90 Description of New and Little known Species of 



Their tenacity of life, when kept in confinement, varies much in the 

 different species, but is greater than in many other marine animals. 



Though patient and long-suffering in the endurance of hunger, they 

 are very voracious. The greater number of them are carnivorous; living 

 principally upon Zoophytes and Sponges. The Eolides do not scruple 

 occasionally to devour the weaker among their own brethren. — Abridged 

 from English Cyclopaedia. 



Hoping that the foregoing anatomical and physiological 

 account of the Nudibranchiata, will draw more than ordinarj^ 

 attention to this family of marine creatures (found on almost 

 every rock and sea weed), I shall proceed to give a descriptive 

 account of upwards of a hundred species of marine-animals, 

 including Sea-anemones and Planaria, found in the harbour, 

 bays, and coves of Trincomalie, I cannot but regret, that not 

 having with me Ruppel and Ehrenberg's work on species found 

 in the Red Sea, I am not able to speak positively of all those 

 herein described as being new to science. Some may, perhaps, 

 have already been described by earlier observers, which, if 

 ascertained to be the case, I shall only be too glad to take 

 the earliest opportunity of acknowledging. 



In concluding these prefatory remarks, I have to express 

 my personal obligations to those authorities who have re- 

 tained my military services in Ceylon, thereby enabling me to 

 resume my Zoological labours, which were precipitately and 

 unexpectedly shortened by my removal from the Island. 

 Trincomalie , 



1st November, 1857, 



