On the basis of spectroscopic CCD material obtained at the Haute Provence Observatory, we provide line identifications and equivalent width measurements in the wavelength region 3738-10232 A of the spectrum of HD 50138 Over two hundred features are identified and a comparison of our results with those of other authors is provided. We also discuss the variability of the lines using equivalent widths and descriptions of the line spectrum. We attribute as a best compromise a spectral type of B 5 III. We conclude that the gaseous shell surrounding the star has a temperature of the order of 10 000K and that its distance to the star is of the order of two stellar radii. We discuss the relation of this star to others previously analyzed and warn against hasty generalizations.