STYLIFER. 



TESTA hyalina,turbinata,apice spirse mucronato. 

 Apertura subovata, superne acuminata. La- 

 brum acutum, sinuatura. 



Pallium crassum, earnosum, cyathiforme, 

 testae anfractus ultimos obtegens. Proboscis 

 longissima, retractilis. Tentacula rotunda, 

 crassa, subacuminata, ad basin proboscidis 

 posita. Oculi ad basin tentaculorum sessiles, 

 minima. Branchiae stirps solitaria. Animal 

 marinum, Asteriae cutem penetrans. 



The arrival in this country of the shell above recorded 

 with the soft psurts has afforded data for a generic charac- 

 ter, indicating a distinct family among the Fectinibran- 

 chiata, the form and disposition of whose mantle differs 

 from that of any other genus in the order. This mantle, 

 which is of green hue, is thick, fleshy and cup-shaped 

 with a small aperture at its base, and a free posterior 

 margin, enveloping the soft parts and the last volutions 

 of the shell, which has thus somewhat the appearance of 

 a small acorn set in its cup. On the ventral aspect of this 

 mantle is the rudiment of a foot, and from the small basal 

 aperture a retractile proboscis, which, when exserted is 

 as long as the whole animal, is protruded. At the base of 

 the proboscis are two thick, round, somewhat pointed 

 tentacula ; and at the base of them are the eyes, or rather 

 ocular specks without pedicles. The branchia is placed 

 on a single stem. At the base of the proboscis is a sphe- 

 rical muscular stomach, and the intestine ascends into the 

 spire of the shell, where it becomes attached to the liver, 

 which in the species before us is of an orange colour. 

 Mr. C uming found this elegant parasite burrowed in 

 different parts of the rays of the oral disc of Asterias 

 Solaris. It is almost hidden from sight, so deeply does the 



