No. 9.— 1856-8.] CEYLON NUDIBR A.NCHIAT A, &C. 



95 



the preceding species. Some of the specimens had the mantle 

 indistinctly, bnt regularly, spotted white ; these spots, composed 

 of several smaller spots round a centre, looked, through a 

 magnifier, like little stars. 



The young of this species is of a jet-black colour, with a broad 

 brilliant crimson line round edge of mantle and foot, If I had 

 not specimens of different ages to compare w T ith, and observe 

 the gradual diminution of the intensity of the red line, till it 

 became almost obsolete in the larger specimens, I should -be 

 inclined to consider the characters of the young to be those of 

 a distinct species ; so very great are the external characters of 

 the young and older animals. The presence of the red line in 

 the young of this species, and its non-existence in the young of 

 IX atrata, still more confirms me in the opinion already 

 advanced, that they are not identical species. Both are very 

 sluggish in their habits ; generally, two or more lie locked in 

 each other's embraces, under a stone or a coral branch. In 

 confinement they live longer than any species I have had under 

 observation, 



Doris variabilis. Kel. 



Body 6 lines long, pellucid green ; the red viscera seen through 

 it. Mantle greenish-brown, and marked with longitudinal rows 

 of reticulated whitish spots. Dorsal tentacles clavate, laminated; 

 greenish-brown, speckled ; tip white. Branchial plumes 8, 

 small, round a central cavity, tri-pinnate ; brown, speckled white. 

 Foot pellucid-green ; shorter than mantle. 



This species is found in great abundance on rocks in Dutch 

 Bay at low-water mark. They vary much in depth of colour ; 

 green, however, always prevailing. In habits, like JD. atrata. 



Doris exanthemata. Kel. 



Body 5 inches long ; pinkish or light purple colour. Mantle 

 long, broad ; covered with large and small, smooth conical and 

 rounded nodules, rising from smooth elevated bases. The upper 

 surface is of a deep olive-brown colour, having several white 

 splashes ; edge of a lemon colour. Under surface of mantle 



