^1\
iO
1
THE
BRITISH MISCELLANY:
OK
COLOURED FIGURES
OP
NEW, RARE, OR LITTLE KNOWN
ANIMAL SUBJECTS;
MANY NOT BEFORE ASCERTAINED TO BE INHABITANTS
OF THE BRITISH ISLES;
AND
CHIEFLY IN THE POSSESSION OF THE AUTHOR,
JAMES SOWERBY, F.L.S.
HONORARY MEMBER OF THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF GOTTINGEN;
DESIGNER OF ENGLISH BOTANY AND EXOTIC BOTANY; AND
AUTHOR OF ENGLISH FUNGI AND BRITISH MINERALOGY.
Let no presuming impious railer tax
Creative Wisdom, as if aught was formed
In vain, or not for admirable ends.
And lives the man whose universal eye
Has swept at once th' unbounded scheme of things?
Thomson's Seasons, Line 318, &fc.
VOL. I.
LONDON:
Printed by R. Taylor & Co., 38, Suoe-Lane, Fleet-Strert ;
And sold by the Author, J. SowERBY, at No. 2, Mead-Place,
Lambeth; by White, Fleet-street; Johnson, St. Paul's
Churcliyard; Symonds, Paternoster Row ; and
all other Booksellers.
MDCCCVI.
TO
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
FRANCIS LORD SEAFORTH, F.R.S. F.L.S.
GOVERNOR OF BARBADOES,
AND TO
JAMES BRODIE, ESQ., F.R.S. F.L.S.
M. P. FOR FORRES IN NORTH BRITAIN,
/ beg leave to dedicate these pages. To Jiis Lordship's
boimti/ I oxte tlie greatest part of 7111/ Collection of
British Birds; and to the favour of Mr. Brodie I
am indebted for procuring me such an advantage, as
-well as for his own personal assistance and zeal in
furnishing such subjects of Natural Histojy as his
opportunities admit of ;
Who am
their most grateful humble Servant,
JAMES SOWERBY.
Mead Place, Lambeth,
Feb. 1, 1806.
PREFACE.
Whilst so many new and iateresting objects in
Natural History are constantly unfolded to our view,
it is astonishing to find how often the same subject is
displayed in different works. The author of The Bri-
tish Miscellany considers himself as the first who has
undertaken to collect for publication, merely the
new and rare productions of Great Britain ; and he
has great pleasure in finding his exertions repaid by
the stimulus they have given to the followers of Na-
ture in every department. Objects which in former
ages were passed over as too minute or too insignifi-
cant for observation, are generally found to repay the
investigator of them either by their beauty or utility.
The present enlightened age seems very desirous of
elucidating the obscurities of former times ; since it
is become very evident, that the least as well as the
largest work of nature is equally the production of
an all -wise Creator.
Upon Natural History all the most useful arts are
dependent J it is also the greatest reflecter of that
VI PREFACE.
wisdom which man alone is allowed to contemplate.
Philosophers, both of antient and modern times, have
endeavoured to show, that to study Nature is the most
effectual way to produce in our minds a veneration
for the omnipotent Creator. The more we investigate
the wonders of his bounty, the more convinced we
shall feel that it is our duty to explore and examine
the treasures which are at present dormant.
To the numerous friends who have honoured me
with patronage and assistance in the present work I
beg leave to offer my most grateful thanks ; and can
only assure them that my abilities shall be most
strenuously exerted to render the future volumes of it
deserving the encouragement that has been given to
the present one.
With regard to the execution, the best criterion is,
that the most perfect judges have thought it worthy
of encouragement, and the enlightened assistance it
has received will be readily discerned by the true
critic.
127
TAB. LIX.
CARABUS chrysostomos.
Gold en -mouthed Carahus.
Spec. Char. Blue-green: with the mouth, antennas
and feet rufous. Head and thorax deeply punctate.
Elytra truncate at the end, and subemarglnate.
Syn. Carabus chrysostomos. Marsh. Ent. Brit. i.
469. iOl.
Carabus dentatus. Ross. Faun. Etrusc. i. 222. 551.
t.o.f.u. ^
Drypta emarginata. Fab. Syst. Eleuih.i. 'ISO. 1.
Latreille Hist. Nat. &c. viii. 264. 1. t. 72./. 7.
Cicindela emarginata. Fab. Ent. Syst. Em.'i. 111.
37. Panz. Faun. Ins. Germ. Init. n. 28./. 15.
Length of the body 4
Length or the body 4 "^
■D 1,1 r of the thorax 1- > lines,
^^^^'^^n of the elytra l| J
1 HE specimen from which our figure of this very rare and
most elegant little insect was taken is in the rich cabinet of
Alexander MacLeay, Esq., to whom it came amongst the
insects of the late Mr. Lewin. Mr. Marsham described it
from one in the collection of that intelligent and indefa-
tigable entomologist, the lamented John Bcckwith : these
are the only two British specimens that are at present
known to have been taken. The Rev. W. Kirby possesses
one from Italy, which was sent him by a Swedish entomo-
logist. Major Gyllenhal, as the Drypta emarginata of Fa-
bricius. This specimen is bluer than ours, and answers
exactly to that author's description of his insect. M. La-
treille observes that it is rare in France, and found under
stones.
The entomologist of Kiel originally gave this insect as a
Cicindela: Mr. Marsham, with more reason perhaps, has
VOL. I. O
128
considered it as a Caral'w;, to which genus it is certainly
more nearly related both by habit and habitat than to Ci-
cbidela : still, however, it has considerable affinity with
the latter genus, and may be regarded as one of the links
which connect it with the former. In the Systeina Eleu-
theratorum, Fabricius has placed this insect in the genus
Drypla, which he adopted from that most accurate ento-
mologist M. Latreilie, who in his late work [Hist, not.
gcnirale et particuliere des Cn/s faces et Insectes, torn. iii.
p. 87) has placed it in the third family {Carahici) of his
first Section [Feelers six, all the Tarsi 5-articulale) of his
first Order (Coleoptera). Under this it belongs to his
Division A, (Celeripedes) , and subdivision Iv (Longipalpati) .
The most striking circumstances in which this insect
diflers from Caralms are its feelers, which instead of being
filiform, with the intermediate ones not remarkably more
slender than the others, are elongate and subcapitate; the
last joint being much larger than the rest, and securiform or
Iwtchet-shaped ; and the intermediate ones, which are fili-
form, and longer than in Caralms, are much slenderer
than the others. The antennas are strikingly distinguished
from tliose of every other Caruhiis, by the remarkable
length of the first joint. The thorax, though it is rather
obcordate, has no margin, and is subcylindrical. The maxillae
also are protended, and the eyes very prominent. We shall
now give a very particular description of this singular in-
sect, that our readers may be better able to judge of its claim
to be considered as belonging to a distinct genus.
Body depressed, blue-green, rather hairy, hairs diverging.
Head elongate, very narrow-, covered with iinpressed
points. Mouth rufous. Jaws protended, toothless, acu-
minate, forcipate at the end. Apex of the valvulce hooked,
on the inner side setoso-pectinate. Feelers elongate, ru-
fous.. The exteiior, or valvular, consisting of three joints;
the first elongate, subelavate; the intermediate snbclavate ;
the last large, compressed, nearly triangular : the two last
129
joints form stn angle with the first. The intermediate
feslers consist of two joints ; the first fiUform, the second
very slightly clavate. The interior or labial feelers consist
of three joints, the first very short and rather conical, the
second long and nearly filiform, the third large hatchet-
shaped ; the first forms an angle with the second, and the
second with the third. Labrum, or upper-lip, transverse,
depressed, at the end obsoletely three-lobed, surface un-
even, without points. Labium, or under-lip, minute,
very slender, nearly filiform, protended between the in-
terior feelers. Chin obcordate, at the end three-lobed; la-
teral lobes longest and acute. Antennae lateral, inserted
just above the labrum, filiform, covered with short hairs,
rufous, consisting of eleven joints : first joint very long,
occupying more than a fourth part of the whole antenna,
thicker than the following ones, subclavate, black at the
end; the second very short, turbinato-conical ; the third
longer, and growing gradually thicker to the end; the rest
of nearly equal size and filiform — the last rather acute.
Eyes lateral, hemispherical, veiy prominent. Neck and
throat distinct, narrower than the head, without points,
shining. Trunk very narrow, subcylindrical, not margined,
widest at the head, rather obcordate, covered with deeply
impressed points, distinguished on the thorax by a longi-
tudinal channel. Breast-bone not remarkable. Legs ru-
fous, nearly of the same length. First joint of the hips
large, nearly hemispherical; the second smaller and obco-
nical. Thighs thickest in the middle. Tibiae growing
gradually thicker from the base to the apex — the anterior
pair distinguished by an internal lateral notch or sinus;
terminal spines very short. Tarsi consisting of five joints;
the last but one bipartite with long lobes; the last ascend-
ing, curved, subclavate, armed at the end with a double
crooked claw. The first joint of the hips of the posterior
legs is flatfish, and rather triangular ; the second is oblong-
oval and placed under the thigh longitudinally, so as to be
130
a kind of support to it. The scutellum is obsolete. The
elytra are shorter than the abdomen, slightly margined,
at the end rather widest, truncate and subemarginate,
taken together of an oblong-oval shape. Their surface
is distinguished by nine lines of deeply impressed points;
the line nearest the suture towards the base diverges a little,
so as to give room for another very short line of points,
running from the base a little way down the suture : in the
space between this and the diverging line two impressed
points are observable. The interstices between the lines are
rather convex, and very minutely punctulate. The abdomen
consists of five segments with a very obtuse anus.
Fabricius describes the tarsi of this insect as consisting
only of four joints, with the last bilobed; from which it is
plain he did not take into the account the terminal or un-
guicular joint. Without this, however, no insect has five
joints in its tarsi. In Panzer's figure, which, although
too blue, is certainly intended for our insect, the tarsi have
only four joints with the last but one bilobed. This is
clearly a mistake. M. Latreille corrects this error, by
placing it in a section in which the species have all the tarsia
of five joints.
Explanation of the Plate.
Fig. 1 . Carabus chrysostomos, of its natural size.
2. Ditto, magnified.
3. a. Labrum or Upper-lip.
Z*. Maxillae or Jaws. {Mandihulce Fab.)
4. a Exterior Feeler.
b Intermediate Do.
c Interior Do.
d Labium or Under-lip. ( Ligula Fab. Levre
inftrieure Latr.)
e Mentum, or Chin. ( Labium Fab. Ganache
Latr.)
5. Apex of one of the Valvula. {MaxillcB Fab.)
6. One of the Tarsi of five joints.
7. The Antenna.
8. One of theEIvtra.
131
TAB. LX.
SPONGIA cancellata.
Cancellated Sponge.
Class 6. Vermes. Order 4. Zoophyta.
Gen. Spongia. Spec. cancellata.
This remarkable Sponge was brought me fresh from
Brighton by Mr. Fellows, September 17th 1805. Its can-
cellated structure distinguishes it at first sight from all
others that I have seen either specimens or figures of,
■especially as British. Besides this structure in the general
habit, its fibres are also cancellated or reticulated with a
horny appearance when magnified. All spongiae seem to
betray more or less the habitation or nidus of some animal,
in the general structure. The kneed appearance and the
swelling at the bend of the knee, with the inverted conical
aperture, give this assurance. It is rather astonishing
that this circumstance has not been ascertained with any
certainty.
In the present laudably inquisitive age there is little doubt
but it is likely to be found out.
V
^^^
TAB. I.
PHYSETER bidens.
Two-toothed Cachalot.
Class 1. Mammalia. Order J. Cete.
Gen. Char. Teeth bony, only in the lower jaw. A
spiracle in the fore part of the head.
Spec. Char. Teeth two, one on each side the jaw.
For this animal I am indebted to that zealous promoter
of natural history, my very kind friend James Brodie, Esq.
F. L. S., who has made every exertion in his power to show
the world that it may be added to the present list of British
zoological subjects j and indeed, as far as we know, it is quite
a new species. It was observed by this gentleman, cast on
his own estate, near Brodie-house, Elginshire. On account of
its weight and bulk, he sent me only the head; a sufficient
mark to distinguish it from all others of this genus, and to
serve as a specimen for my museum. I was much pleased
and astonished when I found, from the extraordinary for-
mation of its mouth, and the situation of its teeth, that this
was likely to prove a species not yet described ; and I was
soon confirmed in that opinion by examination, and compa-
rison at that great source of knowledge and instruction in
Soho Square.
Mr. Brodie (who assisted me with the sketch and de-
scription of the rest of this animal) observes, that the cuticle
on every part of the head and body was perfectly pellucid
ind satinv, reflecting the sun to a y;reat distance. Immc-
2
diatelv under the cuticle, the sides were completely covered
with white vermicular streaks, in every direction, which at
a little distance appeared like irregular cuts with a small
sharp instrument. It was a male animal.
We know of no whale, with only two teeth in the lower
jaw, described by any author. Gmelin mentions one with two
teeth in the upper jaw, which he calls Balcena rostrata.
Johnson has figured what he calls Delphlnus foemina with
apparently two teeth in the vpper jaw, and impressions in
the lower one*. We cannot be mistaken as to the position
of the head in our figure, for the spiracle was sufficiently
conspicuous when it was received. We might have called
it Physeter rostrahis, with some propriety; but this might
have created confusion. It is however a curious circum-
stance, that such an appellation would suit better if it w^ere
described with the wrong side upwards ', which will be easily
observed, if the plate be reversed : and the jaws, in this
case, very aptly resemble a bird's beak.
Animal oblong, black above, nearly white below, 16 feet
long, 11 feet in circumference at the thickest part, with
1 fin on the back. Head acuminated. Lower jaw blunt,
longer than the upper, with two short lateral bony teeth.
Upper jaw sharp, let into the lower one by two lateral im-
pressions corresponding with the teeth. Opening of the
mouth 1 foot 6 inches. Tongue smooth, vascular, small.
Throat very vascular, rough. Under the throat are found
two diverging furrows, terminating below the eyes ; which
are small, and placed 6 inches behind the mouth.
Spiracle lunate, the ends pointing forwards.
• These appear to be the same as Schreber's figure, which is marked Del~
fhimts hidens ; but we have not seen his description.
It is not unlike our animal, but, if meant for the same, is represented rather
too short, with the head the wrong side upv/ards !
-Zi^rj-2*'*j?i.j5^^ /'>.'j;»v7-*,.^<..u&=^
TAB. 11.
PAPILIO Blandina.
Class 5. Insecta. Order 3. Lepidoptera.
Gen. Char. Antennae thicker towards the end,
and generally ending in a knob. IVings erect
when sitting.
Spec. Char. Upper wings dentated, fuscous; with
a rufous stripe, and three eye-like spots. Lower
wings fuscous beneath, with a grey stripe, and
white mark.
Syn. p. Blandina. Fah. Ent. Syst. iii. 1. p. 236.
n. 736. not Turt, Linn. v. 3. 108.
P. Ligea. Scop. Cam. n. 436.
P. jEthiops. Esper. t. 25. f. 3. t. 63./. 1.
P Medea. JVien. Schmetterl. 167. n. 7.
This newly discovered species of Papilioj as a native of
Britain, was caught in the Isle of Arran, one of the Western
Islands of Scotland. The specimen from which our drawing
was taken is in the cabinet of our kind friend A, MacLeay,
Esq. Seer. Linn. Soc,
The upper wings have a dentated appearance at the edges,
are fuscous on the upper side, with a sort of orange-coloured
irregular stripe, on which are three black rings, with a white
spot in the middle of each, and a small black spot ; beneath
paler fuscous, with an orange-coloured stripe and three
black rings, white in the middle. Lower wings fuscous
above, with an orange stripe and a black spot; with a light
brown stripe beneath, a black spot, and an irregularly scal-
loped white mark.
fctTJU^Ol.TiJly'Kca Jk ,7»'' i/%«'«i-f>-, ^■■mS'-t-
TAB. III.
COLUBER Dumfrisiensis.
Dumfriesshire Snake,
Class 3. Amphibia. Order i. Reptilia.
Gen. Char. Plates on the belly. Scales under
the tail.
Spec. Char. Plates on the belly 162. Scales under
the tail about 80.
JLhis Coluber seems to be entirely new, and was discovered
by T. W, Simmons J near Dumfries. As only one specimen
has been seen, we cannot say much with regard to its usual
size. The figures are pretty accurately drawn, as to the
size of the specimen. The scales of the back are extremely
simple, not carinated — see the lowest Jigure,
It is of a pale brown colour, with pairs of reddish brown
Stripes from side to side over the back, somewhat zigzag ;
with intervening spots on the sides.
k^T4^W/
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V <z^^
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TAB. IV.
ACTINIA equina.
Class 6. Vermes. Order 3. Mollusca.
Gen. Char. Body warted, fixed by the base, with
one terminal aperture or mouth, surrounded by
numerous cirrhi.
Spec. Char. Greenish, with a rosy foramen or
mouth, pale rosy cirrhi, with an aperture at the
extremity of each.
Syn, Actinia rufa? Gmel. v, l.p.SlSl.
Actinia equina ? Linn. Sijst. ed. 12. v. I. p. 1088.
Dicqiiem. Phil. Trans, v. 63. p. 361. t. 16, 17.
/ 10-12.
1 HESE have been found several times of late, generally
after the most violent storms, by Dr. Smith of Yarmouth ;
who has occasionally kept them for a twelvemonth or more,
giving them fresh sea water every day, and feeding them
with oysters or muscles. Like others of ihe genus, this
animal forms a sort of ball when at rest — see tlie bottom
Jigure ; and it is curious to observe the various appearances
it assumes while expanding to the size of the upper figure.
'I'he cirrhi, being formed as it were for arms to the animal,
are often displayed in so deliberate a manner that it would
seem to have very little sensibility, were it not often very quick
in drawing them in when disturbed. When touched at the
8
extremity, they remind us of the conductor of a weak
electrifying machine, while in action ; but adhere to the
fingers. It often protrudes its stomach and expands it over
its whole surface ; at which time, if a fresh oyster or muscle
be taken from its shell, and thrown to it, it envelops and
draws it into its body; from whence, in a few days, it is
again discharged by the same channel, altered and very
much diminished. If the food given it be not quite fresh,
it throws it to a distance and appears uneasy.
Body greenish above, variegated with orange -coloured
stripes, and covered with minute white specks ; when closed,
roundish, warted, flat at the base with a narrow rim, grey
beneath, and formed for attaching itself to stones. Mouth
soft, red, surrounded by ] 38 cirrhi of a light rose-colour,
cylindrical, perforated at the end. A red line runs nearly
to the base of each, and is lost towards the mouth. Stomach
light brown, plaited.
yitH.lBoS ^tabii&/. ?>- 7*fJon"ri;' Z^i'^n^.
TAB. V.
VESPERTILIO Barbastellus.
Class 1. Mammalia. Order 1, Primates.
Gen. Char. Teeth erect, acuminated, approximated.
Fore feet fitted for flying, covered with a mem-
brane.
Spec. Char. Caudated. Cheeks tumid, hairy. Ears
large, angulated near the base. Nose flat. Fore-
head bald. Two inches long.
Syn. V. Barbastellus. Gmel. v. \.p. 48.
Barbastelle. Buff. Hist. Nat. viii. 130. t. 19./. 1.
1 HIS new animal, now added to the British catalogue, was
communicated by my friend Mr. Peete,F.'L. S., of Dartford,
to whom I applied to help me to the Horse-shoe Bat. He
kindly used his interest at the powder-mills there, whence
Dr. Latham vised to procure it, and luckily sent me for it
this more rare animal, the only one yet preserved or known
in this country.
Teeth small, all, except the canine, notched. Above the
nose, to a little beyond the ears, it is bald and flat. The
nose is smooth and concave. The ears are the length of the
head, with a notch at each edge, undulated at the outer
edge^ hairy at the back, and having an auricle within (in
which it differs particularly from the Horse- shoe Bat). The
eyes are placed within the ear. The hair all over is dark
brown at the base, and white at the tip. It is much smaller,
and the teeth are sharper than in the Horse-shoe Bat.
