Scuta highly convex, broadly oval, apex broad rounded; basal margin narrow, much curved; no internal, umbonal teeth; basal internal rim strong, running up part of the occludent margin. A slightly prominent ridge, either rounded or angular, but in one specimen a narrow depressed fissure-like line, runs parallel to the occludent margin and ends near the apex in a slight notch; this fact is of interest in relation to the structure of the scuta in P. eburnea and P. fissa. The scuta are either equally or very unequally convex; in the latter case, the occludent margin of one valve is curled, so that its umbo is not quite medial.

[31] It is stated, in ‘Zoolog. Proc.,’ (1848, p. 44,) that this species was attached to a gorgonia, from Madeira; I cannot but suspect that there has been some confusion with the [Oxynaspis celata] from Madeira, which is thus attached.

Terga, minute, almost rudimentary, scarcely broader than the carina, and half as long as the chord of its arc; carinal margin slightly curved; scutal margin straight, with a slight prominence fitting into a notch in the scuta; basal end bluntly pointed.

Carina, ([fig. 3, a]) rather shorter than the scuta, extending up only to the basal ends of the terga; moderately curved; apex moderately sharp; middle part broadest, externally carinated; internally not concave, with the inner lamina of shell, at the basal end, produced into a very small oblong disc or tooth, which is only as wide as the narrowest upper part of the valve. The exterior keel does not extend on to this disc, which is slightly constricted at its origin.

Peduncle very short, narrow, ringed, and apparently without spines.

Size.—Capitulum four tenths of an inch long.

The following parts of the animal are described from some small and not well preserved specimens from Madeira, which I owe to the kindness of Mr. Lowe.

Mouth.—Labrum highly bullate in the upper part, with large, inwardly pointed, unequal teeth. Mandibles, with four large, pointed, equal-sized teeth, with the inferior angle very narrow, acuminated like a single spine. Maxillæ, with three (?) large upper spines, of which the middle one is extremely strong and long, beneath which, there is a deep notch with a single strong spine, and with the whole inferior part square and much upraised, so as to stand on a level almost with the tips of the great upper spines.

Cirri in a miserable state of preservation; first cirrus short, second cirrus with rami unequal, and I suspect the anterior one the longest; some of the other cirri also have unequal rami. The segments of the posterior cirri are not protuberant, they have on their anterior faces a single transverse row of bristles: in the upper segments, some of the spines in each dorsal tuft (which is much spread out), are much thicker, though rather shorter than those on the anterior face. This peculiar structure is common to all five posterior cirri.

Caudal Appendages.—I can only say that they are spinose on their summits.