Miscellaneous. 



317 



ON THE GENUS E VPLOCA M US * OF FIIILIPPI. 



Euplocamus of Philippi (Triopa of Johnston) is not, as has been 

 hitherto supposed, a genus of Nudibranchia, uniting the characters 

 of Doris and Tritonia, the dorsal branchiae of the one with the lateral 

 branchiae of the other. The lateral appendages of Euplocamus I find 

 to be processes of the mantle, unfitted for the respiratory office, not 

 being provided with vibratile cilia, which are seen only on the plu- 

 mose dorsal branchiae and on the laminated dorsal tentacula. The 

 lateral appendages of Tritonia are, however, true ciliated branchiae, 

 as are also those of Eolida and its allies. The gill-lids or branchial 

 appendages of Polycera are not ciliated. — Edward Forbes. 



NEW LAND SHELLS FROM NEW ZEALAND. 



Helix Busbyii, Gray. Shell depressed, subdiscoidal, largely umbi- 

 licated, opake white, covered with a very thick dark green smooth 

 periostraca, which is inflexed over the lips. The spire flattened, ra- 

 ther rugose ; outer whorl smooth, depressed, rounded ; the mouth 

 large, bent down towards the axis. Inhab. New Zealand. 



This curious species was discovered by Mr. Busby, to whose exertions 

 in natural history we are indebted for many specimens belonging to 

 the natural productions of these interesting islands, after whom I have 

 great pleasure in naming it. It is much like H. Cunning hamii of New 

 Holland in form and size, but is very peculiar on account of the 

 thickness and colour of the periostraca, which is unlike any other 

 Helix we are at present acquainted with. 



Helix Dunnice. Shell depressed, large, umbilicated, pale brown ; 

 outer whorl rather angular, smooth. Inhab. New Zealand. Mr. 

 Busby. 



Specimens of both these species have been presented to the British 

 Museum by Mrs. Dunn, who received them from Mr. Busby. — 

 J. E. Gray. 



BLOOD OF NUDIBRANCHIA. 



The beautiful colours of the Nudibranchous Mollusca are in many 

 species, though not in all, owing to the colour of their blood. Thus 

 in certain species of Montagua the blood is green, in several of the 

 Eolida red, in others brown. The analogy between the Nudi- 

 branchia and the Annelides is thus curiously supported by the varia- 

 tions of colour of the blood. The globules of the blood in most 

 species are very large. The blood of Polycera quadrilineata is white, 

 and its heart beats one hundred and thirteen in a minute. — Ed- 

 ward Forbes. 



red colour of the salt marshes of the mediterranean. 



The red colour of these marshes, often of a very deep tint, has 

 been for a long period attributed to the presence of a minute crus- 

 taceous animal, Artcmia Salina, Leach. Mons. Joly has last year 

 attended to this subject, and has come to the conclusion that the 



* Sec Ann. Nat. Hist. vol. iv. p. 88, v. p. 91. 