I
?s
11
TAB. VI.
ANAS histrionica.
Harlequin Duck.
Class 3. Aves. Orders. Anseres.
Gen. Char. Beak with lamellar teeth, convex, obtuse.
Nostrils ovate. Tongue ciliated, obtuse. Feet
palmated; the three front toes united by a mem-
brane ; hind ones without a membrane.
Spec. Char. Male fuscous, varied with white and
blue; ears with a white line; neck and breast
with a white stripe. Female grey; ears white ;
first wing-coverts blackish.
Male.
Syn. Anas histrionica. Linv. Si/st. i. 204. 35.
Briin. Orn. no. S4!, 85. Mull. no. 127. Faun.
Grcenl. no. 46. Georgi Reise, p. 166. Phil.
Trans. Ixii. 417. Frisch. t. 151.
Brimond. Olaff. Icel. ii. t. 34.
Le Canard a Collier de Terre Neuve. Bris, Orn. vi.
362. 14. Buff. Ois. ix. 250. PL Enl. 798.
Stone Duck. Hist. Ka7ntsch. 160.
Dusky and spotted Duck. Edw. pi. 99.
Harlequin Duck. ^rct. Zool. no. 490. Lath. Syn.
vi. 484. 38.
Female.
Anas minuta. Linn. Syst. i. 204. ^G. Brun. no. 86.
Faun. Grocnl. no. 46.
La Sarcelle de la Baye de Hudson. Bris. Orn. vi.
469. 41.
Le Canard brun. Buff. Ois. ix. 252. PL Enl. 1007.
brun et blanc. Biff. Ois. ix. 287. PL
EnL 799.
Little brown and white Duck. Echu. pi. 157.
Catesh. Car. 1. 98.
Harlequin Duck female. Lath. Syn. vi. 485, 38.
12
The male and female of this were by Linnaeus thought to
be different species. We are however well assured of the
contrary by our most kind friend Lord Seaforth^ who pro-
cured and favoured me with these specimens from Scotland.
Mr. Simmons gave me a young female which he shot in
one of the Orkneys.
Dr. Latham's description of it in his Synopsis is so good,
that we cannot do better than follow him.
Male. — ** Size of a Wigeon. Length one foot five inches :
breadth twenty-six inches : weight eighteen ounces and three
quarters, troy. Bill near an inch and half long, and black :
irides hazel : between the bill and eye white, in some yel-
lowish, or saffron colour*, extending a little over the eyes,
and beyond. Crown of the head black, bounded by a reddish
streak : on each side of the neck a perpendicular line of white,
and above it a white spot ; except this, the whole of the necic
is black : round the breast is a white collar, broadest be-
hind, where it is marked with black dots, and is bounded
by a black band: between this and the wings is a transverse
mark of white. The breast, below the collar, blueish ash
colour. The back dusky brown, inclined to purple. Rump
deep blue black. Belly and thighs black. Sides dull orange:
on each side of the tail a spot of white. The prime quills
dusky ash colour, some of them tipped with white. Tail
brown. Legs blueish black."
Female. — *^ Length thirteen inches and a half. Bill black :
irides hazel: the forehead and between the bill and eye
white : on the ear a spot of the same : head, neck, and back
brown; palest on the fore part of the neck: upper part of
the breast and rump rufous brown : lower part of the breast
and belly barred with pale rufous and white, but the lower
belly and thighs with rufous and brown: scapulars and
wing-coverts rufous brown ; the outer greater ones blackish :
quills and tail dusky, the last inclined to rufous: legs
dusky."
♦ Muller.
Ja/t^J.-jSos- 2?^^f^^ iv ,7i£ 'SoH'^rir.^ffu^'t
13
TAB. VII.
PAPILIO Ligea.
Class 5. Insecta. Orders. Lepidoptera.
Spec. Char. Wings dentated, fuscous, with a rufous
stripe ; on each side of the upper wing three eye-
like spots ; on the lower four ; under side marked
with grey.
Syn. PapilioL'gea. Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. 772. 144.
— — Faun. Suec. 1050.
Fab. Ent. Syst. iii. \.p. 234. ??.
732.
P. Alexis. Esp. Tab. 4>4^.f. 1. 2.
1 HIS is another new British Insect, procured by
A. MacLeay, Esq. Sec. L. S., from the same place as the
one figured in tab. 3. of this Work.
J^uz?".! jQos. ^a^^^%^ ^-- ^'a'f t.f<r**'er^p. J^^c/xdrny-
15
TAB. vm.
L I N E U S longissimus.
Black Lhie-JVorm.
Class 5. Vermes. Order 1. Intestina.
Gen. Char. Animal naked, simple, not attached.
Body linear, smooth, depressed. Mouth beneath
longitudinal.
Syn. Linens longissimus. T. W, Simmons'* s MSS.
Sea Longworm. Borlase's Cornwall, pi. 26./. 13.
1 HE first intelligence I had of this animal was from
Colonel Montague, who informed me also of their great
length, but found it difficult, from their rotting, to preserve
them to send me.
It seems to have been long and well known to the fisher-
men of the coast; but after they have told one that it is
many fathoms in length, and that though they are continually
bawling them in as they would a rope, they never find the
extremity, they arc then sufficiently satisfied that one knows
enough of the matter ; and persuasion or money will scarcely
procure specimens from them.
*' Length many feet. Breadth one-third of an inch. Colour
towards the head black ; towards the opposite extremity it
becomes gradually of a light brown with paler longitudinal
streaks. The extremity nearest the mouth is slightly tapering,
emarginate, and marked with a transverse semicircular line.
16
It appears capable of elongating itself, something in the
manner of a leech. The mouth is situated half an inch
distant from the apex, and forms a longitudinal aperture of
three-quarters of an inch in length (to us it did not appear
to be above a quarter of an inch). Motion very slow.
^' This animal is frequently dredged up by the fishermen
at Newhaven in the Frith of Forth. If plunged whilst living
into alcohol, it contracts, and appears to be irregularly an-
nulated. When permitted to remain in the same water
many days, the posterior extremity becomes putrid and
decomposed, whilst the other part remains entire and ca-
pable of motion. It is so fragile that the entire animal has
not yet been procured. A detached piece measured twelve
feet, and the fishermen at Newhaven assert that they have
met with pieces more than as vadiny fathom in length."
The above description was taken from the MSS. of Mr.
T. W. Simmons of Edinburgh, to whom I am indebted for
specimens of this extraordinary animal.
Je^.-'^.^SoS' JPi-Uyhtii. If ^'Sfrrerlr. ^.^ainn:
17
TAB. IX.
M N D N Monoceros.
Sea Unicorn, or Narwhal.
Class 1. Mammalia. Order 7. Cete.
Gen. Char. Teeth two, long, spiral, projected for-
wards from the front of the upper jaw, through
the lip.
Syn. Monodon Monoceros. Linn, Syst. Nat. ed. 13.
V. 1. 222. Tart. v. 1. 127.
1 HIS animal was cast on the coast atFriestone, in Boston-
Deeps, on Feb. 15, 1800. It perfectly agreed with the
name given by Linnseus, in having but one tooth, looking
like a horn; but, on examining the upper jaw, it was
very evident that the other tooth had been lost; and we
have since seen a perfect skeleton of the head of this ani-
mal with the two teeth fixed in their proper sockets. The
present specimen was 25 feet in length, and the tooth seven
feet six inches. The teeth are spirally twisted, with a slight
groove, terminating in a smooth point, as if worn down,
and consist of very hard, compact ivory. Mouth rather
small. Front of the head much rounded and blunt. Eyes
black and small, considering the size of the animal, as in
all the Order Cete. We observed the rudiment of a fin on
the back, and a hard ridge near the tail. Black above from
the nose to the tail, softened with streaky spots towards the
sides, which are white, with a few spots. Belly white.
VOL. I. c
18
Pins black. The whole animal was covered with a black
and white horny substance, like some kinds of tortoise-
shell, comi)osed of laminae for an inch or more in depth.
In the stomach were found the horny beaks of cuttle-fish
in great quantity.
It was shown in Cockspur-street for some time, also at
Cambridge. This animal is said to be most frequently
i'ound with only one tooth. It will occasionally pierce the
bottom of a ship with its teeth ; which circmiistance may
account for the frequent loss of one of them.
Jei^j jSas ^I'W^A^ J, ^f ,r,,„„,/^, J,„r^^,
19
TAB. X.
PHALAROPUS Hyperboreus.
Red-necked Phalarope, or Coot-footed Tringa,
Class 2. Aves. Order 18, Pinnatipedes.
Gen. Char. Bill straight. Nostrils minute. Toes
furnished with a broad and generally scalloped
membrane.
Spec. Char. Male gray, a white stripe on the wing,
and white beneath the rump. Breast gray. Sides
of the neck ferruginous. Eyelashes white. Fe^
male. Body gray beneath. Rump rufous. White
stripe on the wing. Eyebrows and base of the
greater wing-coverts reddish. Sides of the neck
ferruginous.
Syn. Male. Tringa hyperborea. Linn. Sijst. i,
249. 9. Faun. Suec. no. 179. (descr. posterior.')
Brun. 172. Midi. 196. Faun. GrcenL no. 15,
Gmel. Syst. i. 675.
Phalaropus cinereus. Briss.wi. 15. 2. Id. 8vo. ii.
362.
Larus fidipes alter nostras. Raii Syn. 1 32, a. 7.
JVdlugh. 270.
Le Phalarope cendre. Buff. viii. 224. PL Enl. 766.
Cock Coot-footed Tringa. Ediu. t. 143.
Red Phalarope. Br. Zool ii. no. 219. t. 76. Lath.
Syn. V. 270. 1.
C 2
20
Female. Tringa fulicaria. Linn. Syst. i. 249. 10,
Faun. Groenl. no. 76. Gmel. Syst. i. 676. 6.
Phalaropus rufescens. Briss. vi. 20. 4. /c/. 8vo.
ii. 2,65.
Le Phalarope rouge. Buff. viii. 225.
Red Coot-footed Tringa. Ediv. t. 142.
Phalaropus hyperboreus. Latli. Ind. Orn. v. 2. 775.
T. IV. Simmons' s MSS.
This bird is 7 inches in length. Bill f inch, black. Eye-
lids white. Tarsi black, compressed. Toes united as far
as the first, second, and third phalanx of the inner, middle,
and outermost toes respectively ; the unconnected part of
the toes webbed j margins of the web scalloped and pec-
tinated. Claws black. The female differs from the male
in havino- the head of a dusky black, and the throat of a
white colour ; also on the fore part a bright ferruginous
spot, extending upwards on each side towards the head,
but which is prevented from encircling the neck by a very
narrow streak of a dark cinereous colour. This is con-
tinued from the head to the back. The dusky streaks on
the back are fewer and paler. The cinereous colour is every
where much darker than that of the male.
This species was procured In July 1 803, at the edges of the
fresh-water lochs in the Islands of Sunda and N. Ro-
naldsha.
Six females and two males were dissected, and remains
of fresh-water insects were found in their stomachs. From
the small size of the ovaria, and the leagth and thickness of
the oviduct, it was concluded that the eggs had been lately
laid. It was sufficiently evident from dissection that the
21
males were adult birds. From the deficiency of feathers ou
the breasts of the males, from their less bright plumage,
and from the disproportion of their number to that of the fe-
males, it is not unreasonable to suppose that the males alone
perform the business of incubation.
As none of the inhabitants had observed them, they had
gained no provincial name, nor was it possible to ascertain
whether they were residents, or summer birds of passage.
It is much to be regretted that the search after their nests
was not attended with the desired success.
The above description was taken from the MSS. of Mr.
T. W. Simmons, by whom we were favoured with the
specimens.
The figure was taken from a female specimen.
//
_:Fei'^J.-lSoi. J'uSI'/?>m(, ly T-^ o'ox-er-Zy. JZ'ftJon
23
TAB. XI.
PAPILIO Charlotta.
Class 5 . Insects. Orders. Lepidoptera.
Spec. Char. Above dull orange, \^ith black marks;
nineteen silver spots on the lower wing beneath.
Some years ago the Rev. Dr. Charles Abbott discovered
tills curious fritillar)- in Bedfordshire; and we do not know
that it has been found by anyone else. The 19 silver spots
on the under part of the lower wing are very constant *. It
is an elegant insect, well deserving an honourable name,
and comes near to P. Aglaia in the System. As we have,
comparatively speaking, but few Papilios in Great Britain, it
is a very desirable acquisition. This gentleman likewise
first added P. paniscus to the British list, and was so kind
as to favour me with several pairs of them.
* There are several other diiFerences, which may be observed in the
SFeiC'-l-JlS/fS-^^i^'^^ 'fy Taf •foiva-h; ^on^eTi,'.
25
TAB. XII.
AMPHITRITE Vcntilabmm.
Class 6. Vermes. Orda- 2. MoUusca.
Gen. Char. Bodij projecting from a tube, annu-
lated. Feet small, numerous. Feelers two, ap-
proximate, feathered. Ej/es none. — Turt.
Spec. Char. Fibres of the feelers ciliate on the
inner edge, one feeler with 54 fibres, the other
only 36. Proboscis none.
Syn. Amphitrlte Ventilabrum. Linn. Sj/st Nat. ed. 1 3.
V. 1. 3111. Turt. Linn. v. 1. 82.
Maltese Tubular Coralline? Ellists Coral. 92. t. 34.*
Our ingenious countryman Mr. Ellis, famous for his ac-
curate work on Corallines, figured this animal from one
found on the Maltese coast. We are obliged to Mr. T. W.
Simmons for this specimen, taken in a net off Dysart, near
Inch-Keith. The two coats are somewhat lacerated; but as
we see more of the construction of the animal, it is so far
an advantage. These coats are somewhat cartilaginous,
and the outermost is roughest. It has 51 branches to the
feeler on one side and 36 to that on the other.
* Ellis has made the case of one coat only, whereas it has two in our
specimen.
^fa^C^JL.XSoS. Z'tSlf/^.^ ir Titr^, -ff-^^y. Z^nAr^
27
TAB. XIII.
PAPILIO Chryseis.
Class 5. Insecta. Order 3. Lepidoptera.
Spec. Char. Male. Wings orange above, with black
margins, and a black spot on the upper ones,
which are of a blue colour. Female, orange
above, clouded and spotted with black. Both
brown beneath, with 27 eye-like spots.
Syn. p. Chryseis. Fab, Mant. Ins. 2. 79. n. 725.
Gmel. Syst. Nat. ed. 13. v. 1.
2359. n. 815.
JVein. Sclnnetterl. 181. n. 3.
Anxious that no discovery in Natural History should
escape us, we are happy in presenting this insect to the
public; and the valuable communications of our friends
have helped us to many things that might have lain long
dormant, or perhaps have been totally lost and forgotten.
This new British Papilio was caught by Mr. Plasted of
Chelsea, in Ashdown forest, Sussex,
_3fa>;^ljSag.Tui^^t^ i^ .^mf JfH^fr^^J..
29
TAB. XIV.
PHALiENA Catena.
Class 5. Insecta. Order 3. Lepidoptera.
Gen. Char. Antenna.' gradually tapering from the
base to the tip. Tongue spiral. IFingSy when
at rest, generally deflected.
Spec. Char. Wings white above, lateral margin
brownish, with 7 white marks resembling a chain :
upper margin with 2 brown spots.
1 HIS new moth was likewise taken by Mr. Plasted at
Brixton, Surry. It is a very curious one, and has not yet
been described by any author.
It comes among the Noctnce in the Linncean System,
Ji&rt^a-Z^oS y-^^^ceoL iy ^/ ^f"«^«r3p'._Z:.>^»<t>7i^.
TAB. XV.
ONISCUS lonoicornis.
Class 5. Insecta. Order /. Aptera.
Gen. Char. Jmvs truncate, denticulate. Lip bifid.
Antennce setaceous, from 2 to 4. Body oval,
consisting of about 14 transverse segments.
Sp c. Char. Segments of the body 10 ; the fourth
is the length of six others. Antennae consisting
of five joints. The eight fore legs hairy in the
inside, the others smooth. Eyes black.
By Mr. T. W. Simmons's indefatigable industn,', iu
laudably searching into the knowledge of the natural pro-
ductions of Great Britain, whenever he had an opportunity,
we are enabled to figure this species. He observed thi&
strange-looking animal entangled in the nets off Dysart,
near Inch-Keith.
It has an appearance that may often cause one to mistake
the head for the tail : see the upper figure. In the middle
figure it seems like a tumbler, or master of attitudes j in the
lower figure it appears to be at rest.
The eggs are red, and adhere to the under side of the
largest segment of the body.
r,
TAr>. xvr.
MYTILUS staonalis.
Class 6. Vermes. Order 3. Testacea.
Gen. Char. Animal an Ascidia ? Shell bivalve,
rough, generally affixed by a beard of silky fila-
ments ; hinge generally without teeth, with an
awl-shaped excavated longitudinal line.
Spec. Char. Shell ovate, rather smooth, gibbous,
with a flat space near the hinge.
'Syn. Mytilus stagnalis. Linn. Si/st. Nat.ed. 13. v. 1.
3362.
Mytilus maximus planior viridescens edentulus.
Schroei.JIusconch. 159. t. \.f. \.
i HE pair of shells from which these were drawn appear to
be unique as British. They much resemble those of My-
tilus Cyg7ieuSy but are however more gibbous, and more
pointed on one side. There is also a flat space near the
hinge towards the broader side. The description, in Linn.
Syst. Nat. ed. 13, which follows, agrees nearly with our
shell, and we make no scruple of considering them as the
same : — " Like M. Cygneus, but the shell Is much larger,
being eight inches broad and four and half long, less con-
vex*, greenish, with obscure green rays, and the margin is
vcllowish brown." In the copy of Schroeter at Sir Joseph
* This is the only part of the description which dilTers from our shell, wluch
is more convex tliau M. Ci/puiu<.
VOL. I. D
34
Banks's, the figure is larger than ours, but does not look too
large in comparison to it : mine is measured by the edge of
the shell, and is therefore accurate; but for something of a
deception, not readily accounted for, it looks smaller than
the real shell. There are in Schroeter's figure a few longi-
tudinal stripes, which appear by the description to be too
strong*. My kind friend, the Rev. Charles Sutton, A. M.
of Norfolk, found it by the side of the lake in Kew Gardens
which is now filled up. I have found smaller shells that
nearly resemble, but I do not know of any pair like it as
British.
* These stripes are common to most species of this genus.
^7
J&^v, J, iS us. J'fi'^'!^ if ^'iSSe^'i^iy, Z^"^''
TAB. XVII.
TANTALUS Falcinellus
Bay Ibis.
Class '1. Aves. Order J . Grallse,
Gen. Char. Btak long, subulate, roundish, sub-
arcuate. Face naked. Tongue small. Jugular
pouch naked. Feet four-toed, palmated at their
bases.
Spec. Char. Face black. Wings and tail dusky-
green, shining. Body dark-chesnut, mixed with
green above, beneath paler.
Syn. Tantalus Falcinellus, Linn. Sysi. Nat. i. 241. 2.
Gmel. Syst. i. 648. Scop. Ann. i. no. 131. Kram.
El. 350. 2. Boroivsk. Nat, iii. 72. 2. Faun.
Helvet. Lath. Ind. 707.
Numenius viridis. Bris. v. 326. 4. Id. 8vo. ii. 293.
N. subaquilus. Klein. Av. 1 10. 8.
Falcinellus. Raii Syn. 103. 3. IFillugh. 218. t. 54.
Id. {Angl.) 295.
Le Courlis verd. Buf. viii. 29.
d'ltalie. PL Enl. 819.
Bay Ibis. Lath Syn. v. 113. 12. Arct. Zoo/, ii,
460. A. Id. Suppl. 67.
Dr. Lamb, who possesses this bird, and has been so good
as to lend it us to figure, has also favoured us with the fol-
lowing account. It is the only British specimen known.
