by a fafciculus of black fpines or briftles. The co- 

 lor of this animal is brownifh above, and of a dull 

 flefli-color beneath. The back is furnifhed with a 

 great number of very fliarp and moderately ftrong 

 prickles, forming a fort of double fafcia, and riling 

 above the foft and delicate hair which ornaments the 

 lides. This hair is diftinguilhed by a varying glofs 

 of colors limilar to thofe which appear in the fea- 

 thers of a peacock. The middle of the back is 

 generally deftitute of prickles, and is coated by a 

 fort of villus confiderably fhorter than that which 

 grows on the lides. The Aphrodita aculeata is by 

 no means uncommon, and is found on moft of the 

 fhores of the northern parts of Europe. It feldom 

 exceeds the length of five or fix inches, and is ge« 

 nerally found of a much fmaller fize. 



