Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle Part 53

In the description of the species I have had the benefit of the advice and a.s.sistance of my friend Mr. Broderip; and to his knowledge of the subject, and the attention which he has devoted to my collection, I owe in a great measure the paper which I have now the satisfaction of presenting to the public through the medium of the Zoological Journal.

Upon examining my specimens, Mr. George Sowerby found that he possessed several species not in my collection. These had been obtained during the voyage, and had been purchased from some of the crew by Mr. Sowerby, who handsomely put his acquisitions into my hands for description.

1. BALa.n.u.s PSITTACUS.

Syn. Lepas Psittacus. Molina, 1., 223.

_B. testa albido-rosacea, subconica, elongata, rudi, longitudinaliter creberrime striata; radiis transversim striatis; operculo transversm {546} profunde sulcato, lineis elevatis creberrime plicatis; valvis posticis valde productis, ac.u.minatis._

_Habitat ad oras Concepcionis et insulam Chiloe. Mus. Brit., nost., Broderip, &c._

This cirrhiped which, at Concepcion de Chile, is frequently found of a larger size than 5 inches long and 3 in diameter, forms a very common and highly esteemed food of the natives, by whom it is called _Pico_, from the ac.u.minated processes of the two posterior opercular valves. The anterior and posterior opercular valves, when in contact, present some resemblance to a parrot's beak, whence Molina's name. It is also found very abundantly at Valdivia and at Calbuco, near the north end of the island of Chiloe. It occurs in large bunches, and presents somewhat of a cactus-like appearance.

The parent is covered by its progeny, so that large branches are found composed of from fifty to one hundred distinct individuals, each of which becomes in its turn the foundation of another colony. One specimen in the possession of my friend W. J. Broderip, Esq., consists of a numerous group based on two large individuals. They are collected by being chopped off with a hatchet. At Concepcion, where they are found of larger size than to the southward, they are princ.i.p.ally procured at the Island of Quiriquina, which lies across the entrance of the bay; whence they are exported in large quant.i.ties to Valparaiso and Santiago de Chile, where they are considered as a great delicacy, and indeed with some justice, for the flesh equals in richness and delicacy that of the crab, which, when boiled and eaten cold, it very much resembles.

2. ELMINIUS LEACHII.[213]

_E. testa albida, truncata, longitudinaliter striata, radiis creberrime longitudinaliter substriatis; operculo ad basin transversim striato, quadripart.i.to; long. 5/8; lat. 3/8; poll._

_Habitat._ _In Museo Geo. Sowerby et nost._

3. SCALPELLUM PAPILLOSUM.

_S. pedunculo creberrime papilloso; testa laevi valde compressa; long.

omnino 11/16; 4/16 pedunculi; lat. 5/16, poll._

{547}

_Habitat in mare alto circa oras Patagonicas. Mus. nost., G. Sowerby._

Taken by a dredge in 40 fathom water, off the coast of South America, in lat.i.tude 44 south, and found adhering to a Terebella.

4. PHOLAS CHILOENSIS. MOLINA.

_P. testa elongata postice ovato-rotundata, costis posticis dentato-muricatis; antice attenuata striis transversis postice undato-muricatis, antice muticis; lat. 5: long. 2; poll._

_Habitat ad insulam Chiloei. Mus. Brit., nost., Brod., Stokes._

Some doubt has been thrown upon the existence of this sh.e.l.l, notwithstanding the description of Molina. A species very nearly approaching it, if not identical, was found at Rio de Janeiro; but as only single valves were obtained, and these were in a very imperfect state, I have not ventured to characterise it.

The soft parts of _Pholas Chiloensis_ are considered very delicate by the inhabitants of the Island of Chiloe, by whom the animal is called "_Co-mes_." They are found in great abundance at low water imbedded in the rocks near Sandy Point, at San Carlos de Chiloe.

5. SOLEN SCALPRUM.

_S. testa lineari subrecta extremitatibus subrotundatis; cardine bidentato; long. 13/16; lat. 3-11/16; poll._

_Habitat ad Patagoniae oras Orientates_ (Sea Bear Bay). _Mus. nost._

6. ANATINA ELLIPTICA.

_A. testa elliptica, subtenui, transversim striato, antice sub-truncata, epidermide fusca, tenui; long. 1-3/8; lat. 2-3/8; poll._

_Habitat ad oras Antarcticas_ (New South Shetland). _Mus. Brit., nost._

This sh.e.l.l was found at New South Shetland, by Lieutenant Kendall, of his Majesty's sloop, Chanticleer, by whom it was presented to me.

7. MACTRA EDULIS.

_M. testa subtrigona, tumida, sublaevi, fulvo-squalida, intus alba, dentibus lateralibus prominentibus; long. 2; lat. 2-4/8; poll._

_Habitat in freto Magellanico_ (Port Famine). _Mus. Brit., nost., Brod._

This sh.e.l.l was found in great abundance on the flat of sandy mud, which fronts the west sh.o.r.e of Port Famine, and proved a {548} valuable article of food to the s.h.i.+p's company, particularly during the winter months, when sea-birds and game were not to be procured, and the fish had deserted us. I have named it, in allusion to its affording us a grateful, as well as seasonable, supply of fresh food.

8. ERYCINA SOLENOIDES.

_E. testa subelliptica, transversim creberrime substriata, albida, epidermide fusco-grisea; long. 1 paulo minus; lat. 2; poll._

_Habitat in freto Magellanico_ (sandy mud flats of Port Famine). _Mus.

Brit., nost., Brod._

9. TELLINIDES ROSACEA.

_T. testa subtrigona, planulata, striis concentricis creberrimis; long.

6/8; lat. 1-5/16; poll._

_Habitat ad littora Brasiliae_ (Santos). _Mus. nost._

10. VENUS INFLATA.

_V. testarotundata, concentrice substriata, albente, intus alba, lunula obsoleta; long. 1-9/16; lat. 1-5/8; poll._

_Habitat in freto Magellanico_ (Port Famine). _Mus. nost._

11. VENUS ANTIQUA.

_V. testa sub-ovali, convexiuscula, creberrime cancellata, sub-fusca, intus albida; lunula cordata; long. 2-5/8; lat. 3; poll._

_Obs. in junioribus, striis transversis concentricis elevatis, acutis._

_Habitat ad littora occidentalia Patagoniae_ (Gulf of Penas and its vicinity). _Mus. Brit., nost., Brod._

12. ARCA ANGULATA.

_A. testa transversa, subcordato-quadrata, intus fusco-violascente; latere antico producto, elevato, undulatim lamellato, postico rotundato; umbonibus valde remotis, area cardinali maxima, striata; margine hiante; long. 1-1/8; lat. 1-7/8; poll._

_Habitat ad_ Juan Fernandez. _Mus. nost._