** Length 2 feet 6 inches. Breadth 3 feet 2 inches.
Weight 18 ounces. Bill 3 inches long, incurvated, of a
pale horn colour, rather darker and much thicker towards
the base. Eyes as it were in the base ol" the bill. Irides dark.
Face naked. Head and neck of a pale ferruginous colour,
with fine transverse bars of white below the chin. General
56
plumage on the upper parts dusky black, glossed with green
and purple. Wings and tail the same. The whole under parts
much duller, with scarcely any bronze. Thighs rather paler,
half way naked. Legs and feet long. Claws much crooked,
the inside of the middle one pectinated. Legs, feet, and
claws of a dingey black or horn colour.
" This Ibis was shot, September 28, 1 793? vvhile skimming
with another over the river Thames, between Henley and
Readino-, and was supposed to be a bittern. I found nothing
in his stomach but undigested plants. He had many pedi-
culi, and a vast number of other small insects about him,
which I sent to my learned friend and patron T. Marsham,
Esq., Tr. L. S."
That this bird was held in the highest estimation
amongst the antient Egyptians, is clearly demonstrated by
the following account given of him by one of their kings : —
Kap/ay fiov\6i/.£voi ypd(pziv, ''Kiv ^ujypa(pov(ri, to ydp ^wov
'EpiJ^T} ixKilwtai, irda-r^g KOCpSlas kx\ Xoyitrp^yj '^sffitotr., stei xs.) t)
"^Ifi? auTO y.o'S avTO rr, xccpSloc s<rr\v 3y.(pBprj;' Ttspi ov Aoyo; scrr)
'TrXslcrtos Ttap Alyvirrloig (pspof^svos.
'D.pov 'AiroXXwyo; "NeiXmov 'IspoyXvipiiia.. Ed. Par. 1551.
'' When they wish to signify the heart they draw an Ibis :
for that animal is dedicated to Mercury, the sovereign of
every heart and thought ; also because the Ibis of itself* is
very like the heart : about which much is said among the
Egyptians."
We consider this as one of the same genus with the fa-
mous bird which the Egyptians worshipped, but not the
identical species, about which there is so much dispute.
This one is rather smaller than those preserved among the
mummies. We are doubtful whether it is the same bird
that Latham describes; for he says " pedibus cseruleis, alis
caudaque violaceis," in his Specific Character. Lath. Ind.
Orn. 2. 707.
• Or perhaps folded up into itself, that is, with its head under its wing, in
which posture jEiian says that it resembles a heart. — R.T.
^8
-.^^UJ-ZeoS.^A'iiA^ i- J'a.-f .J't^e^^. ^«
37
TAB. XVIII.
CICINDELA hjbrida.
Class 5. Insecta. Order I. Coleoptera.
Gen. Cfiar. AntenncE setaceous. Palpi six, fili-
form. Jmvs prominent. Eijes large. Thorax
rounded, marginated.
Spec. Char. Purplish. Elytra with a lunulaied spot
at their base, an undulated white stripe in the
middle, and a lunuiated spot at the end of each.
Syn. Cicindela hybrida. Liiin. Sj/st. ed. 1.1. ?'. 1. 1920.
Faun. Suec. 74;~.* Scop. Ent. cam. iS3. Fab.
Sp. ins. I. 185. n. 6.
Cicindela maculata. Degerr Ins. v. 4. 1 i .5. n. 3.
t. 4./. 8. Schcvff. elem. t. 43. Icon. t. Q5.f. IQ.
Bergstr. Nomencl. i. 26. t. 4^./. 5.
AIr. L. W. DiLLWYN first found the two specimens of
this new insect, one evening in May 1S03, on the Crumlyn
Burrows about three miles from Swansea. One of these
specimens was accidentally lost, but my son G. B. Sowerbv
had the good fortune to find another next morning. These
are all that have been taken of this beautiful insect, that we
know of, in Great Britain.
Above purplish, beneath green gold. Thighs and legs
bright red gold. Elytra punctulatcd, the hollows green gold,
and risings purple gold. Suture and margin of the elytra
purple gold. Face yellow. .Taws black, wiih an undulated
stripe, and a lunuiated spot at each end of each elytron.
-Z<?
^^iritJ-XSoS.IZ'-il'y'li^ ^.^•'■.'V^**-^,. _Z»/.*«<-
39
TAB. XIX.
APIS flavicollis.
Class 5. Insecta. Order 5. Hymenoptera.
Gen. Char. Proboscis broken, inflexed. Tongue
elongated, cylindrical, exserted. j4nienncr mid-
dling; the males have 14 joints, the females 13.
Eyes lateral, suboval, entire. Wings plain. Sting
pungent, hidden.
Spec. Char. Hairy, black. Front of the thorax and
scutellum pale yellow. Abdomen, all but the
first joint, red. Anus black.
Very few species of bees were described in Great Britain
until that indefatigable and most excellent inquirer into all
subjects of Entomology, the Rev. W. Kirby, F. L. S., pub-
lished his Monograpliia Apum Anglice, in which more
than 220 species are noticed, of which 200 at least had not
been before described as English. We now add another by
the help of Mr. Jonathan Salt, of Sheffield. It is remarkable
chiefly on account of the thorax being yellow.
^^rzZ^^^9t>S. :i?ZiiZr/iie^ }f J^iit ,Sfwer^yJZt">i^>B^
41
TAB. XX.
PHALANGIUM Diadema.
Class 5. Insecta. Order y. Aptera.
Gen. Char. P«//jz two, filiform. /<rmvf homy, second
joint armed with an acute cheliferous tooth. u4ji-
tennce none. Eijes two on the crown and two
at the sides. Feelers filiform. Legs eight. Ab-
domen generally rounded.
Spec. Char. Thorax with an elevated spinous tu-
bercle on the back, and an eye on each side of it.
Palpi large, first joint spinous.
Syn. Phalangium Diadema. Linn. Si/st. Nat. ed. \S.
V. 1. 2944. Fabr. Sp. Ins. i. 548. n.. 5. Mant.
List. i. 347. n. 5. Stroem. Act. Hafn. 9. 583.
t. (S. Mull. 7.ool. Dan. Prodr.Add. 280. ??. 192.
Every thing created has some attraction for the inquiring
mind ; even the spider tribe, often most abhorred, and con-
sidered as noxious, has occasionally sonie beauties.
The present animal, nearly allied to the spider, might be
shunned as hideous, and may perhaps for that reason have
been unexamined. Even the Diadem does not remove its
grim appearance, although it atlds greatly to its oddity. It
has however been recognised abroad, but not in Great
Britain, as far as we knov/, until my eldest son, James
Sowerby, found it on oak-trees in Hainaull forest in 1802,
and G. B. Sowerby in 1803 in South Wales, on dripping
rocks at a water-fall called Usgoed-Eynon-Garv.
VOL. I. E
ZJ
'*-*^-^.
-^y Z.JttS ^-JT-A-tJ, ty X'^'- ■-^'•^criy -Zrr<^i^
43
TAB. XXI.
ANAS Njroca.
Olive-tufted Duck.
Class 2. Aves. Order Anseres.
Gen. Char. Beak with lamellar teeth, convex,
obtuse. Tongue ciliated, obtuse.
Spec. Char. Blackish olivaceous. Head, throat,
breast, and flanks chesnut. Belly whitish. Rump
black. Vent snowy.
Syn. Anas Nyraca. Guldenstoedt Nov. Comment.
Petrop. xiv. 1. 403.
AnasNyroca. Gmel. 1. 542. Turi. 1. 332.
1 HIS bird, by Dr. Latham, has been thought a variety of
the Tufted Duck, Anasfuligala ; but he appears not to have
seen it. The bill seems partly to warrant his opinion; but
if any thing is to be depended on in the plumage, we must
consider it a different species. It was sent from Yarmouth
by our friend D. Turner, Esq.
AUmJ. jS!,s ^.J!i'X«' f'
45
TAB. XXII.
ZEUS Opah.
Opah, or Kiiig-JisJi.
Class 4. Pisces. Order 3. Tnoracicl.
Gen. Char. Bodi/ very deep, compressed sideways,
consisting of seven branchiostegious rays.
Generally with very long filaments from the
first dorsal fin.
Spec. Char. Tail bifurcate, red, dorsal finl. anal fin 1.
Fins red. Back green. Sides pale red, with silvery
and golden spots,
Syn. Opah, or King-fish. Phil. Trans. Ahr. xl. 879.
t. 5. Penn. Brit. Zool. 3. 223.
Zeus Cauda bifurca, colore argenteo purpureo splen-
dens. Stroi?i. Sondmor. 323. 325. t. 1./. 20.
Wk know of no coloured figure of this most singular and
beautiful fish, which seems only an hihabitant, and a very
rare one too, of our seas ; so strikingly beautiful are its lustre
and colours that all are amazed with its splendour at first
sight.
The fishermen who are so lucky as to procure these fish,
have always made a show of them, A few only at different
periods have been seen, viz. not more than seven or eight.
The present specimen was found near Weymouth, and
was procured for me, as soon as the fishermen would part
with it, by my friend S. P. Brycr, Esq., of that place.
46
The back fin at its origin is very high, but slopes very
suddenly towards the tail, where it grows rather higher.
Anal fin long.
These animals measure from 3 to 5 feet, and weigh from
70 to 140 pounds.
It seems most proper to retain the generic name Zeus, as
it pretty well agrees with it. It is rather astonishing that
Linnaeus, Gmelin, or Turton do not mention it.
Ji/tAl.jS£>S TuiH^^^ ^y ^** O'n^fcriy J^Mftdm
47
TAB. XXIII.
CANCER Spinus.
Spine-backed Shrhnp.
Class 5. Insecta. Order 7- Aptera.
Gen. Char. Feet 8 (rarely 6 or 10). Claivs 2.
Palpi 6 unequal. Ei/es 2, distant, generally pe-
dunculated, elongated, moveable. Jaws horny,
thick. Lip triple. Tail jointed, unarmed.
Spec. Char. Thorax with a serrated ridge and a
tooth on each side of it. Third joint of the ab-
domen with a spine.
We should be glad, by Mr. Simmons's example, to awaken
the zeal of naturalists, that we may have the pleasure to see
our native rarities made public. It is a laudable endeavour
to inquire into what we possess, and in time many useful
discoveries may ensue. The present species would, by its
extraordinary yet certainly curious formation, never tempt
any one ; yet custom, and the delicacy of most of the genus
as a viand, have made it agreeable to many, nor do we know
of any that are liable to be particularly hurtful, for the
supposed danger from a crab in the nuiscle is a vulgar
error.
(The wolf-fish, at Scarborough, is despised for its clumsy
and voracious-looking jaws J l)ut, though ugly in appearance,
it is equal to most fish in the opinion of the unprejudiced.)
48
We have only seen this one of the present species, there-
fore little is known but of its formation ; and that soon at-
tracts the attention, as peculiarly different from the common
forms.
Mr. Simmons discovered this species among oysters on
the Scottish coast.
rJ>iftg jajv^;
2A
Z-'n^ i slScs. :r^I.y>,^j, iy 7-! ■.^'•r^fr, ^.^'.^
49
TAB. XXIV.
ASTERIAS endeca.
Nine-rayed Starjish, or Sea Star.
Class 6. Yermes. Order 2. MoUusca.
Gen. Char. Body depressed, covered with a mu-
ricated coiiaceous crust, sulcated beneath, with
tentacula. Mouth central, 5-valved.
Spec. Char. With 9 rays, everywhere covered with
pectinated tubercles.
Syn, Asterias endeca, GmeL Syst. Nat. v. 1. 3162.
/S. Rumph. Mils. t. IS.f.Y.
We are indebted to the zeal and friendship of James Brodie,
Esq., F. L. S., for the first discovery of Asterias endeca as a
tiative of Great Britain. It was alive when he picked it up
on the Nairn coast, in the Moray Firth. It is remarkable
for the number of rays being mostly nine, and generally in
the same position, in fives, threes and ones. They are
thus represented in Rumphius's figure, and are so in my spe-
cimen ; but are said occasionally to vary in number. The back
is regularly covered with small, rough, somewhat pectinated
tubercles, and the body has nine prominences placed a
little above and between the divisions of the rays. It is of
a purplish brown colour. The under side is lighter coloured,
VOL. I. F
50
and the edges of the rays have two rows of smaller pecti-
nated prominences. In the centre of the rays the promi-
nences are more deeply pectinated, opposite, and continuing
to the mouth, where they divide a little, and the centre is
more simple. It has seemingly a fleshy lip. Our specimen is
smaller than that of Rumphius. The concordance of atti-
tude is remarkahlc, as at first sight there does not seem any
rcffularitv.
7il^2 iSoS. J-alff^^ iy ^-■'J''~»rij:-i"^->.
01
TAB. XXV.
PENNATULA mirabilis?
Slender Sea Pen.
Class 6. Vermes. Order 4. Zoophyta.
Gen. Char. Animal not affixed, of various shapes,
supported by a bone running through the middle,
naked at the base, the upper part generally with
lateral ramifications, furnished with rows of tu-
bular denticles, producing radiate polypes from
each tube.
Spec. Char. Stem nliform, with lunate, denticulated,
alternate ramifications at the top, growing smaller
towards the bottom, which is naked.
Syn. Pennatula mirabilis. Gmel. Syst, Nat. v. 1. 3865.
1 HE natural construction of these aiumals is curiously
imitative of a quill not stripped of its feathers, in most ol"
the species ; but the one before us seems to represent a quill
stripped of its feathers. The base looks like a pen in this
as well as in the other species, swelling a little from the
end, and then tapering. The upper part is thicker, with
alternate semicircular pectinated swellings, larger towards the
middle_, tapering upwards, and terminating in a thin bony
52
substance, which passes through the whole. We are not
sure that this is the true P. mirabilis of Linnaeus, as the
figures quoted will not allow us to be so. It is apparently
very rare as British; for I do not know of any but the one in
our possession dredged up by Mr. Simmons off Inch-Keith,
and presented to me by James Brodie, Esq. F. L. S.
^7i«tf X- 2B0S. ^«3^A^M^. ^f J*.'f J'<M*^ti^iy. X^fLS^>%
53
TAB. XXVI,
ELATER cyaneus.
Classy. Insecta. Order I. Coleoptera.
Gen. Char. Antemice filiform, often serrated. Head
small, inserted. Thorax oblong, rather convex,
in the front attenuated, with a prominent angle
behind on each side. Body elongated : being
laid on its back, it jumps by means of a mucron
on the breast being thrown out of a foramen in
the abdomen.
Spec. Char. Elytra purplish blue, striated and punc-
tulated. Thorax blue green, punctulated.
Syn. Elater cyaneus. Marsham^s Coleopt. 3SS.
1 HIS insect has been reckoned British^ and is esteemed as
such in the best works on Coleopterous Insects ; although
a habitat has not been pointed out. It however was found
about three years ago by our friend Mr. Dawson under a
stone in the King's Park at Edinburgh, and is perhaps the
handsomest of the Elater Genus indigenous to this Island.
Head and thorax shining blue green. Elytra bright
blueish purple, very finely punctulated. Beneath dull green.
Legs dull green. Antennae black.
Tui,. ^y
PctT^ jSl>-^.3'ui^9,»£ 3> .^f Sci^r-Zj . j:„nJ^i
55
TAB. XXVII.
CARABUS nitens.
Classy. Insecta. Order 1. Coleoptera.
Gen. Char. Antennce filiform. Thorax obcordate,
behind truncated, marglnated. Elytra marginated.
Abdomen ovate. Hind-thigh with an appendage
at the base.
Spec. Char. Apterous. Elytra porcated : with in-
terrupted strise, and scabrous golden sulcze.
Syn. Marsh. Coleopt. 435. and Synonyms.
Having seen foreign specimens of this beautiful Insect,
some years since, and being told that it was to be found in
*
Great Britain, I was anxious to know the habitat j but the
most able entomologists at that time could not satisfy me :
even Mr. Marsham was unacquianted with it. However,
anxious to collect every thing relating to tlie Natural History
of Great Britain, I had desired my friend, the Rev. J. Harri-
man, to send me Insects as well as Plants, whether com-
mon or uncommon; and it soon after, about the vear 1800,
happened that this came in a box of his with a Lichen. As
Mr. Marsham's work was not then in the press, I imme-
diately inquired of Mr^ Harriman concerning it, who said
it was not uncommon oil the heaths of Duriiam. I gave
Mr. Marsham the information, but he has omitted it.
56
i have since seen a specimen at Lady Wilson's, who also
found it in that county. We therefore venture to figure it
as a new and rare insect to most entomologists, and espe-
cially as most cabinets have only foreign specimens.
Head, thorax, abdomen, legs and antennae black be-
neath. Head and thorax red gold above, with a green
glare. Elytra sulcated. Sulcse sometimes interrupted. The
ridges black. The hollows green gold. Margin Elytrae
gold coloured.
28
Ji,Jt^J 2B0S ^'^^^'^'''^^ ?»■ .'«" i-^'^»*'«^-^'^'«<^'^
57
TAB. XXVIII.
PHAL.ENA N. Bractea.
The Gold Spangle Moth.
Class 7. Insecta. Order 3. Lepidoptera,
Spec. Char. Wings variegated, with a large golden
shining spot in the middle.
Syn. Phalsena Bractea. Elements of Nat. Hist. 2. 186.
720. 197.
The specimen from which our figure is taken, is in the
collection of A. MacLeay, Esq., Sec. L. S., who received
it from Mr. Charles Stewart, A. L. S., the ingenious author
of the Elements of Natural History, and is the identical
specimen described in that work. It was taken in the
neighbourhood of Edinburgh.
Vol. I. c;
2Q
__:f?^.V. -?5.9^. JT'i^iiAtft^' 3*. ^^" t/-* '*'«.'-?« _^<»-'i/^»<
59
TAB. XXIX.
PHAL.^NA N. ^rifera.
Yorkshire burnished Brass Moth.
Classy. Insecta. Orders. Lepidoptera.
Spec. Char. Crested, anterior wings dark brown,
with a large brassy spot near the apex.
Syn. Noctua Bracteina. Prod. Lepidopt. Brit. 16.
720. 103.
This Insect has long been known to the Enghsh Aurehans
by the name of the Yorkshire burnished Brass Moth, but
does not appear to have been hitherto described, in conse-
quence of its having been always mistaken for P. Bractea,
figured in the preceding Plate.
/^PLf^ 7 ^os. ^Z'vJ-l^A^^ S/' t-^y j'o\»-efhy- Xrn.
61
TAB. XXX.
NEREIS lamelligera,
Class 6. Vermes. Order 2. Mollusca,
Gen. Char. Body creeping, long. Lateral pe-
duncles pencilled. Tentacida simple, rarely
none. Eyes two or four, rarely none.
Spec. Char. Round, attenuated at both ends. Pro-
boscis stellated, with four lieshy points. Pe-
duncles compressed, above furnished with a
semi-lunate scale, beneath with a larger semi-
cordate one.
Syn. Nereis lamelligera. Gmel. Sysi. Nat. v. 1. 3120.
Nature, ever bountiful beyond our expectations, often
surprises us with her wonders ; and for some wise end now
and then adopts forms different from what are familiar to
u3. It often happens that we are not able to conjecture
her aim, though we cannot suppose any other than that
of real excellence, "in this instance she affords us a very
distinct criterion of the species ; and it often happens
that construction may be particularly useful to assist
our discernment; and, if for no other purpose, may be pro-
vidential where it shows us a difference between the useful
and the noxious. We are not yet acquainted with any uses
among the Nereises, therefore can at present only mention
the appendages to v\;hlch we allude as a means of specific
difference. We know of no great difference in the construc-
tion of the other parts from the other Nereises. It it found
two feet long on other coasts.
^^u^f^.-lBoS. 7'fA&/?.ed. */- ^^.-^ i/Vw-ap-^*-, :Z^tui^>^
63
TAB. XXXI.
