EOLIS LANDSBURGII, Alder and Hancock.
E. gracilis, violacea: branchiis elliptico-linearibus, aurantiaco-rubris, apicibus albus in fasciculis
5-6 digestis: tentaculis linearibus violaceis, apicibus albis : angulis anterioribus pedis paululum
productis.
Eolis Landsburgii, Aid. and Hanc., in Ann. Nat. Hist. v. 18, p. 294.
Hab. Among rocks at Saltcoats, Ayrshire, rare, D. Landsborough, Esq.
Body three tenths of an inch long, very slender, and of a beautiful violet or amethyst
colour. Dorsal tentacles moderately long, slender, linear, violet tipped with yellowish white.
They are set a little apart at. the base; the tips widely separated, and not much inclined
forwards. The eyes are placed rather far behind them. Oral tentacles a little longer than
the dorsal pair, and of the same colour: they form a continuous outline with the sides of the
head, as in Eolis coronata. Branchiae rather short and stout, nearly linear or slightly
elliptical; the central gland of an orange red, not granular; the sheaths rather wide, pale,
transparent violet, with a ring of white at the apices. They are set down the sides of the
back in five or six clusters: the first containing from eight to twelve papillae; the second from
six to nine; and the others fewer, as they approach the tail. Foot of a yellowish hue down
the centre, with the margins of a pale violet; very narrow, arched in front, with the lateral
angles acute, but not much produced; terminating in a fine point behind, a little way beyond
the branchiae. Mouth very small and nearly circular.
Of this charming little Eolis only one specimen has yet been found, which was discovered
at Saltcoats, in June 1846, by Mr. David Landsborough, Junr., who obligingly transmitted
it to us alive.* The beautiful and delicate amethystine colour of the body distinguishes it
from all the other British Eolides. We have named it after its discoverer.
Eolis Landsburgii is rather an active animal, but it makes very little progress when
floating at the surface of the. water, probably on account of the narrowness of the foot.
When the specimen came into our possession, several of the papillae had fallen off, but in the
course of a few days new ones made their appearance, and, in two or three days more, had
attained considerable size.
Figs. ]., 2, 3. Eolis Landsburyii, different views.
4. Two of the papillae more highly magnified.