[ 333 3 
i 
XVII. Defcription of a new Marine Animal. In a Letter from 
Mr. Everard Home, Surgeon , to John Hunter, Efq. F.R.S, 
With a Poffcript by Mr. Hunter, containing anatomical Re- 
marks upon the fame. 
Read March 7, 1785, 
TO JOHN HUNTER, ESQ. F.R.S. 
DEAR SIR, 
Sept. 20, 1784. 
I SENT you, about three years ago, a Tea animal from Bar- 
badoes, which was unlike any one I had ever Teen. From, 
the want of books and other information in that ifland, I was 
unable at the time to find out, whether it was a new acquift- 
tion, or had been defcribed by any authors in natural hiftory. 
Since my arrival in England, I have examined the libraries 
of fome men of fcience for an account of this animal, and 
have made other enquiries among the naturalifts, without fuc- 
cefs. The fpecimen I fent you was found on a part of the 
coaft which had undergone very remarkable changes, in confe- 
quence of a violent hurricane. Thefe changes were indeed the 
means of its being difcovered, and p refen t a probable reafon why 
it was not difcovered before. The extraordinary circumftances 
which brought it within our reach, and the filence of all the 
authors on natural hiftory which I have been able to confult, 
incline me to believe it to be a non-defcript. As the peculiari- 
ties of its ftru&ure may add to the knowledge of the natural 
hiftory 