SERPULA triquetrai
Class 6. Vermes. Order 3. Testacea.
Gen. Char. Animal a terebella. Shell univalve^
tubular, generally adhering to other substances ;
often separated internally by divisions at uncertain
distances. — Turt.
Spec. Char. Shell creeping, flexuous^ triangular.
oYN. Serpula triquetra. Turt. Linn. v. 4. 603.
1 HOSE who find recreation in admiring the works of
Nature are seldom at a loss for amusement, and the most
common circumstances of our lives bring into our way
something or other to excite curiosity. The present little
animal was observed fixed to an oyster shell, occasionally
protruding itself from its own curious shell. T put it into
some salt and water and preserved it some hours, and oc-
casionally watched its motions ; which being somewhat
slow, gave mc an opportunity to examine it more tho-
roughly, and I was in hopes of seeing it work. The in-
strument like a proboscis with a bell-shaped end, which is
but seldom exposed, seemed adapted for assisting in making
the case : this however is only conjecture, as we could not
comprehend any thing like the certain use of it. At length
64
the animal became enfeebled and nearly dead, with this
instrument extended. I therefore put a piece of paper
gently under it, and took it from the water, and dried it
with this organ in good preservation. The other parts were
also in great perfection^ and as I did not know such another
ojjportunity would offer, the sketch was finished at the
time. The feelers put us in mind of the nectariferous ray*
in a Pass'iflora,
32
A
^,^f 2 j»t,s J''-' '-/^^ ' iy 7<^'C J"»"-«'^.
65
TAB. XXXII.
CARDIUM spinosum.
C/aw 6. Vermes. Order 3 . Testzcea.
Gen. Char. Animal a Tethys. Shell bivalve, nearly
equilateral, equivalve, generally convex, longitudi-
nally ribbed, striated or grooved, with a toothed
margin : hinge with 2 teeth near the beak and a
large remote lateral one on each side, each lock-
ing into the opposite. — Turt.
Spec. Char. Tender, obliquely sub-cordate, one
side truncate, with 20 prominent ridges, armed
with long, sharp, flat spines.
1 HIS very neat, elegant, and curious Cockle seems, by
some mistake, to have escaped the vigilance of most authors,
as it does not agree with either the Cardium echinatum or
C. aculeatiim.
Our shell is not often found, but among many shells and
fragments from Torbay on the Devonshire coast, I met
with only one perfect valve*. It nearest resembles the
C. aculeahim as to the general contour j but is always a
more delicate and tender shell; the truncation is more
abrupt, and forms a right angle with the line of the hinge.
* Mr. Humphrey supplied me with the specimen figured from the same
coast. Col. Montague informs me that he has found them on the Devon-
shire coast.
VOL. I. H
66
The spines are more truly aculeate, or like the prickle on a
rose-stalk, somewhat flattened longitudinally with the shell,
seldom contrary, as in the other shells. The larger spines have
a canal or narrow furrow ; in the other species they are
often dilated, especially at the narrow side. The spines
on the narrow side are all curved towards the hinge, and on
the broadest side they are curved from the hinge.
We are confirmed in our opinion of its being a species,
by seeing fine specimens in Lady Wilson's cabinet, and a
large one which Dr. Grey was so good as to show us at the
British Museum. The latter is at present without a name,
and is as large as C. acideatum is commonly found*; other-
wise the spines near the hinge of C. aculeatum might lead
us to think them the same species.
* Above twice the size of the Figure, with all the spines flat.
33
.-/■^r.- iSoS Si^S/Tt^d, ly Ji,.-' ^f<,~-a-iy, S.,
67
TAB. XXXIII.
Fig. 1.— AMMOPHILA hirsuta.
Ham/ Sand wasp.
Class 6. Insecta. Orckr 5. Hymenoptera.
Gen. Char. Rostrum conical, inflexed, concealing
a bifid tongue. j4iitenncF filiform in both sexes,
joints about 14. Ejjes oval. fVings plane. Stirig
concealed in the abdomen.
Spec. Char. Antennae of IS joints. Petiole of the
abdomen short, of 1 joint. Wings equal in
length to the body.
Syn. Ammophila hirsuta. Linn. Trans. 4. 206.
Head large, punctulated, black, villose. Maxillae the length
of the head, very menacing. Thorax and breast villose.
Squamce black. Wings the length of the body, subhyaline j
apex black; veins ferruginous; marginal spot fuscous.
Abdomen black, lanceolato-ovate ; petiole short, villose ;
second, third, and base of the fourth segments reddish
brown. Hind legs half as long again as the abdomen.
Tarsi very rough with bristles.
Fig. 2.— AMMOPHILA pulvillata.
Spec. Char. Antennae of 14 joints. Petiole of the
abdomen of 2 segments. Wings shorter than
the body. Pulvilli elongated, bifid.
XiEAD black, villose. Antennae nearly the length of the
thorax. Front plane, beneath the antennae, covered with
61
dense, decumbent, very bright, shining, silvery hairs.
Thorax narrow, subvillose, on each side of the breast a
bright silvery spot. Squamae black. Wings subhyaline;
apex obscure; nerves ferruginous, about half the length of
the abdomen. Abdomen clavate ; first segment filiform,
black; second segment filiform, reddish; third and fourth
reddish, apex of the fourth black; the other segments black
with a blue glare. Feet rough with short bristles. Pulvilli
elongated, bifid.
The two species abov6 described wefe taken at Reading in
Berkshire, and communicated to us by our friend Mr.
James Murray.
Ammophila pulvillata agrees in many characters with
A. argentea of the Rev. W. Kirby's ingenious paper in the
Athvol.of Linn. TraJis. p. 208; but its having two segments
to the petiole of the abdomen is understood to be a sufficient
specific difference, as well as the remarkable length of the
pulvilli, and some difference in the general appearance. The
vises of these insects, as far as we know, accord with those
cf many others of the Hymenopterous order. They arc
found to be great enemies to the caterpillars, which, but
for these and other means which nature provides, might be
more mischievous than they are; and we may one day find
out, by knowing the different species, those which are
most useful, so as to make ample amends for the trouble
of investigation. The great Ray and Mr. Curtis have had
opportunities of detecting them in the act of contriving the
preservation of their future progeny. They cause the de-
struction of caterpillars much larger than themselves, by
preparing, at a certain season, a hole in a generally sandy
sunny bank, and dragging the caterpillar into the hole,
having deposited their egg or eggs in the body of it, that
when the egg is hatched there may be a supply of food for
the larva, after which they close up the hole, thus burying
them alive as food for their progeny.
^
^u^y -Z-ZScS. ^t^^f^c^ ^t' ^tL^ j'vfer^y, Jlan^nK
69
TAB. XXXIV.
SCARAB.^US ovalis.
Class 7. Insecta. Order 1 . Coleoptera.
Div. 1. TerrestreSj Scutellati,
Gen. Char. Antennce clavate, capitulum fissile.
Front feet often dentated.
Spec. Char. Oval, black. Legs pitch-coloured,
short, thick, dentated. Elytra sulcated.
Among other new British Insects which my son found in
South Wales is this little Scarabaeus from the sandhills, or
burrows, called Skitty burrows, near Swansea. It is not re-
markable for its beauty j but any subject in Natural History
may be so for its locality, and in such case may be found
useful^ not merely as regarding itself, but the nature of the
climate, soil, and other circumstances. We do not know
of any place besides in Great Britain where it has been
found, except at Christchurch, by the Rev. W. Bingley,
Jt^' ,■ rSoS J"«*4>*<>^ t, 7kr J'ri^trft. ^r^-^V,
71
TAB. XXXV.
Eig. 1.— SCARAB.^:US spiniger.
Spec. Char. Black. Thorax with an impressed
spot on each side, hind thighs bidentated,
Syn. Sc. spiniger. Marsham^s Coleopt. 21.
Stalk of the antennae pitch-coloured. Capitulum blackish.
Thorax obscure, excavato-punctated on each side, with a
larger impressed spot; hind part of the thorax with an in-
termediate line, about halfway composed of excavated spots.
Scutellum longitudinally subdepressed in the middle.
Elytra obscure, striated, striae subpunctated. Hind thighs
armed with two teeth, of which the exterior is largest, and
the interior is a continuation of the appendage at the base
of the thigh. Fore thighs, which is very singular in this
genus, are three-sided and seven-toothed, third tooth upright.
— Mar sham.
Fig. 2. — S. foveatus. Marsh, Coleopt. 21.
Spec. Char. Black. Elytra sulcated. Thorax with
two excavated spots on each side. Scutellum
violaceous.
Very like the preceding; but the thorax has four excavated
spots : the disc slightly and the sides strongly punctulated.
Scutellum violaceous. Margin of thorax and elytra atro-
coerulescent. Hind thighs furnished with 1 or 2 teeth.
Fore feet scxdentate. Tarsi pitch-coloured. — Marsham.
Our figure is from a specimen in the cabinet of A. Mac
Leay, Esq.
3 6~
^jA^.'^V. ^Si'S. J'^iaC'it^ it
73
TAB. XXXVI.
CARABUS rotiindicollis.
Class 6. Insecta. Order 1 . Coleoptera.
Spec. Char. Head and thorax bright green gold.
Elytra pale brown with a large black spot at the
end.
1 HIS pretty insect was found on Crumlyn bog, by
Mr. Joseph Woods, F. L. S., whom my son accompanied
in a little excursion to South Wales, in 1803.
Base of the antennae brown, end black. Head, thorax,
and abdomen blue green gold. Elytra, sternum, and legs
brown. Apex of the thighs and base of the elytra black.
i
36-
^L,j?tf. ifiti^ ^i^dy^^^eA ?f J^Jf KSff**'eri^. J^^nd^ff.
75
TAB. XXXVII.
PHAL.^NA B. oleagina.
Spec. Char. Crested. Antenna pectinated. Upper
wings above variegated, with dark brown, lighter
brown, and white ; nerves yellow green, a
white spot near the middle of each wing, and
an obscure whitish ring, with a lightish blot
below it, nearer the shoulders. Lower wing light
brown, margin dark brown. Wings dentate be-
neath, light brown, margin brown, a black spot
in the middle of the lower wing.
1 HIS new British Moth was bred by Mr. Plasted of Chelsea,
who does not remember where he took the caterpillar. It
very much resembles P. N. Perskarice; but the antennas
being feathered help to distinguish it.
i
(P<j^T £■ ^^^^ _''/--^_^A<V h.
11
TAB. XXXVIII.
MELITTA nigro-jBiiea.
Gen. Char. Proboscis subcylindrical, extended,
Tongue short, smooth, exerted. j4ntennce of a
middling length ; of the females subclavate with
] 3 joints; of the males, filiform, of 14 joints.
Eyes lateral, suboval, entire. Wings plane.
Sting pungent, hidden. — Kirhy.
Spec. Char. Black, with fulvous pubescence. Head
and anus black. Abdomen subhirsute, nigro-
seneous.
Syn. Melitta nigro-asnea. Kirby^s Monographia
jipum AngUce, v. 2. 109.
Ijody black, covered with dense fulvous down. Face
black-hirsute, beard of the Gense fulvous. Vertex bald.
Space between the eyes broad. Thorax with red down.
Squamulae pitch- coloured. Wings subhyallne, nerves testa-
ceous. Costal nerve black. Anastomosis ferruginous.
Feet black, above with fuscous down 3 beneath also the down
is rather fulvous. Thighs with pale down. Hind thighs
with a dense fulvous scopa. Scopulae ferruginous. Ab-
domen oval, above nigro-seneous, hairy, with fulvous hairs.
Anus black.
Generally found flying about sunny banks.
^<^r-i.JSos-J'<yiK^-^7- (y rh:' ./iy^^iy, j:,„j^„^
79
TAB. XXXIX.
CANCER Maja.
Class 6, Insecta. Order 7. Aptera.
Gen. Char. Feet eight, rarely six or ten, also two
claws. Palpi six, unequal. Eyes two, distant,
generally pedunculated, elongated, moveable.
Jaws corneous, thick. Lip triple. Tail jointed,
generally unarmed.
Spec. Char. Thorax and two first joints of the
claws spinose. Claws small, finely serrated.
Feet eight, without spines. Covered, all but the
claws, with curved hairs.
Syn. Cancer Maja. Gmel. Syst. v. 1. 2979. Joust.
Eccsang. t. 5.f. 5.
We found this Crab on the sea-shore, near Penzance, n\
June 1 799? and, on inquiry, found it had been confounded
with C. horridus of Pennant, and I suppose from that cir-
cumstance had not been thought new to Great Britain. We
find that the Cancer Maja of Herhst is the Canter horridui
of Pennant. The Cancer Maja in the British Museum is
the same as ours, named from Scdpoli, who refers to Mat-
thiolus Dioscorldes. The figure of the under side in
Johnston is very well executed. And Gmel in has strangely
referred to that figure, which has eight legs, ahhough he
observes of his, *^ pedibus sex."
6
80
The Cancer horridus of Linnaeus is certainly different
from the C horridus of Pennant. It is well figm-ed in
Seba.
Lady Aylesford and Colonel Montague have found it on
our coasts; indeed it is not very rare. Pennant's C. horridus,
under the above circumstances requiring a new name, might
be called C. spinosissimus. It is again remarkable that
Gmelin has made a part of his Gfenferic Character in these
wordsj '' Cauda inermis;" whereas the thorax, legs and tail
of this are covered with spines. We have some idea of
fio-urina; it : as there is not a coloured figure of it amons;
British authors yet; and if we figure it, we may be able to
clear up all doubts. We have it from Hartlepool by favour
of our friend the Rev. James Dalton, and we know they
have been found in Scotland. It has been doubted whether
it is a British species.
There is a specimen of our C. Maja in the museum of
Mr. Heaviside, Surgeon; under the name of C spinosus.
Fig. 1. One of the hooked hairs magnified.
Fig. 2. A worn toe of an old Crab, natural size. — The
callosity at the end becoming more conspicuous, parti-
cularly well observed in Seba's figures.
^■.iz^x^, Sf :7i.
81
TAB. XL.
GORGONIA viminalis?
Slender Gorgonia,
Class 6. Vermes. Order 4. Zoophyta.
Gen. Char. Animal growing In the form of a plant.
Stem coriaceous, corky, woody, homy, or bony,
composed of glassy fibres, or like stone, striated,
tapering, dilated at the base, covered with a
vascular or cellular flesh or bark, and becoming
spongy and friable when dry. Mouths or florets
covering the surface of the stem, and polype-
bearing. Turt.
Spec. Char. Slender, branched, florets seated all
round the stem, each with a large valve and
several smaller ones; bark yellow,
Syn. Gorgonia viminalis ? Soland. and Ellis, Coral,
L 12. f. 1.
This is not rare on our coast, though it is but little known.
The first specimen I received was by favour of Mr. Batten
from Mount's Bay in Cornwall. I have also received it
from Scotland, and Colonel Montague informs me that it
is plentiful on the Devonshire coast.
It is somewhat remarkable, that that part which we
should suppose to be the lodgment of the animal^ commonly
VOL. I. I
82
called the florets, seems formed without sufilclent room or
opening for it to protrude: but we presume that, although a
Coralline, it may have the power of opening the larger
segment when fresh, which a coriaceous substance natu-
rally admits of; so that the larger valve is a kind of door,
and is a strong characteristic of the species, although it is
sometimes much obliterated. We are not sure that this
has been figured at all, as the segment which is so re-
markable does not appear to have been noticed. It may be
worthy of observation here, that in some instances the
coriaceous substance which covers the darker branches all
round, and protrudes, as at the right hand figure, often
appears quite distinct from it, and Naturalists have called
this blacker substance by the name of Is'is. It may per-
haps be the work of a separate animal, associated, as in
these instances, with the Gorgonia.
■^.L
#:
A « if
C'at^a. Jt&OS- ^^-^^^^t-S^^ ^ v'S'r* .^i'*^Ar|F. -Z*«.ai«^
83
TAB. XLI.
MILLEPORA compressa?
Class 6. Vermes. Order 4. Zoophyta.
Gen. Char. Animal a Hydra. Coral, generally,
ramose, with round turbinated pores.
Spec. Char. Stem branched, compressed, truncated;
pores everywhere a little prominent and rough.
Syn. Millepora compressa? Gmel. v. 1. 3785.
1 HOUGH there are some species of coralline, much re-
sembling this, figured in Esper and other books, yet we can
by no means identify them as this species. The description
in Gmelin of Millepora pumila would seem to accord with
it; but the figure in Marsden, to which he refers, is a very
different thing. It may therefore be considered as a species
undescribed, and now first published as British. We do not
understand that it is uncommon on the Scottish coast,
especially at Aberdeen. Specimens have been sent us from
North Wales by favour of the Rev. H. Davles, with some
other curious corallines which have not been before noticed
as British*. We hope however to see them from other
places, that we may have more habitats for them. Perhaps
many of this curious tribe may have been overlooked.
84
The present one is branched, divaricated, compressed,
truncated, covered all over with small prominent hollow
tubercles, arranged towards the end in lines crossing each
other obliquely, from which the animals protrude them-
selves, so as to appear quite rough ; and some specimens
are covered with a shining, varnish-like appearance, as if
the animals had dried when protruded from their little
holes.
42
'-'^fi\
£>ctrj.-lSoS J-^e/>Le<l. iy Ti.'
85
TAB. XLII.
SPONGIA compacta.
Compact Tubular Sponge.
Class 6. Vermes. Order 4. Zoophyta.
Gen. Char, minimal fixed, flexile, torpid, of vari-
ous forms, composed either of reticulate fibres,
or masses of small spines interwoven together,
and clothed with a gelatinous flesh full of small
mouths on its surface, by which it absorbs and
rejects water.
Spec. Char. Tubular, ramose, composed of spi-
culse crossing one another, very compact and
brittle.
We suspect this has been much confounded with Spongia
tomentosa {urens of Ellis) : we however think it at first
sight sufficiently different. It appears more like the habi-
tation of an insect with more or less ovate tubular termina-
tions. It is much tougher and more cottony in its texture,
has sometimes a smoothish covering towards the mouth of
the apertures, which occasionally passes into extreme fine
reticulations, over the coarser reticulations on the surface.
We have found it in great plenty at Shellness, and other
parts of Sheppey Island, at different seasons; and we
86
have been favoured with it from the Rev. Hugh Daviesj of
Anglesea. It is generally found attached to shells, and
other marine productions, but apparently detached from
rocks, as it is generally among the rejectamenta of the sea.
Although we think it may have some curious inhabitant,
we have not been so lucky as to detect any ; nor do we
know that the inhabitants of Sponges have been detected,
unless the egg-like substances found in Spongia fluviatilis
may be such. We hope, however, that those who have
opportunity will examine into this subject, as it remains in
great doubt. Many foreign Sponges are tubular, and pro-
bably ought to be examined on the rocks on which they
are fprmed, to detect the animal.
Oot^'U MM-Sf-iiy^Aj ly Zi,;u'r^rj-if .Z^,>J>,
87
TAB. XLIII.
SPONGIA pulchella.
Spec. Char. Composed of fine reticulations, smooth
and soft in appearance, generally compressed and
broad.
I FIRST received this sponge from Ireland, brought from
thence by Mr. Browne (who was engaged in the voyage of
discovery to New South Wales) about the year 1 800 j and
in 1 802 I received it from North Wales by favour of the
Rev. Hugh Davies. It is extremely irregular as to shape,
although sometimes approaching to a fan shape, and some-
times rather palmate or digitate. Its fibres are delicately
reticulate. It varies in colour, somewhat like the Spongia
officinalis or common Sponge, from a palish brown to a
yellowish or reddish brown. It is however readily discerned
by its less coarse appearance. Its texture may be some-
what more rigid.
89
TAB. XLIV.
ECHINUS cidaris? var. u.
Class 6. Vermes. Order 2. Mollusca.
Gen. Char. Body roundish, covered with a bony
sutured crust, and generally furnished with
moveable spines. Mouth placed beneath, and
mostly five-valved. — Turt.
