour ; the apices are opaque blueish-white, with a brilliant lustre, which is 

 also observable on the back of the animal. Foot long and lanceolate, rounded in front, 

 and produced into a fine point behind. The lateral margins are thin and expanded. 



Two specimens of this splendid mollusk were found by Mr. Cocks, in August, 1850, 

 near the low-water mark of a spring tide, at Bar Point, Falmouth. " They are beautiful 

 creatures," Mr. Cocks remarks, "but very inactive. When first taken the iridescent 

 appearance of the mantle and tips of the branchiae was delightful. The tentacula projected 

 like the horns of a bull, — not erect. The branchiae were carried erect, and the mantle and 

 sides of the foot were fully exposed." Some patches of spawn were found along with these, 

 deposited on the surface of the stone. It was composed of a broad band of ova, forming a 

 single coil, or a coil and a half, and curved inwards at the top, so as to give it a 

 spherical form. 



Unfortunately these beautiful animals were killed during the first night after their 

 capture, by having been accidentally placed in a bottle that had contained quinine, and 

 we thus lost the opportunity of seeing them in a living state. The figure represents the 

 appearance of the animal after death. 