Spec. Char. Hemisphasrical, depressed, with five
flexuous linear avenues, the spaces alternately
bifarious. — Turt.
Syn. Echinus cidaris, var. «? Gj?ieL v. I. p. 3174.
Cidaris papillata major. Klein ap. Leske Echinod.
t. SiK f. 2. t. 51. f. h. 1. h. 2.
1 HE Echini are pretty well known, from their having
spines resembling those of a hedgehog, and they have been
called in common Sea Hedgehogs, Sea Urchins ; and when
destitute of the spines they are sometimes called Sea Eggs,
&c. Mr. Pennant took some pains to select the English
species for the information of his countrymen.
He, however, does not appear to have known the present
species, although he travelled in Scotland. Our friend Alex-
ander M'Leay, Esq. who, laudably, forgoes no researches,
that his opportunities permit, to investigate the natural
history of the British Isles, obligingly communicated this
Echinus, totally new, not only to Great Britain, but differ-
ing also from any yet found elsewhere; although, from its
general resemblance to that elegant species brought from
New Holland (with which I have been able to compare it,
by favour of Governor Paterson, who presented me with
a fine specimen from thence, with the spines quite perfect),
it might be confounded with it. It also differs from those
VOL. I. K
90
found in a fossil state, which much resemble that from
New Holland ; and much discernment is requisite to di-
stinguish it from them, and which will be represented at
tab. 151. British Mineralogy, being the cast of a species
which existed probably in ante-diluvian times. Their con-
struction is always singularly uniform and beautiful : the
present is perhaps as much so as any : we therefore wonder
that it has escaped the attention of the curious, for we
know of no other specimen yet brought to London.
It is a sort of compressed globe, and, as in others, is
divided into five principal partitions, each of which has
four rows of perforations, which we believe to be fora-
mina. These are covered in an elegant manner with minute
elongated spines, in two rows, with two rows of smaller
ones at their bases, forming a serpentine line in the centre.
These smaller ones are somewhat elongated, and in that
respect differ from the New Holland one. Thus there are
five grand divisions, which are also subdivided in the cen-
tre by a serpentine line, differing from the former in having
six rows of small acute spines, without any perforations
under them : on each side of these, in the longitudinal di-
rection of the shell, are six or seven ovate divisions regu-
larly set round with flat elongated spines fixed on the cir-
cumference, and inclining towards the centre, somewhat
conically, surrounding solid spines, from half an inch to
three inches or more in length. These spines vary a little
in proportion of thickness; the lower ones are generally
thickest, most equal, and bluntest ; some diminish towards
the ends, others thicken a little, those near the mouth are
sometimes partly spatulate. They are all covered with
ridges of small tubercles, most prominent towards their
points, with a spongy appearance surrounding them. The
mouth is covered with imbricated blunter spines.
It may be observed that, in describing these, we much
resemble conchologists, who rather describe the case or
91
house of the animal than the animal itself : here, however,
we have been describing the bone and its appendage^,
which are the covering of this animal. Linnaeus described
it as a bony covering ; and analysis, by that accurate che-
mist Mr. Hatchctt, has shown that Linnaeus was perfectly
right, seeing that shells are entirely destitute of phosphoric
acid, and bones have always a portion of it. The bones
of the mouth of this animal are a curious congeries within
this* case; the rest of the animal we know very little
about, and the little there is of it is eaten in some places
in Scotland and other parts.
This Echinus was found by some fishermen in the
islands of Shetland, where it is known by the name of the
Piper, from the spines being supposed to resemble the
drones of a bagpipe. The fishermen there say that speci-
mens are sometimes found with spines nearly a foot in
length; but some allowance must be made for exaggeration
in all statements of this nature. The figure is nearly the
size and proportion of the specimen.
Since writing the above I have seen a small specimen in
the possession of Mr. Lee, of Hammersmith, about an
inch and a quarter in diameter, of which the spines are
some twice that length, but imperfect, and some deeper
furrowed. Some parts being nearly destitute of spines,
we find the bone so nearly resembling our species, that
we consider them the same, as we could not see any
specific difierence. The spines seem to be longer in pro-
portion in this small specimen than in the larger one. From
their internal structure we should consider them as adapted
for growth, and in this they somewhat resemble the struc-
ture of the stems of some plants, having a kind of central
pith, and radiating in divaricating circles from it. We
* The five teeth are generally elongated inwards, and are coir.pojed of
fiae silky filaments resembling asbestus, but are brittle.
92
therefore venture to conjecture that they do not cast their
spines nor case, as lobsters do.
These things are extremely difficult to make out; and if
we should make any mistake, it may be so far successful as
to be the cause of finding out the truth.
There is the same species recent at the British Museum j
and one of them has tht; spines over the foraminous aper-
tures turned back : perhaps, they are commonly so when
alive. We do not know from whence they come.
On looking over Klein, we found a figure which appeared
to be the same as ours, and which Gmelin quotes as
var. a. of his Echinus cidaris. We also find a specimen in
Mr. W^oodd's most respectable collection, which seems to
have been taken in a living stale. On examining all the
specimens with a great deal of attention, we find the fo-
ramina constantly different from the New Holland one; we
therefore suspect that it is another species, and ought to
have a new name. The double foramina are situated in.
simpler-formed bones, which are thickest at one of the
ridges; when the animal's mouth is downwards, jhey seem
to lap over each other like tiles. The New Holland one has
strong indentations between the double foramina, and the
bone forms a kind of beak-like process, curving into the
holes — see figs. 1. 2. As these animals are often admired
when destitute of spines, it may be necessary to observe
another difference in the bones. The five divisions destitute
of foramina have, as we before observed, six rows of
spines ; consequently they have six rows of tubercles,
suited for the sockets of the spines, somewhat distant.
Those from New Holland are more equal in size, more
crowded and numerous : see figs. 3.4.
We do not think that the figure of a petrified specimen
referred to by Gmelin, in Klein, is the same species. We
have specimens sufficiently preserved to see the difference,
which Will be figured in tab. 132 of British Mineralogy,
4^<5-
^^
:2>ecrJL.j8os. -?W^a««« J/. Jit( o'<"^c^ly, JZ^n^rt
9S
TAB. XLV.
STYLOPS Meliltee.
Class 5. Insecta. Order 2. Hemiptera.
Gen. Char, ^ntemicr hip^Ytite. jEt/c? sitting on a
foot-stalk. Elytra fixed to the sides of the thorax.
Scutelhim extended, covering the abdomen.
Spec. Char. Very black. Wings larger than the
body.
Syn. Kirhy Monogr. Almm Angl. r. 1. /. 14. tz. 11.
/. 1—9. V. 2. 110—14.
Length of the body, l-i- line.
DODr very black, not shining. The head before obsolelely
three-lobed. Feelersfour,theexteriorconsistlngof two joints,
the first subclavate, the second lanceolate, acute; the in-
terior shorter, not jointed, slender, towards the end a little
thicker. Antennae longer than the head, with the first
joint large, short, sending out two branches; the interior
shorter, wider, without joints ; the exterior longer, more
slender, consisting of three joints. Eyes large, prominent,
conspicuously reticulated, sitting on a short thick peduncle.
Vertex flattish. Elytra small, sublinear, fixed to the sides
of the thorax. Wings two, large, longer than the body,
folding, milky white, with a blackish rib and submarginal
line. Scutellum extended, elongate, slipper-shaped, cover-
ing the abdomen, strengthened on each side by a corneous
process. Legs compressed, piceous. Abdomen hid under
the scutellum, fleshy, with a truncate subemarginate anus.
The body of the larva is subcylindrical, soft, whitish,
inserted into the abdomen of the Melitta, the head being
VOL. I. L
94
fxserted, corneous, heart-shaped, iiattlsh, subrufous, black
behind, underneath concave behind. Mon. Ap. Angl.
Since I met with the extraordinary insect here described,
I have had the good fortune to extract a pair of pupse just
ready to be disclosed, from the body of another Melitta.
No sooner did I touch them, than they " burst their
cerements," and I was not slow to prevent their escape.
One of these is here figured. It seems to vary somewhat
from my original specimen, but not sufficiently, I think, to
be deemed a distinct species. The legs are black instead of
piceous, the abdomen also is not so totally concealed by
the scutellum, but is rather exserted and acute. This part,
however, is most probably retractile, for being fleshy, and
consequently liable to injury, it wants the shelter which
the scutellum above and the processes on the sides and be-
neath (fig. 7. Ih.J seem designed to afford it. The velvetty
blackness of the body makes the sutures of the trunk and
the inosculations of the first joints of the antennae very
difficult to distinguish even under a powerful magnifier.
In my original specimen I discovered only a single joint
before the antennae branched out. Mr. Sowerby found two,
as represented \njig. 5. The shape of the lower branch or
auricle seems different also in the two specimens.
*' Mr. Sowerby suggested to me that what I took for
larvae of this insect {A^onogr. Ap. Angl. Ill — 14) were
really pupae : — To this ingenious conjecture I readily ac-
cede, as it removes all the difficulty with respect to their
mode of feeding; the larva living entirely within the body
till it is rcadv to take the pupa, and then exerting its head
at the dorsal inosculations of the abdominal segments, that
the perfect animal may the more readily disengage itself
when its time for disclosure is come. The pupae are gene-
rally found in pairs, {fg. 1,2), these may probably be the
sexes."
This genus appears not be confined to Melitta, for I
have more than once found their exuviae in the body of
foreign Vcspas.
95
Where the entomologist may have a chance of meeting
with these curious insects in their imago state (except, hke
myself, he seizes the fortunate moment when they are just
ready to leave the body of the animal that supports them) is
a question which I wish it were in my power to answer satis-
factorily. We must first ask, In what state of the Melitta
does it commit its eggs to it ? If in the larva the ha-
bitation of this is usually at some depth under ground; and
perhaps by digging where we observe them flying about a
bank, and entering their burrows, we might possibly meet
with some. If in the imago (but it seems not easy to
conceive that the Stylops with its soft abdomen, furnished
with no strong aculeus or oviduct, can perforate the scaly
mail of the Melitta to deposit its eggs, without indeed it
insinuates them at the inosculations of the abdominal seg-
ments) — in this case most probably it goes to work when
the Melitta reposes, and may be a night-flyer; but it
would not be very easy to see so minute a creature in the
night. Perhaps a butterfly-net might be used with success
about banks where we observe many burrows of insects.
Ols. The Pupae Mr. Sowerby has figured appear to be
ovate, where as mine were linear. See Jig. 2, and Monogr.
Ap. Angl. v.\. t. 14. w. 11./. 7.
Explanation of the Plate.
Fig. 1 . Male of Melitta albicans with a pair of the Pupae
of Stylops Melittce in its Abdomen.
2. Abdomen of ditto magnified.
3. Stylops Melittce natural size.
4. Ditto magnified, a a Eyes. I Scutellum.
5. Head of ditto as seen under a powerful magnifier.
a a lower branch of the Antennse. h h upper
ditto, c c exterior Feeler, d d interior ditto.
6. Part of the Trunk, a Thorax, h h Elytra.
7. Underside of the Abdomen and Processes, a Ab-
domen, h b Processes.
W. KiRBY.
-^6-
::^ecflj[^j£oS. J'tc^^^.oA ^j' ^a^f J e'tt^e^^, JZoTtd^n/.
97
TAB. XLVI.
LIBELLULA conspurcata.
Stained Dragon-fly,
Class 5. Insecta. Order 4. Neuroptera.
Gen. Char. Mouth furnished with two pair of jaws.
jintennce very short, bristle-shaped. JVings
plane, extended. Front vesicular, uinus of the
male armed with forceps.
Spec. Char. Wings with a marginal yellow stripe,
and a brown spot at their tips. — Fabr.
Syn. Libellula conspurcata. Fabr. Suppl. 283. n. 1- — 2.
Length of the body, 1 inch, 6 lines.
Expansion of the wings^ 2 inches, 10 lines.
1 HE insect here figured resembles not a little L. 4'7naai-
lata; but is nevertheless quite distinct from it. The head
is of a dirty yellow. Trunk downy, of the same colour, with
black sutures. Abdomen prismatical, dirty yellow, with
the lateral and dorsal angles black. The wings, a little
within the anterior margin, are stained with a longitudinal
yellow stripe, which does not quite reach the tips. The
anastomosis is black, with a brown cloud terminating the
wing. The secondary wings have besides a black spot at
their base.
We are indebted to Mr. Joseph Hooker of Norwich for
this insect, who took it in the summer of 1804 in a wood
at Sprowston near that oily.
_Z7e<:rz 2^oS ^a^^As^ ^v „<a.f Sc^H'erSy, .Zen^n^
99
TAB. XLVir.
LIBELLULA «nea; Far,
Metallic Dragon-fiiJ.
Class 5. Insecta. Order 4. Neuroptera.
Spec. Char. Wings unspotted, hyaline. Head and
trunk metallic green. Abdomen clavate.
Syn. Lhm. Si/st. Nat. ed. 1 2. 902. n. 8.
Faun Suec, 1465. Var. /3.
Fabr. Ent. Syst. m. 2. 381. n. 35.
Rail Hist. Ins. 49. rz. 2.
I/Aminthe. Geqfr. Hist. Ins. Par. 2. 226. n. 10.
Demoiselle doree verte. De Geer. 2. par. 2. 687.
t. 19./. 8.
Length of the body, ] inch, 10 lines.
Expansion of the wings, 2 inches, 8 lines.
1 HIS insect was taken by Mr. William Jackson Hooker,
in the summer of 1803, at Starston-Wood near Harleston
in Norfolk. It has also beeii found at Alartlesham Heath
near Woodbridge in Suffolk by the Rev. William Kirby.
Both the specimens taken by these gentlemen are males;
the female we have not yet had an opportunity of inspect-
ing. LinnjEus mentions no difference between it and the
male, except that its anus wants the forceps, being
furnished with only two lanceolate appendages.
The body of our specimens, the head and trunk especially,
is covered with yellowish down. The mouth is yellow.
The vesicular part of the front before the eyes and the
thorax are t)f a brilliant metallic green. The sides of the
trunk glitter with the hue of gold or copper. The legs are
100
black. The wings nearly hyaline and unspotted : the se-
condary pair have the first area of the network at the base
yellow. The shape of the abdomen is remarkable, re-
sembling a club with a handle, the first segment being very
thick, the second very slender; the following ones as they
approach the anus keep gradually dilating; the sixth and
seventh being the widest ; the two last diminishing in
width again. The anus is terminated by four appendages ;
the upper pair are linear, unarmed, and very hairy; the
lower pair terminate in two sharp teeth, or a fork. The
colour of the upper side of the abdomen is metallic, but
more obscurely so than that of the head and trunk ; its
underside is black, with two rows of obscure pale spots.
Linnaeus, in the first edition of his Fauna Suecica, con-
sidered the insect here figured as distinct from his L. cEiiea^
(which appears to diifer from it in having yellow lines upon
the thorax, and a black abdomen) ; but in the second
edition of that admirable work he gave thcni as varieties.
Having never met with a, we cannot venture to give a de-
cided opinion as to its identity with /3, yet we cannot help
suspecting that they may be distinct species. Linnceus,
amongst his synonyms, has referred to the same numbers
in Ray both for this insect and h. depressa. They belong
evidently to the latter. Our reference to that illustrious
father of natural history in E'ngland will, we trust, be
found perfectly correct. His description so happily pour-
Irays our insect, that we camiot resist the temptation we
feel to insert it here. " Thorax pilis crebris hirtus est,
supine e viridi et cupreo mixto, subtus cupreo colore pilos
translucente splendcns. Abdomen longum ut in hoc ge-
nere, tenuc, laeve, ad exortum a thorace et ad caudam in-
tumescens. Alae mcntbranaceoe pellucidi'c ad exortum
lutco tinctse, duplici in margine cxteriore lineola nigra, una
majore pi ope extremum, altera transversa minima et vix
discernenda circa mediam partem notata?."
-f8
■"\c
^l^/'>
-CecT^Z. jScS J^aii/Ar^
101
TAB. XLVIII.
SEPIA octopus.
Eight-armed Cuttlc-Jish.
Class 6. Vermes. Order 2. Mollusca.
Gen. Char. Bochj fleshy, receiving the breast in a
sheath, with a tubular aperture at its base. Arws
eight, beset with numerous suckers, and in most
species two pedunculated tentacula. Head short.
Eyes large. Moutli resembling a Parrot's beak.
Turt.
Spec. Char. Body without tailor appendage. Pe-
dunculated tentacula, or longer arms, none.
Arms beset with a double row of tentacula.
Syn. Seha Mas. v. 3. t. 2./. 1,2, 3. 5.
This Cutde-fish, commonly so called, was sent me from
Dover by my friend Mr. Richard Phillips. I received it
alive. Whether it is a variety of the Sepia octopodia of
Pennant, I cannot positively determine. It is certainly
sufficiently distinct from one which I had from my friend
G. Montague, Esq., which agrees with Pennant's, having
a single row of suckers upon each arm; for, besides the
double row of suckers which ours has, it is much more
coloured, and different in shape, the body being longer.
There is no mention made of Sepia octopodia with double
rows of suckers by Pennant. Gmclin and Turton only
speak of such. There are figures of both in Seba.
102
This, for the strangeness of the animal, is both curious
and pretty, from the colours and contrivance of nature iu
giving it such arms and so many suckers for its size.
The whole may seem extremely strange to new ob-
servers, and more so when we can tell them that these
arms are in some kinds said to be extended to above 50 feet
in length, so as to embrace a boat and crew, and pull them
down to satisfy the animal's voracious appetite*. They are
said to give a phosphorescent light when opened : this
might happen to other animals in a certain state of putre-
faction. Ours had some black inky matter in the pouch,
said to be the substance used for Indian Ink. It differs very
little from soot, which there is little doubt may be more
conuBonly used.
■* The Indians carry liatcheJs to cut o/f these arms, and relieve the boats*
103
TAB. XLIX.
SOREX ciliatus.
Fringe-tailed Water Shrew-mouse.
Class 1. Mammalia, Order 3. Ferae.
Gen. Char.
Spec. Char. Black. Toes and tail with a white
fringe underneath.
This, probably, new species of Sorex was caught in a ditch
in Norfolk by W. J. Hooker, Esq. It is larger than the
Land Shrew, and different in shape and colour. It is
about the size of the Water Shrew, but is neither so black
on the back, nor so white on the belly, being very nearly
of a similar tint all over; a grayish black, scarcely at all
lighter underneath. It is remarkable for a fringe of shortish
white hairs on the under side of the tail, which is blackish
with a white tip. The legs and toes are also fringed under-
neath with white hairs.
105
TAB. L.
PLEURONECTES Rhombus.
Fearl, Brill.
Class 4. Pisces. Order 3 . Thoracici.
Div. Eyes on the left side.
Gen. Char. Head small. Eyes spherical, both
on the same side the head, and near each other.
Mouth arched : jaws unequal, toothed. Gill-
membrane with 4 — 7 rays ; the cover mostly of
three laminae. Bodi/ convex and coloured above,
flat and paler beneath. Fent near the head. —
Turt.
Spec. Char. Body smooth, rhomboidal ; four first
rays of the dorsal fin ramified, with the mem-
brane lacerated between each branch.
Syn. Gmel. V. 1. 1235.
1 HE London fishermen often call this the Turbot, and to
those unacquainted with that fish this is sometimes sold as
such. It is known by the name of the Brill in common.
It seems, however, to be the Pearl of most authors. It
is much less esteemed by the epicure than the Turbot, as
it differs in its flavour as well as in its specific characters.
It has no spines or conical rough bones in the skin like
106
that fish, which is rounder and brighter. The Brill is
truly rhomboidal, grayish brown with minute and large
brown spots ; the dorsal fin is curiously lacerated just above
the head * ; the underside has a delicate pearly whiteness^
whence I suppose its name is derived.
As it is inferior in goodness to the Turbot, so it is com-
monly sold cheaper.
It is somewhat remarkable that this has not been before
figured, although so much spoken of. From the general
conversation I have had about it, it appears that the term
Brill has confounded and obscured the name of Pearly
which is scarcely known at present in London.
A bad figure, uncoloured, may be seen in Johnstone's
Fishes, tab. 92. fig. 13.
The Brill seems to be rather a rare fish excepting in the
London markets. I have had some very small ones, by
favour of the Rev. Hugh Davies, from Anglesea, under
the name of the Pearl.
* A character ■we have observed in no other British flat-fish.
^e^t.aS0S- ^U^t^^ht-i^- iu ^a^ J'^u/e^iy. ^o^^^Bn.-:
107
TAB. LI.
NEREIS pectinata.
Class 6. Vermes. Order 4. INIollusca.
Spec. Char. Smooth, prismatically coloured. Ten-
tacula 14 on each side, gold-coloured. Legs
14 on each side, also gold-coloured.
1 HIS strikingly beautiful and curious annual excited the
attention of the ingenious Dr. Boys, who was so kind as
to present me with specimens of it a long time since. The
tentacula and the peduncles being of a finely golden ap-
pearance, recall that grand description in the Revelations,
" his feet were like unto fine brass, as if they were burned
in a furnace." Whether the inspired writers alluded to
natural history in their descriptions we do not know ; they
are however very sublime in some of their comparisons.
The tentacula appear somewhat solid, but the feet seem
to be composed of bundles of golden hairs. There are
numbers of little brown papillas upon what appears to be
the lip. There are prominent, almost laminated sorts of
thighs to the feet or bundles of hairs. We could not find
the organs by which life is sustained such as the mouth, &c.
The marine animals require much attention to discern
their functions and manner of living ; but we expect to
improve in this kind of knowledge, as the present age is
laudably inquisitive into such subjects^ which can hardly
108
fail to be of future use. The case has been indifferently
figured by Pennant. It is remarkable for its uniformity,
being perfectly straight, but somewhat conically tubular.
It is composed of bits of shells and chosen particles of
sand, so arranged as to form an equal surface ; the gluten
cementing them together entirely covering the inside, and
appearing externally between the particles when examined
by a magnifying glass only. There is little doubt but
these animals quit their cases, as we have seen fresh water
animals with tubular cases do, and dexterously recover
them again. Tlie case of this animal, which is called
Sahella tuliformis, has with the rest of that genus been
placed with the Vermes Testacea ; we do not find fault
with this arrangement, as, perhaps, without the animal,
there may be no better place for them.
They are found on the Sandwich and other shores, but
the cases are oftener found without the animal than with it.
We have not had the pleasure of seeing this animal in its
natural situation ; and have therefore placed it as if fallen
on the shore, with the animal nearly out of the covering ;
the other animal has fallen carelessly on its back : — thus a
view is given both of the back and front. The case is
said to be found immersed perpendicularly in the sand,
with the broad end and head upwards.
62
J^&c^J^jSoS 2'a^7^?i<s^ ^ ^-sci Soi^'e^by. ^orL.<£^T.
109
TAB. LIL
ICHNEUMON persuasorius.
Class 5. Insecta. Order 5. Hymenoptera.
Spec. Char. Scutellum with two white spots. Thorax
spotted. Abdomen black, with the segments
marked on each side with two white spots.
Syn. Linn. Si/sL Nat. Ed. 12. 932. ?z. 16.
Faun. Suec. 1593.
Fahr. Ent. Syst. Em. 2. 145. n. 49.
De Geer. 1. t. ^Q. f. 8.
Panz. Faun. Germ. Mit. n. 19. t. 18.
Pimpla persuasoria. Fahr. Syst. Piez. 112. n. 1,
Length of the body without the aculeus, 1 1 lines.
of the aculeus, 1 inch 1 line.
JVlR. W. J. Hooker took this rare insect, which we do
not recollect to have seen in any other English collection,
in a garden at Coltishall near Norwich.
Linnaeus describes his insect in these terms : — " Black.
Lip white. A white line before and behind the eves.
Thorax with three white stripes (liiuris) on each side.
Scutellum with two white dots : the anterior the largest.
Abdomen cylindrical, sessile, with the margin of the first
segment wholly white, that of the second interruptedly,
the rest have four white dots. Legs ferruginous. Posterior
tibiae black. Stature of Ichneumon manifest at oi\" Syst.
Nat.
VOL. I. M
110
Our specimen varies from this description in the follow-
ing particulars. The lip, (by which, as appears from the de-
scription in Faun. Suec.j Linnaeus meant the anterior part
of the front) is black, as well as the mouth. The trunk, be-
sides the white lines or stripes mentioned in Syst. Nat., has
a white tubercle under the insertion of the primary wings, a
white spot above the base of the intermediate pair of legs,
two square contiguous spots on each side of the metathorax,
just at the insertion of the abdomen. The first segment
of the latter has an interruptedly white margin, and the
second is distinguished by four white spots like the remain-
ing segments. The posterior tarsi as well as tlblce are
black, the latter are yellowish underneath at the base.
Panzer's figure seems to agree better with the description of
Linnaeus, whose insect was very much larger than ours.
Fabrlcius, in his Systema Plezatorum, has placed the Ich-
neumons with a sessile cylindrical abdomen and very long
aculeus by themselves, as a distinct genus : this may per-
haps be going too far ; but at any rate they form a natural
family in that numerous and perplexing tribe. The very
long aculeus or oviduct of this insect and its affinities
enables them to penetrate to a considerable depth into
holes in wood, to convey their eggs to the body of the larva
of some bee or other hymenopterous insect concealed in
them. Mr. Marsham, in his ingenious paper upon Ich^
neumon manifestator, in the third volume of the Transac-
tions of the Linnean Society, gives a very entertaining
account of the proceedings of that insect to commit its
eggs to their appropriate larva, which we recommend our
readers to peruse.
^^ed'.^ T^ l8co. J'ta^/ve^^ $i, Ja^^ Si^^-^i^hi'. /lefKdon.
in
TAI]. LIU.
APLYSLV lijbrida.
Class 6. Vermes. Order 2. Mollusea.
Gen. Char. Bodi/ creeping, covered with reflected
membranes, with a membranaceous shield on the
back covering the lun^^s. An aperture on the
right side. Fbnt above the extremity of the
back. Feelers 4 resembling ears.
Spec. Char. Purple all over.
Syn. Laplysiadepilans? Pennant^ Brit. ZorA. 4. 42.
VV E may consider the representation of this curious crea-
ture as under sea-water on a rock, as it is always lound in
the sea, and is either dragged from thence or left on the
rocks at low water. It is said to be not unfrequent about
the rocks near Penzance, and indeed I was told great
numbers might be got. This was gathered in the year 1799
on St. Michael's Mount. My friend Mr. Turner pointed it
out, and my son gathered it at about the length of his arm
imder water in the hollow of a rock, and I put it into a
box. We handled it pretty much, and felt no particular
sensation ; but, looking at my hands after having put it
by, I found a very copious quantity of purple fluid had
been deposited by the animal in both our hands. I put
some of this on a piece of paper, and it remained nearly
as brilliant for two or three years afterwards. This has
yoh, I. N
112
been thought by some to be the true Tyrian dye of the an-
tients ; aUhough much has been said about Buccinum pur-
pureum by Pennant and others, which last affords such a
trifling quantity. At this age, which improves on every dis-
covery, it might be worth while to those concerned in dyes,
perhaps, to learn whether these animals may be acquired
in suflicient quantities for such purpose.
Pennant calls his Laphjsia depilans, and compares it
with Pliny's description of Lepus mar'ums, observing that
Pliny places it among the venomous marine animals, saying
that even the touch is infectious. He also says that the
smell is extremely nauseous. Ours does not agree in any
of these characters, and I think I should have observed it if
the smell had been nauseous. We have examined two
bottles from Grenada, probably containing ^p/iy^ia depilans
of Linnaeus, by Sir Joseph Banks's favour, who had them
sent him by Mr. Christ. Rapier with the following account
in a letter :
"■ SIR,
^^ Although I have not the honour of being known to
you, I have presumed to send you, what I hope will be
favourably received, specimens of the true Murex of the
antients. The fish were brought on shore by some fisher-
men of this place, St. George's, Grenada. The fish are
known here by a name which I cannot express in English ;
but may be translated very closely by Vulva mar'ma, and by
the corrupt French of this country by Pissa-la-mer. The
liquid which issues from the fish is of the most beautiful
purple. A considerable quantity had been shed previous to
its coming into my possession, and I was solicitous that
what remained might reach you with as little alteration as
possible. The two fish in No. 1. were put alive into the
bottle, and very strong rum poured upon them and closed
up." The rum of course had taken away the beautiful
purple colour, and they remained of a purplish black.
11.3
" Those in No. 2. had been in my possess-^'on for many
months, and had lost their purple fluid in a great measure.
I am not even certain that they are the same species as
No. 1.* They are sent to yow for an accurate examina-
tion. I can readily believe that the Tyriaa purple dye uas
first discovered by a dog eating a fish on the sea -shore,
which tinged his mouth of so beautiful a colour as to excite
curiosity how it originated. The fish which is now sent
you, M^hen in the surf of the sea, appears so like the liver
of a bullock, that a dog might easily mistake it for that
viscus."
We do not know why Pennant has made the generic name
begin Avith an L, as we suspect that the name is derived
from the Greek word ATrXva-la, signifying immundlties , illotiis,
from its being unwholesome or filthy. Turton has made it
Laplisia.
* We think they may be the same species in a different state of growth:
the small ones, No. 2 , however, are brown with dark spots. We want
more light on the subject.
--^
T-f'-N
^^e/^y^jBo^ fui/y'ft'J Ij- Jhi .f.n^efil' Z^-uion,.
115
TAB. LIV.
STAPHYLINUS concolor.
Serra ted-liorn ed Stapliylln us.
Class 5. Insecta. Order I, Coleoptera,
Gen. Char. Anlennce moniliform. Feelers filiform.
Elytra halved, covering the wings. Body elon-
gate. Tail {of the femcdesy simple, exerting
two oblong vesicles.
Spec. Char. Black. Antennae serrated. Thorax
naked, shining, with a dilated margin. Elytra
downy, opaque.
Syn. Marsh. Ent. Brit. i. 498. 4.
Staphylinus dilatatus. Fab. Ent. Syst. Em. I. 6.
52212.? Syst. Eleuth. ii. .392. 1 4 ? Gmel. Syst.
Nat. 2027. SO? Payk. Faun. Siiec. iii. 389.
29. LatreUle Hist. Nat. &c. ix. 326. 74.
Length of the body Q "
rof the head 1-^
Breadth «| of the thorax 2 j
Lof the elytra 23-
luies.
We were permitted to make a drawing of" this singular and
very rare Stuphy Linus by our kind friend, the ingenious au-
thor of Entomolo-jia Britannica, in wh.ose cabinet the only
British specimen of it ever taken is preserved. It is also
found in Ge rmanv, Sweden, and France ; for we think it
is beyond a doubt the Staphylinus dilatatus of Paykull and
116
Latreille, and most probably of Fabricius : but we have
placed a note of interrogation to the synonym of the last
of these authors, because he describes the colour of the
elytra by the term fusca, which will not accord well with
our specimen. Yet his description in every other respect
agrees with it; mentioning the serrated antennae, the
dilated margin of the thorax, and the metallic hues that
in certain lights glitter upon it : on this account we are
pretty certain that ours can be nothing more than a variety
of his insect.
Body black. Head, excluding the neck, cordate, con-
siderably narrower than the thorax, shining, without
punctures, one or two excepted on each side between the
eyes and the neck. Antennae recurved, a little longer than
the head, hairy, black; with the last joint piceous: their
three first joints are nearly obconical ; the seven following
ones on their lower side jut out into an angle, forming so
many serratures; the last is nearly ovate and acute. The
thorax is naked, shining and black ; but behind and on
the sides, in certain lights, it reflects a greenish metallic
hue; it is rounded, and widest behind, somewhat com-
pressed before, and truncate with a sinus for the reception
of the neck ; its disk is very convex, but its sides are de-
pressed, dilated and flat; its surface is smooth, with about
twenty-six impressed punctures, viz. eight disposed in two
triangles on the disk, the acute angle of which is distin-
guished by two approximate ones, and eighteen in the
margin, thus disposed, beginning at the anterior angle,
2. 5. 2. 2. 5. 2. The anterior tarsi are dilated, and fulvous
underneath. The elytra are rather longer than the thorax,
but not quite so wide, opaque, black, except the angle at
the shoulders, which is distinguished by a ferruginous dot
that is almost concealed by the thorax. The abdomen is
shining and hairy. The anus is terminated by a rectilinear
forceps, and two linear and very hairy appendages : these
are all probably sexual distinctions.
J^t^r^jZ.^^oS. 2'st^i^^sti- ^ ,^x/ tJ'tf**'^^. ^&n^^n.:
117
TAB. LV.
PHAL.ENA N. Xscriptum.
Class 6. Insecta. Order 3. Lepidoptera.
Spec. Char. Crested. Wings fuscous, variegated
with white and black, in the middle a large white
spot marked with a letter X. Lower wings fus-
cous.
1 HIS rare Moth is in the possession of my friend Thomas
Marsham^ Esq., Tr. L. S.
The letter X is a sufficient mark at present to distinguish
it from its allies, although it is tolerably distinct in other
respects. We wish we knew the use of this numerous
tribe of insects, as it is remarkable that only the Silk
Worm and the Arindey Worm, figured in vol. J. of Linn.
Trans., have been made subservient to the arts. There
can be no doubt that every one has its use, although we
must wait patiently to find it out, and in the mean time
we can only learn to distinguish their kinds.
Some of the smaller Tunicece are very fond of cloth,
feathers, &c., and are always ready to take advantage of
our inattention or negligence of those things.
2^af I iScs -F'^lM.af iy Mi'^i't"
11.9
TAB. LVL
CORALLIi^rA auriculariaeformis.
Class Q. Vermes. Order 4. Zoophyta.
Gen. Char. Animal growing in the form of a plant
Stem fixed with calcareous subdivided branches,
mostly jointed.
Spec. Char. Stemless, spreading like a Fungus or
Lichen.
Syn. Corallium cretaceum lichenoides. Ellis Co-
rallines, 76. tab. 27. d. D.
1 HIS little elegant Coralline (for I cannot make it any
thing else in the present system) is nearest allied to the
CoraUina Opimt'ia in its young or early state. It is of so
curious a formationj that I wonder it has not been re-
cognised as a British species before now.
I have seen it in some cabinets, but no where with a
name. It occurs in tolerabl-e abundance on the rocks at
Kynance Cove, and has a beautiful appearance, hanging
round the sides in a shelf-like manner, or at the bottom of
a hole growing horizontally, sometimes rising with the
assistance of CoraUina officinalis in elegant order — higher
■up like the top figure. We cannot help remarking the
120
resemblance It bears to some of the Fungi. The manner of
its o-rowth resembles much Boletus versicolor and Hydnum
Daviesiiy &c.; it also resembles the Auricularice in its
mode of growth, and like them is smooth on the under
surface*. It is, however, unlike them, in having the
upper surface smooth j and it is only its situation, and
its composition of phosphate of lime and animal gluten,
that would determine it to be a Coralline. It is more or less
of a deep pink, like C. officinalisy and like that is liable to
be bleached.
* On examining it with the microscope, we see minute cells in transverse
rows, somewhat in concentric circles, convex towards the outer edges, very
like those formed by Boletus igniarius, English Fungi, fab. side Jlgure.
The whole growth is so like a fungus, that those who formerly thought
fungi of an animal nature might have considered themselves confirmed in
iheir idea by observing this. See Encyclopcedia Brilannica,, FuNGUa.
tJSf
^^
J'ei-'UjSoe. Tuiii/hed i^ 7m' Sot^eriv, ^^/xji-n,.
121
TAB. LVII.
SCARAB.^US pumilus.
Class 5. Insecta, Order 1. Coleoptera.
Spec. Char. Black. Thorax of the male armed
with three horns : the intermediate one very short ;
the lateral ones protended shorter than the head ;
sides of the thorax rugose.
Syn. Scarabasus pumilus. Marsh. Eiit. Brit. 1.8.
71. 2.
T n r *i, I- J r of the male 64r'\
Length of the body -l
m lie 3-
-ftmale 7 I r
, ' >lines.
temale 4 J
1 HIS Insect was first taken by the Rev. J. BurrelJ^ in the
neighbourhood of Holt, in Norfolk. The Rev. R.Sheppard
jias since found it occasionally in the springs on Rushmere
and Martlehani heaths, between Ipswich and Woodbridge,
in Suffolk.
Although it very nearly resembles Sc. Typhcsus Linn, it
is, we think, nevertheless, quite distinct; it differs from
it not only in size, being considerably smaller, but the
horns of the thorax, compared with the head, are much
shorter, and the surface of its sides more unequal, rugose,
with a greater number ot" impressed points. In the female,
which is larger than the male, instead of lateral horns, the
thorax is armed on each side with a short tooth, or rather
12'i
an acute tubercle; between which, in the place ot" the in-
termediate horn, there is an elevated transverse line op
ridge. This sex differs from the female of Sc, Typ/iceus in
scarcely any thing but size.
What may be the use of the horns which arm the thorax
of the male of Sc. Typhceus and pumilus, and the head and
thorax of many of the same sex in the Fabrician genera
Copris and Geotnipes, seems at present not ascertained : if,
however, the insect before us be taken in the hand and
held fast, he will resist incumbent pressure with great force,
anfl make way iinder it ; from vi'hich we may conjecture
that these horns are useful to him in excavating his sub-
terraneous habitation.
Our drawing was made from specimens in the cabinet or
the Rev. W. Kirby. The upper fgure represents the jnale.
and tJie loicer iht female.
68
.J^ei'-^J J8»g. ^uJ-l^Aia fip- Jaf ,>'rlv&ri}; -Zorulon
123
TAB. LVIII.
CERAMBYX fulminans.
Class 5. Insecta. Order 1. Coleopteva,
Gen. Char. AntenncF setaceous. Eijcf; lunar, cm-
bracing the base of the antennse. Thorax partly
receiving the head. Elytra sublinear. Body
oblong.
Spec. Char. Thorax globose, spotted. Elytra black,
with undulato-angular white bands.
Syn. Callidium fulminans. Fab. Ent. Syst. Em. ii.
332. n. 62.
Cerambyx fulminans. Gmeh Syst. Nat. 1853. ??. 278,
Oliv. Ins. 70. t. 5.f. 63.
Cerambyx fulminans. Tiirt. 2. 330.
Clytus fulminans. Fab. Syst. EleuiJi. ii. 346. n. 4^
Length of the Body 8 \ ,.
Breadth of the Elytra 2 J ^"^^^■
The specimen of this elegant insect (which Fabricius
gives as a native of North America) from wbicli our
figure was taken, was found by a young lady upon some
flowers at a garden at Kensington. It is now in tbe
cabinet of the Rev. W. Kirby. Probably, like Ccramlijx
violaccus, it was not orio;inally a native of this country,
but imported in its larva state in timber. We remember
seeing at A. MacLeay's, Esq., a very large larva of some
species, of this genus we imagine, which came alive in
timber from New Holland.
The insect before us belongs to Mr. Marsham's fillh
family of Ceramhyx, {Thorax unarmed, globose, not de-
pressed), consisting of species which Linne had improperly
considered as belonq-ins; to the eenus Lcpturo, since their
124
claim to be regarded as Ccramhyccs is founded not only
upon oeconomy and habit, but likewise upon character^
these insects exhibiting all the genuine characters of that
genus, pariicuhrly the lunar or reniform eyes, so happily
noticed by DeGeer, who arranges them with those Ceram-
lyces that have a globose depressed thorax, from which
Mr. Marshani has judiciously separated them.
Fabricius originally considered this family as forming
part of liis genus CaUid'mm ; but in his Syslema Eleuthe-
ratorum, after Schrank, he has made a new genus of them,
under the name of Clytus. Latreille, however, a most
accurate observer, and who has entered more deeply into
the anatomy of insects than almost any entomologist of the
present age, still regards them merely as a family or section
of CaUidium. {Hist. Nat. Gen. et Part, des Crustac. et des
Lis. t. iii. p. 217.)
The body of Ceranihjx fuhn'mans is black beset with
cinereous hairs, which underneath and upon the legs are
so thinly scattered as scarcely to obscure their blackness.
Head chanuciled longitudinally. Antennse of the length
of the body, at the base whitish with cinereous hairs.
Thorax with a large obcordate velvety black spot, and two
smaller oblong-oval lateral ones. Scutellum black edged
with cinereous hair. Elytra dehiscent at their apex, black,
pencilled with uudulato-angular cinereous transverse lines,
formed of hair. A cinereous crescent also ornaments their
tips. Wings black.
The males in this genus have usually longer antennae
than the females; a circumstance which will account for a
difference observable betvi'een the description of Fabricius
and that above given. He says: " Antermce breves,"
whereas in our specimen they are as long as the insect.
He also describes the body of his as fuscous : in ours it is
quite black. Notwithstanding these differences, we make
our reference to him without hesitation, since in every
other respect our specimen answers exactly to his descrip-
tion.
1^
■^d
J'^i'-!' /: jSoS . ^-^y^^/kac^ ^y ,/iV^ -j'^H^a^^i; ^Zon^c^
6o
^e-^z. t8a£.^^^^^^£^ ?>' t/^'f J^^t^e^^. Z^^*^n.
6j.
^^rilJ.^Soe. J'uM-M.e^ if .'T.t'' Soiiej-Hy. ^„n,it>n
TAB. LXI.
SALMO Fario; var.
Gillai'oo Trout.
Class 4. Pisces. Order 4. Abdominal.
Gen. Char. Head smooth, compressed. Mouth
large. Lips small. Tongue white, cartilaginous,
movable. Eyes moderate, lateral. Teeth in the
jaws and on the tongue. Gill membrane 4 — 12-
rayed. The Cover of three laminae. Body long,
covered with rounded and very finely striated
scales. Back convex. Lateral line straight,
nearer the back. Hindmost dorsal Fin fleshy,
without rays. Ventral Fins of many rays.
Spec. Char. Body with purple red spots. Lower
jaw a little longer. Stomach very large.
Syn. Gillaroo Trout. Daines Barrington, Phil,
Trans. 64* 116. Henry Watson, ibid. 121.
Gillaroe Trout. John Hunter, ibid. 310.
JriAViNG been favoured with a specimen of this fish from
its proper habitat by Aylmer Bourke Lambert, Esq., V. P.
L. S., I could not resist giving a figure and some account
of so interesting a subject.
VOL. II. B
2
Mr. Lambert was so good as to send the following ac-
count of it : ^^ The Gillaroo Trout which I sent you was
caught in the lake Carra, situated in the county of Mayo
in the west of Ireland, while I resided at Castle Bourke,
situated on the banks of that lake. I had frequent op-
portunities of observing this singular fish, and hardly a
day passed without my catching some of them with the
fly, or having some of them sent me by my tenants. At
different times I opened several of their enlarged stomachs,
which I always found full of Helix tentaculata. This
enlargement of the stomach is no doubt occasioned by
this kind of food producing a certain degree of irritation
so as to thicken the coats of it. It is certainly not a disease,
as the larger the stomach the fatter the fish ; and a Trout
about two pounds weight with a stomach the size of a
hen's egg, was so fat and oily as scarcely to be eatable.
This fish is easily taken with a fly, and I have caught
several in a day with much coarser tackle than I could
have taken the Trout with in the rivers of England. It
is certainly not a distinct species from the common
Trout, as some have thought it ; for I have found the
stomach in every state of enlargement from the size of
a nut to that of a hen's egg; and I have as often caught
them in the same lake without the least enlargement of the
stomach. The shell on which they feed seems to be very
abundant in the lake Carra, as some parts of the shores of it
are covered with the half-digested shells voided by this fish.
I have been informed that they are sometimes caught in
some of the neighbouring lakes.'*
On examining the stomach of the above specimen I
found both Helix tentaculata and Nerila Jiuviatilis ; the
first in the greatest abundance, but both with their oper-
culums on, and the snail or animal very little altered; a few
loose operculums and empty shells were among them :
3
the shells also are very little altered : the epidermis or
fine cuticle of the shell is in the prominent parts lacerated,
and the white lime is apparently in a small degree softened :
in this state they appear to be voided, as they were much
in the same state in the extreme gut. These fishes, like
other fat subjects, seem to require very little food.
The stomachs of other Trout that I have examined
contained these and other shelly animals, such as cads *
with stony and wooden cases, &c., but I did not meet with
any separate remains of any of the animals so as to identify
their species. From what John Hunter observes, we may
conclude that the size of the stomach is owing to its de-
lighting in coarser food than others.
• Larva of Phryganea,
TAB. LXII.
ANAS fraenata.
IVliite-faced Duck.
Class 1. Aves. Order
Spec. Char. Fusco-ferruginous. A spot on the
wings, abdomen, and a ring round the head at
the base of the bill, white.
Syn. Anas frasnata. Sp arm. Mils, Carls, v. 2, pi. SS.
1 HE White-faced, or Laughing Goose, {Anas Barnacla,)
as it is often called, is well known; but we have not seen
the White-faced Duck mentioned any where as British.
My good friend the Rev. James Dalton, F. L. S., has
sent me a young and an old one. As this gentleman does
not consider them rare in Yorkshire, it is rather to be
wondered at that there is no account of them except in
Sparrman's Musaeura Carlsonianum, from specimens shot
in Aland, in Norway.
We cannot agree with the idea that it is the female of
Anas Marila, as upon comparing the essential parts, par-
ticularly the beak, they do not warrant that idea. Sparr-
man's description being a good one, we cannot do better
than merely to make a translation of it.
Beak black, rather broad. Head brown, with a white
ring round the base of the beak. Neck ferruginous. The
6
back, between the shoulders and tail, fusco-ferruginous.
Humerus, sides of the breast and hypochondria, interspersed
with minute white spots. The upper part of the breast in
the front undulated with white and fuscous. Abdomen, in
the front, silky white; behind, dull fuscous white. Ten
primary quill feathers black. Secondary quill feathers
white, concealed at the base by black covert plumes;
hence the speculum of the wings is small and white. Feet
black. Tail rounded.
I hope before long to see the proper male, and to ascertain
if it really belongs to Anas Marila.
Jan^z aSt>£.Jui^^ai ty M-r Sc^t^trfy, X^iJ''^-
TAB. LXIII.
ASTERIAS equestris:
Spec. Char. Rays 5. Disk covered with tubercles.
Margin with oval plates, each with three to six
tubercles on each. Tentacula rather clavate.
Syn. Gmel. 3164. Linck's Stella Marina, t. 12.
n. 21. /. 26. n. 42. t. 33. n. 53.
In February 1806 I had the pleasure of receiving this
superb Asterias from my kind friend and patron, James
Brodie, Esq., M. P. and F. L. S., which was found on the
coast near Brodie House. It is certainly one of the hand-
somest of the genus, and is now first known as a British
species. The specimen was about the size of the represen-
tation, an inch thick in the middle, rising somewhat
cushion-like. The longest spines are rather blunt, and
about twice their thickness in length, which is al)out one-
eighth of an inch. These are dispersed on plates sur-
rounded by little stud-like prominencies, that when fresh
have a beautiful pearly lustre : see the left hand loiuerjlgiire.
The plates on the side are ovate, and have often three or more
spines on them. There are a few scattered forceps-like
spines on the upper side, and many on the under side : see
the left hand bottom figure. The feelers are flattish and
somewhat clavate. The other figure is the little shield-like
tubecle, generally on the back of this sort of animals.
The synonyms of Gmelin, which here refer to Linck's
figurrs above quoted, are right, and belong to the species
here figured, but the others to a very different species.
,^t^tAa. 2800. T't^Z-Zy^^^ ^
9
TAB. LXIV.
LOCUSTA grisea.
Gray Locust.
Class 5. Insecta. Order 2. Orthoptera.
Gen. Char. Feelers long, last joint subclavate,
truncate at the end. jintennce very long, se-
taceous. Oviduct ensiform. Posterior thighs
formed for leaping.
Spec. Char. Thorax behind carinate, rounded.
Body brown. Elytra cinereous, spotted. Ovi-
duct falcate, pale at the base.
Syn. Fab. Ent. Syst. Em. ii. 41. 31.
We have adopted Ollvier's order Orthoptera, because we
conceive that insects which bite their food are essentially
distinguished from those that take it by suction. This
order includes such of the Linnsean Hemipterous Genera
as are furnished with maxillse ; viz. Blatta, Mantis, and
Gryllus, leaving in Hemlptera those insects only that take
their food by means of a rostrum. The learned Scopoli,
led by this circumstance, had long since united the above
genera to Coleoptera ; but from that order they are evidently
distinct, not only on account of the different substance of
the elytra, but likewise by the mode in which they fold
their wings; Coleopterous insects folding them transversely,
while those in question fold them longitudinally. Olivier's
characters of the two orders Orthoptera and Hemlptera are
as follows :
10
Orthoptera.
Two wings folded longitudinally under soft and almost
membranaceous elytra.
Mouth armed with maxillae (mandibulse) and valvulae
(maxillae).
Hemiptera.
Two wings crossed under soft and semi-membranaceous
elytra-
Mouth a sharp rostrum bent under the breast.
The antennae vary so much in the different families into
which Linnaeus has divided Grylhis, that it is not easy to
construct a good generic character which will well include
them all ; we therefore propose adopting the Fabrician ge-
nera, yet taking our characters from conspicuous parts.
We cannot here help expressing our opinion, that the
name Locusta ouo-ht to have been piven to that genus which
contains the insect which is called by way of eminence the
Locust, [Gryllus migratorius,) and Gryllus to that which
contains the cricket {Achcta domestica) . The names of the
anticnts ought not to be changed but for very weighty
reasons.
Body brown. Antennse longer than the body, pale.
Mouth pale. Thorax subcarinate behind, and rounded.
The middle deflected part of its posterior margin whitish.
Legs cinereous, spotted with brown, greenish underneath.
Elytra cinereous, spotted with brown. Oviduct of the
female rather longer than the abdomen, falciform, brown,
with a pale spot at the base. The apex on the under valve
is serrulate on the lower side. The abdomen of the male
is paler, and spotted with black ; the anus has four styles
or appendages. Its legs are not greenish underneath.
This rare insect, which has never been figured that we
know of, is in the cabinet of the Rev. W. Kirby, (who re-
ceived it from the ingenious author of Animal Biography,)
and in Mr. Sowerby's cabinet.
Length of the female, including the oviduct, 1 inch.
Length of the male 11 lines.
65
.yiot^ea.j8f>6. J^M^-V^t*^ ?>- ,^«:' JV"'*S^?^;
11
TAB. LXV.
ACHETA campestris.
Field Cricket.
Class 5. Insecta. Order 2. Orthoptera.
Gen. Char. Feelers long, last joint subclavate,
rounded at the end. Antennce setaceous. Ovi-
duct with valves, separate, subcapitate, cleft at
the end. Posterior thighs very large.
Spec. Char. Wings shorter than the elytra. Head
immensely large. Body black. Sides and base
of the elytra pale. Posterior thighs red under-
neath.
Syn. Fab, Ent. Syst. Em. ii. 31. 11. Panz, Faun,
Germ. Init. n. 88. t. 8. c? ^. 9. ? .
Gryllus campestris. Linn. Syst. Nat. 695. 13.
Bingley, Anim. Biogr. 1 ed, iii. 252. Mouffet. 1 34.
Raii Hist. Ins. 63. &c.
Length of the body without the oviduct 10 lines.
1^ OR a very entertaining account of the manners of this in-
sect we refer our readers to the Rev. G. White's Natural
History of Selhorne, or to Animal Biography as quoted
above. We have not many particulars to add to its history
from our own stores. The specimens from which our
drawings were made (i,n the collection of the Rev. W. Kir-
12
by) when taken were put alive into a boxj during their
confinement together, the male attacked the female and
nearly devoured one side of her. This is the reverse of a
fact recorded from Mr. Dorthes by Dr. Smith in the first
volume of his Tour, (p. 162,) of an insect of the same or-
der. Mantis religiosa. In this instance, after union the
female devoured the male. Male Spiders also, as Entomo-
logists who have attended to their ways relate, at the same
period are obliged to make their escape with the utmost
velocity from the murderous fangs of their female partners ;
who, if they did not, would destroy them without mercy.
How Crickets produce the unconnnon loud noise which
they make, seems not certainly ascertained ; Mouffet sup-
poses it to be the attrition of their wings, and says that a
friend of his, James Garret, an apothecary, produced the
same sound by taking off their wings and rubbing them
against each other. We suspect it to be by the attrition of
the abdomen against the thorax, having observed that the
common Grasshopper, when it chirps, vibrates its abdomen
with great quickness ; and when the noise ceases, this mo-
tion ceases with it. Scopoli savs, if this Cricket be intro-
duced inio a house, it will drive away the House Cricket.
Mr. Curtis and Mr. Sowerby have frequently seen the
common green Locust, at Battersea, evidently produce this
noise by the attrition of the shoulder of one wing against
that of the other.
Mr. Sowerby's son has observed a small species of Grass-
hopper, on the Downs at Yarmouth, to produce a noise by
the rubbing of the rough spines on the wings of that species
against the spines of the hinder legs. This he has fre-
quently performed on many of the smaller species.
Scarabsei produce a certain noise by the forcing of air
through the respiratory pores of the abdomen. Different
insects, and even insects of the same genus, may have dif-
ferent modes of producing their peculiar sounds.
66-
^
Jim^J. 2806. :3-^Jly?cAa^ iy J,7.: ^I'tu-eriy, ^^n<Z^n .
13
TAB. LXVI.
LARVA of an HEMEROBIUS?
Jtebruary 6, 1806. — In an obscure corner of a new and
beautiful Lichen discovered by my friend Charles Lyell,Esq.
of Lindhurst, Hants, was found this insect. It was very cu-
riously clothed with scraps of the Lichen ; whether to disguise
itself, or to answer some other intention, we do not know.
It was put under a watch-glass ; and as it was not apparently
disconcerted, we could notice its motions easily. We first
observed, that it used the hinder extremity of its abdomen
like a seventh foot, which seemed to give it great power in
tugging the moss or other things to pieces ; and, after
having broken off a piece of a proper size, it would fix this
seventh foot as it were, very firmly. (And indeed this
hinder extremity seems formed to hold any thing, such as
the enamel watch-plate, or the glass, as it were by an ope-
ration like a sucker, or the proboscis or tentacula of some
insects.) When thus fixed, having secured the fragment
in its jaws, it dexterously turns its head and places the
fragments on its back ; where it not only places it, but
presses it, and appears much dissatisfied if it docs not seem
firmly fixed*. There are two protuberating parts on the
shoulders, covered with long hairs, which it very dexte-
rously avoids in this action, so that they are left free from
any load. There are two similar ones on the hinder part,
which it does not cover. It appears to have a series of
* We were glad to observe so much of the actions of this animal, and it
helps to elucidate that of the Cancer plialaiigiiim in Linnsean Transactions;
and since we have been favoured with one of the same species from Scot-
land, clothed with Sertularia loriculata.
14
hairs along the sides, but their bases are covered so that
they are not visible. It may be observed by some, that
this is the imperfect or larva state of some insect ; but it is
scarcely probable that we shall ever see it in its perfect
state ; and to those who do not know the difference, it
may be an useful piece of information to show that certain
insects in the larva state nearly resemble their more perfect
or latter state*.
In the lower part of this plate we represent an Acarus,
which we call A. amictus. It was found among moss,
Hypnum molluscum, and was not only clothed with a
high load of fragments, but had bits of beetles, green and
gold wings, which gave it a brilliant appearance, as it is
otherwise in itself a very ordinary-looking insect. It puts us
in mind of the fable of the jackdaw dressed in peacock's
feathers.
Acarus corhicula, Little Basket Mite. — This minute ani-
mal is formed so like a basket, by the flatness of the back,
and the hairs placed in order round the edges, (some up-
right and some looped,) that it is distinct from any other
we know of before described. It does not however seem to
be used as a basket, nor have we ever seen it clothe itself.
We find them not so rare as at first suspected. These are
also from the same place as the last.
Dr. M'Culloch (in Linn. Trans, v. Q. t. 31. p. 369.)
has given an account of Cancer phalanghanf a kind of
spider-like crab, clothing itself to deceive its prey ; and I
received a specimen lately of the same species of Crab,
clothed with Sertularia lorlculata, from Scotland, by favour
of James Brodie, Esq. The Sertularia was laid in tile-like
order, — a good confirmation of Dr. M'Culloch's position.
* Insects, such as Beetles, Butterflies, are known to change from the form
of caterpillars, maggots, or larvas. The chrysalis or pupa to a perfect Beetle
is seldom seen ; but those of other insects are very common. This is pro-
bably the larva of an Hemerobius.
67
V,
^^</Re-i J.8o(S. .^vZ^fiii^ ^ J,
15
TAB. LXVII.
AMPHITRITE rosea.
Class 6. Vermes. Order 2. Molkisca.
Spec. Char. Spots on the cirrhi red. Feet golden.
CEASES and shells of annuals are found in great variety and
number, without any chance of procuring the animal or
proper inhabitant ; or at best, perhaps, the animal is of such
a nature that it cannot be found to expose itself so as to be
sufficiently understood. It is however desirable, when
the insect is to be procured, to make a memorandum of it,
as we shall arrive nearer to perfection by describino- the
animal with its habitation.
In tab. 31, I have on the old plan given the name to the
case; but I now give the name to the animal, and that still
rather imperfectly ; for which, however, there is some ne-
cessity, as enough of these animals have not been seen to
make the proper generic distinctions. We therefore con-
tent ourselves for the present to place these somewhat dif-
ferently characterized animals as of the same genus.
This animal differs from that of tab. 31, in not having
that bell-like instrument: at least with much watchinp- we
' o
could not discover any reason to suppose it had such. The
rays spread more, are narrower, and beautifully spotted with
bright crimson, and the brush-like feet are of a shining
golden appearance; the case is apparently made of slime
and mud.
16
It is not a little amusing to obtain a parcel of oysters be-
fore they are washed : how many pretty objects we may
see ! and these have a very beautiful appearance when spread
out, (which they will if they are put into water with a small
quantity of salt.) It is pleasant, on seeing these little spe-
cimens in a dish of water, to feed our imaginations with
the beauty and grandeur that exist in some parts of the
sea, where there are myriads of such, some of them the
most splendid of beings. As Gray observes,
" Full many a gem of purest ray serene
The dark unfathom'd caves of Ocean bear ;
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen.
And waste its sweetness on the desert air."
I can conceive the bottom of the ocean in some parts to
exhibit the most wonderful products of the world.
^ujr^j lS>o6. J*"AltA^^' M' ^^tif. Oot^er-^. ^c/»..^n>'.
17*
TAB. LXVIII.
LERNEA Sprattae.
Class 6. Vermes. Order 2. Mollusca.
Gen. Char. Body oblong, roundish, naked. Ten-
tacula two or threc^, round. Oviducts two.
Spec. Char. Head with two barbs. Neck notched.
Body oblong, red, with two green oviducts.
Syn. Gmelin, 3144. Muller, tab. 33.
In November 1799 and 1804, I observed this strange and
curious animal fixed to small Sprats, (Clupea Spratta of
Linfi.) Its bodv shaped like an oat, and its two green
tails, might create an idea of its being a vegetable, but that
the body is red, and has a fleshy aspect; yet the unor-
ganized appearance is very strange, and sufficient to induce
any one desirous of information to examine further. If we
are careful we may detach it, but not without wounding the
subject it preys upon ; which if we do, so as to kill it, I
venture to pronounce it as more merciful than otherwise.
This, which I can but consider as a grievous parasite, like
a harpoon inflicts a dreadful wound ; but, more fatal than
that instrument, not only wounds, but preys upon the in-
nermost part of the wretched victim, probing and feeding
very deep into any part it pleases.
VOL. II. *B
18'
I found two as figured in the eye of one Sprat. The neck
is not only long, so as to penetrate deep, but notched to
secure it, in addition to the barbs on the sides of the head.
It does not seem to have any eyes, but has a mouth appa-
rently formed for sucking, rather large, and under the
head.
The peculiar worm added to the plate was found on an
oyster-shell, and is therefore figured as a curiosity. We
think of describing it with others that we may hereafter
meet with.
Aiiff 2 iS/}6. Ihd'HshS &v Ja / Sanerlry, Linidtm. .
ir
TAB. LXIX.
M E R O P S apiaster.
Common Bee-eater*
Gen. Char. Bill curved, quadrangular, compressed,
carinate, pointed. Nostrils small, at the base of
the bill. Tongue slender, the tip generally jagged.
Feet gressorial. — Turton.
Spec. Char. Back ferruginous. Belly and tail
blueish green. Two of the tail feathers long.
Chin pale-yellow.
Syn. Turton^ v. 1. 284.
We could not overlook the beauty of the common Bee-
eater, as it is now entered into the list of British Birds.
On July 2d, 1794, Dr. Smith, President of the Linnean
Society, communicated the account of one having been
shot (for the first time in Great Britain) near Mattishall,
in the county of Norfolk, by the Rev. G. Smith. The
identical specimen was exhibited, and I had the pleasure of
seeing it. A flight of about twenty more were seen in
June, and the same flight, probably, (much diminished in
numbers,) was observed passing over the same spot in Oc-
tober following. Having obtained specimens of both sexes,
VOL. II. c
18
and compared the upper one with that spoken of above, and
with Dr. Latham's description, we found them to accord
well together; see Latham, or Montagu's Dictionary, v. 1.
The females differ a little from the males in not having
the two long feathers in the tail, and also somewhat in
colour.
These birds are said to inhabit the South of France, Italy,
the islands of the Mediterranean, Sweden, Germany, and
the southern parts of Russia, particularly about the rivers
Don and Wolga, in the banks of which they build. They
are said to be gregarious in their breeding season as well as
in their migrations. Their nests are excavated about six
inches deep, and ten of them placed near together, so as
to appear like a honeycomb.
70
Aua.j.i8o6.TuhUs?i^hy J.Sow^^^,Zandan ,
19
TAB. LXX.
COLYMBUS hebridicus?
Small Black-chinned Grebe.
Gen. Char. Bill toothless, subulate, straight,
pointed. Throat toothed. Nostrils linear, at
the base of the bill. Legs fettered.
Spec. Char. Head smooth. Body blackish. Chin
black. Throat ferruginous. Belly cinereous,
mixed with a silvery hue.
Syn. Black Chin Grebe. — Colymhus Hehridalis,
Perm. no. 227.
Colymbus Hebridicus ? Gmel. 594.
1 HAT a pair of Black-chinued Grebes should be taken with
nest and eggs at Chelsea, must appear to all a very extra-
ordinary circumstance, as the bird is understood to have
been found only on the island of Tirie in Scotland.
So little has been said of it, that we readily transcribe
all that is related in Pennant. " Rather larger than the
Little Grebe or Dobchick ; chin black; fore part of the
neck ferruginous; hind part mixed with dusky ; belly ci-
nereous and silver intermixed." Having the birds before
us, we think it would be unpardonable if we did not add a
little to this account, by way of ascertaining whether this is
the same bird as that of the Hebrides. Ours is rather less
c 2
20
than the Dobchick, being only eight inches in length,
whereas the Dobchick is ten inches. In breadth ours is
also much less in proportion. The bill is about the length
of that of the Dobchick, or not quite one inch. Irides
reddish-hazel. Immediately at the base of the under man-
dible is a nearly triangular blotch of a yellowish hue.
The chin under it is black or dark brown. The back is
dusky brown. The rest is pretty well expressed in the
figure. The eggs are white, large in proportion to the
bird, being one inch and a half long, but are figured too
small. The nest is supported by the herbage immediately
on the surface of the water, and seems so managed as to
rise with the tide, though always wet to the very eggs. It
seems promiscuously made of the rushes, 8cc. about the
place, and rather rudely, being only rounded, slightly en-
tangled, and flatted somewhat horizontally, with very little,
or scarcely any, cavity.
I am obliged to my friend Mr. Plasted, of whom I have
spoken before, for the loan of these valuable specimens.
They were taken in a pond on Chelsea Common about
June 1805.
71
itpjjA'lJ.r^iMijhilbyJa ■: ja„,rfy J^ii.l^,.
21
TAB. LXXI.
FLUSTRA aviciilaris.
Gen. Char. Animal a polype proceeding from
porous cells. Stem fixed, foliaceous, membra-
naceous, consisting of numerous rows of cells
united together, and woven like a mat.
Spec. Char. Cells on one side, armed with branched
spines : branches fasciculate, palmate, dichotomous,
truncate, smooth on one side, with opaque beaked
capsules near the edge formed like a parrot's head..
1 HAVE been shown this curious Zoophile by my friend
the Rev. P. Keith, F.L. S., who found it at Seaford bay,
Sussex, in March 1806, in the most perfect state, forming
altogether a spherical mass. T consider it as a very extra-
ordinary production, exhibiting at the same lime two di-
stinct animal appearances ; one representing an amphitrite,
the other a living form, like a bird's head, included in the
same nest or habitation. Mr. Ellis had the gratification of
seeing these birds' heads move up and down, and the beaks
open; probably the lower mandible move down and up
again. Whether his is ihe same species, may admit of a
doubt, as ours has from two to live appendages at each
cell ; he regularly represents two. The cells are either
covered with a convex operculum, or protrude the am-
phitrite. The head-like animal is attached to the nerves,
near th3 edges. The habitation is like that of other Flustrae
22
in substance, and has a root like a Tubularia, or base be-
ginning with a stem that divides into branches, widening
into many rows or series of cells, which are somewhat
concealed by curving inwards. The outer side is glossy,
only divided by slight furrows into rows, showing its trans-
parency with a magnifier. The cells somewhat resemble
articulations, and are alternate in their position.
I think this production may lead us to understand some
petrifactions found in Somersetshire.
Since writing the above, MissBiddulph of Southampton
has sent us a piece of this Flustra found at Dover.
^2
^^
Jtti^ 2.i3^6. Pubb-shA hy Ja:f Stnvirby J^endan. .
'23
TAB. LXXII.
ELATER cbalybcus.
Class 5 . Insecta. Order i . Coleoptera.
Spec. Char. jSlneous, with a purple tint. An-
tennae of the male pectinated. Thorax channelled.
Syn. Elater cupreus, var. Fab. Ent. Syst. em. ii.
225. 37 ? Panz. Faun. Germ. init. 77. t. 3.
E. pectinicornis, var. Payk. Faun. Suec. iii. 9.
11. ohs.
Length f 6~
Breadth
r ^^
■I of the body > Hnes.
1 HIS beautiful Elater was taken by the Rev. James Dalton
of Copgrove in Yorkshire, and by him given to the Rev.
William Kirby, who has lent it to us to figure.
The whole body is aeneous, with a fine tint of purple.
Underneath it is rather hairy. The head and thorax are
deeply punctated ; the latter elongated, in the disk longitu-
dinally elevated, with an intermediate channel. The an-
tennae are black, longer than the thorax, and pectinated.
The scutellum is rounded. Elytra striated, with obsolete
punctures in the striae, and punctulated interstices.
u
Fabriclus mentions a variety of Elater cupreus with
simple antennae, and an aeneous body, which may be the fcr-
male sex of our insect. It is, however, not only distinguish-
able from that species by the colour of the elytra, but like-
wise by being broader in proportion to its length. Panzer
has figured it tolerably well, and appears to have been ac-
quainted with the other sex, the antennae of which he also
figures. Paykull says that he has sepn a variety of the male
of Elater pectinicornis with cupreo-purpurascent elytra,
which is probably our insect ; but it is certainly distinct
from Elater pectinicQrnis, being much shorter in proportion
to its size.
73
Auo.zlSrt'^ r,.J h'fhtihvJa '' .7,iw^rhv Ltrtidan .
25
TAB. LXXIII.
GRYLLUS viridulus.
Green Grasshopper.
Class 5. Insecta. Order 2. Orthoptera.
Gen. Char. Feelers short, Antennce short, com-
presso-filiform, obtuse. No Scutellum. Elytra
linear. Posterior thighs formed for leaping.
Oviduct none, or hidden.
Spec. Char. Thorax cruciate. Body brown, green
above. Inner margin of the elytra green. Belly
yellowish.
Syn. Linn. Syst. Nat. 702. 54. Faun. Suec. 874.
Fab. Ent. Syst. em, ii. 61. 59.
Acrydium viridulum. Degeer, iii. 480. 7.
Length of the body 1 1 lines.
1 HIS species is not very uncommon on sunny banks in the
autumn. Our specimen was furnished by the Rev. W,
Kirby.
The body is brown. The top of the head green, with a
longitudinal fulvous line. The back of the trunk, or
thorax, is green, and tricarinate, or distinguished by three
elevated lines, the lateral ones curved and white, the in-
termediate one rectilinear and fulvous. The thorax has also
on each side behind a black line or spot, through which
the lateral ridges run. The inner margin of the elytra is
green, the exterior white with red veins. The thighs in the
recent insect are green, but they fade to a brown.
74
' u:A->t} J^J>Ush'J by Ja ^Sfiira-M
27
TAB. LXXIV.
Fig. 1.— ACRYDIUM subulatum.
Awl-shaped Acrydium.
Class 5. Insecta. Order 2. Orthoptera.
Gen. Char. Feelers short. Antennce short, com-
presso-filiform. Elytra very minute, lateral.
Scutellum elongated, covering the wings. Pos-
terior thighs formed for leaping. Oviduct none,
or hidden.
Spec. Char. Scutellum straight, longer than the
body ; clouded before with black. Body griseous.
Syn. Degeer, iii. 484. 12. t. 23./. 15. Fab. Ent.
Syst. em. ii. 26. 3. Geoffr. i. 395. 6.
Gryllus subulatus. Li)m. Sysi. Nat. 693. 8. Faun.
Suec. 884.
Length of the body^ including the scutellum, 6| lines.
T. HIS genus is more numerous in species than entomo-
logists at present seem to be aware of. Most of them are
regarded merely as varieties of the present species, and of
A. lipunctatum ; but they are distinguished from each other,
not only by the differences of colour, but likewise of shape.
The genus might be divided into two families ; one with a
straight scutellum, the other with an arched one, with the
carina or keel very much elevated. The present specimen is
most probably the Gryllus subidatus und Acrydium subulatum
of Degeer and Fabricius ', although Degeer does not notice
the black clouds which distinguish the anterior part of the
thorax. Our figure is taken from a specimen in the cabinet
of the Rev. W. Kirby.
The body is cinereous, mottled with a darker colour;
the scutellum is nearly twice the length of the abdomen,
acuminated, with its central carina not very much elevated ;
its anterior part clouded a little with black. The antennae
are pale, with black tips.
28
Fig. 2.—ACRYDIUM undulaturn.
JVavi/ Acrydium.
Spec. Char. Scutellum of the length of the body,
arched, white, with a red keel, and two black,
undulated, interrupted, longitudinal lines. Body
griseous.
Length of the body 4 lines.
We received this with the preceding. It is principally
distinguished by the red arched ridge of the scutellum, on
each side of which there is a longitudinal wavy line, nearly
in the form of an S, which towards the end is interrupted,
and then terminates in a short straight line. The dilated
sides of the scutellum are white. There is also a faint
white spot on the posterior thighs.
Fig.3.— ACRYDIUM nigricans.
Black Acrydium,
Spec. Char. Scutellum the length of the body,
arched. The body black. Posterior thighs with
a whitish spot.
Length of the body Z\ lines.
1 HIS was also sent us by the Rev. Mr. Kirby. It is one
of that order in which the scutellum is arched and very
much elevated. The body is black. Antennae fulvous,
black at the end. Scutellum the length of the body. Dorsal
carina obscurely clouded with white. The margin of the
scutellum towards the end is pale. Legs pale at the base.
Posterior thighs with an irregular whitish sdoc.
7^
JUn^ 2.j3o6. JfuiZi^KiO^ 2>. 7''^-' SfHtr\y.:i"
29
TAB. LXXV.
TELLINA similis.
Class 6. Vermes. Orders. Testacea.
Spec. Char. Ovate, compressed. Both valves
diagonally striated five-sixths over the surface.
Beak not curved.
"erhaps this very distinct species of shell may now be in
many cabinets among specimens of that very curious shell
Tellina Fabula, G we/. 3239, among which I met with this
when given me by my friend Mr. Charles Stokes, who
found them all at Brighton.
It differs at first siQ;ht from Telliva Fabula in bcinof
less acuminated, and not being curved ; which curve, and a
slight truncation, seem to have escaped the notice of some
authors, and would have been of little consequence but for
this species. This curve turns towards the obtuse or truncated
end, is bounded by an inner line or ridge terminating at the
hinge part, near the umbo, and this portion of the shell is
destitute of these striae. This end in our shell is rounded,
and has two ridges terminating at the umbo; one reaching
much further into the shell, and terminating the diagonal
striae, which are broader in ours at the opposite end of the
shell. These broad striae are more central in the Tellina
Fabula.
30
One fifth of the margin of our shell shows the diagonal
strise, nearer approaching those of the common circles re-
ceding from the hinge. T, Fahula continues the same
throughout. Both shells are diagonally striated in ours,
and only one shell in T. Falmla; the other being remark-
ably smooth and polished, with but few of the common
concentric striae. Our shell is rather yellower. Both
require a magnifier to see the striae distinctly, and then
often show prismatic hues of a pearly nature.
76
41
~^UfS-l.lS00. J^^-^iV^ »y .^,x{ c'ctv-^^'ft ^^r-^<^
31
TAB. LXXVI.
HIRUDO circulans.
Gen. Char. Body oblong, truncate at both ends,
unarmed, cartilaginous, and moves by dilating
the head and tail, and contracting into an arch. —
Turton.
Spec. Char. Oblong, acuminated towards the head,
convex above, flat beneath, dull red.
I POUND this curious Leech on the Thames side in 1800^
and T believe it is not very rare. It is excellent for showing
the circulation of the blood, through a curiously disposed
set of vessels about three quarters of its length, at one pulse.
The head seems to have two eyes, and the mouth is apparently
underneath, being a small roundish aperture. The animal
is about an inch long when stretched out, and only half an
inch in length when contracted. It is very flexile in its
motions ; and, like all leeches, it can attach itself by its
posterior end, but at the head has less of that adhesive
property, and very seldom uses it. The upper side is
convex, and obscurely striated across. The under side is flat,
and appears nearly as in the magnified figure in the middle
of the plate.
ALPHABETICAL LNDEX
TO
VOL. I.
A
Actinia equina
] rt'fa
Aminthe U
Ammophyla hirsuta
pulvillata
Amphitrite ventilabrum
Anas histrionica
minuta
— — Nyraca
Nyroca
Apis flavicollis
Aplysia hybrida
Asterias endeca
B
Barlastelle
Brill
Brimond
C
Cachalot, two-toothed
CaUidium fulminans
Canard, Le, Irun
• et blanc
a Collier, de Terre neuve
Cancer Maja
horridus
spinas
Carabus angustatus
. chrysostomos
■ • denlatus
nitens
Cardium spinosum
Cerambyx fulminans
Cidaris papillata major
Cicindela hybrida
• emargitiata
maculala
VOL, I. 1'
Tab.
4
33/. 1
33/2
12
6
6
21
19
53
24
39
23
36
59
■17
32
58
Page.
7
7
99
67
Q7
15
11
11
43
43
39
111
49
9
105
U
1
123
11
11
11
79
so
A7
73
125
125
55
Q5
123
89
37
125
37
19.
134
ALPHABETICAL INDEX,
Clytus fulminans
Coluber Dumfrisiensis
Corallina auriculariaeformis . . .
Coralline, Maltese luhdar . . .
CoraUium cretaceum lichenoides
Courtis, Le, verd
• d'ltalie
Cuttle-fish, eight-armed
D
Demoiselle doree verte
Dragon Fly, metallic
■' — stained
Drypta emarginata
Duck, dusky and spotted
Harlequin
— — little Iroivn and white . .
— — olive-tufted
—— stone
E
Echinus cidaris ? var. a
Eggs, Sea
Elater cyaneus
F
Falcinellus
G
Gorgonia, slender
— — — viminalis?
H
Hedgehogs, Sea
I
His, Bay
Ichneumon persuasorius
K
King Fish
L
Laplysia depilans ?
Larus alter fidipes nostras ....
Libellula conspurcata
' aenea
Lineus longissimus
Line-worm
Long JVbrm, Sea
Tab.
3
56
44
26
40
52
46
47
8
Page.
123
5
119
25
119
35
35
101
ALPHABETICAL INDEX.
135
M
Maltese Tulular Coralline
Melitta nigro-aenea
Millepora compressa
Monodon monoceros
Moth, Gold Spangle
Yorkshire burnished Brass
Mytilus maximus planior viridtscens edentulus. . . .
stagnalis
N
Narwhal ,
Nereis lamelligera
pectinata
Noctua hracteina
Numenius suhaqiiilus ")
viridis J
o
Oniscus longicomis
Opah
P
Papilio yEthinps
Alexis
Blandina
Charlotta
Chryseis
Ligea
Ligea
Medea
Pearl
Pen, Slender Sea
Pennatula mirabilis ?
Phalaena aerifera
Bractea
Catena
Oleagina
X. scriptum
Phalangium Diadema
Phalarope, red-necked
— red
Phalarope, Le, cendre ■)
rouge J
Phalaropus cinereus
hyperboreus
■ ■ — rujescens
Physeter bidens
Pimpla persuasoria
Pleuronectes rhombus
Tab.
38
41
9
16
30
51
15
11
13
25
29
28
14
37
55
20
10
1
50
Page.
25
77
83
17
57
5[)
33
33
1/
6i
107
59
35
31
45
3
13
3
23
27
. 13
13
3
105
51
51
59
57
29
75
117
41
19
19
19
^9
19
20
1
109
105
13(>
ALPHABETICAL INDEX.
S.
Sabella tubiformis
Sand-ivasp, hairy
Sarcelle, La, de la Baye de Hudsone
Scai"abaeus foveatus
• globosus
pumilus
spiniger
Sea- Pen, slender
Star, nhie-rayed
Unicorn
Urchins
Sepia octopus
Serpula triquetra
Shrew-viouse, Fringe-tailed water
Shrimp, Spine-backed
Snake, Dumfriesshire
Sponge, compact tubular
cancellated
Spongia cancellata
compacta
• pulchella
Staphylinus concolor
dilatatus
Star-fish, nine-rayed
Stylops Melittae
T.
Tantalus Falcinellus
Tringa, Coot-footed ")
, Cock J
. , Red
fuUcaria
hyperborea
V.
Vespertilio Barbastellus
Z.
Zeus, Cauda bifurcata, colore argeiiteo-purpureo . .
splendens
Opah
Tab.
3o/.2
34
5/
35/1
48
31
60
42
43
54
45
17
22
Page,
108
Q7
11
71
69
121
71
51
49
17
89
101
63
103
47
5
85
129
129
85
87
115
115
49
93
35
19
20
20
19
45
45
ERRATA.
Page 5 Line 4, for Ord. 1. Reptilia, read Ord. 2. Serpentes.
13 last, for 3, read 2.
69 2, fur ovatus, read globosus.
73 2, for rotundicollis, read angustatus.
rrinledly R. Taylok and Co., '3%, Shoe Lane.
^'^.^
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