L. M. B. C. REPORTS. No. I. THE FIRST REPORT UPON THE FAUNA OF LIVERPOOL BAY AND THE NEIGHBOURING SEAS, WRITTEN BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LIVEEPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE, AND EDITED BY W. A. HERDMAN, D.Sc, F.L.S., PROFESSOB OF NATURAI/ HISTORY IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LIVERPOOL. WITH TEN PLATES AND TWO MAPS. LONDON : LONGMANS, GREEN & CO, 1886. CONTENTS. Page. Introduction, by Prof. Herdman, D.Sc, F.R.S.E., F.L.S. 1 Pioneers in Local Biology, by Rev. H. H. Higgins, M.A. 16 On Shallow Water Faunas, by Prof. Milnes Marshall, M.D., D.Sc, F.R.S 32 The Foeaminifera, by J. D. Siddall, Chester 42 The Porifera, by T. Higgin, F.L.S. 72 The Hydroid Zoophytes, by Dr. Sibley Hicks, F.L.S., W. R. Melly, and Prof. Herdman 95 The Medusa and Ctenophora, by J. A. Clubb ... ... 114 The Alcyonaria, by Prof. Herdman... ... ... ... 120 The Actiniaria, by Dr. Ellis 128 The Echinodermata (Crinoidea, Asteroidea, Echinoidea and Holothuroidea), by Prof. Herdman ... ... 131 The Ophiuroidea, by H. C. Chadwiek, Manchester... ... 140 The Vermes, by R. J. Harvey Gibson, M.A., F.R.S.E., F.R.M.S 144 The Polyzoa, by J. Lomas, Assoc. N.S.S. ... 161 The Copepoda, by I. C. Thompson, F.R.M.S 201 The Cirripedia, by F. P. Marrat, Liverpool Museum ... 209 The Edriophthalmata, by G. H. Fowler, B.A, Owens' College 212 The Podophthalmata, by A. 0. Walker, F.L.S., Chester ... 221 30407 IV "^ "* CONTENTS. Page. The Pycnogonida, by W. B. Halhed 227 The Testaceous Mollusca, by R. D. Darbishire, B.A., F.a.S., Manchester 232 The NuDiBRANCHiATA, by Prof. Herdman ... ... ,.. 267 The Cephalopoda, by W. E. Hoyle, M.A., M.R.C.S., F.R.S.E 278 The TuNicATA, by Prof. Herdman ... ... ... 281 Preliminary List OF THE Alg^, by Alfred Leicester ... 312 Notes on the Fauna of Penmaenmawr, by I. C. Thompson 315 The Fauna of the South End of the Isle of Man, by Prof. Herdman 318 Notes on some of the Polych^ta, by R. J. Harvey Gibson 342 Notes on Variation in the Tunicata, by Prof. Herdman 354 On a New Species of Sycandra, by R. J. Harvey Gibson ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 365 Note on Venus Mercenaria, by T. J. Moore, C.M.Z.S. ... 368 INTRODUCTION. It seems desirable to make a brief statement in regard to the mode of origin and the objects of the Liverpool Marine Biology Committee as an introduction to this First Report on the Fauna of Liverpool Bay,* As the result of an informal conversation with some of the local naturalists, an address was given on March 6th, 1885, by Professor Herdman to the members of the Liverpool Microscopical Society, point- ing out some of the characteristics of the Marine Fauna, and urging the necessity for an exploration of the estuary of the Mersey. In consequence of the discussion which took place on this occasion, the following circular was shortly afterwards sent out to members of the local scientific societies and others likely to be interested in the matter : — "MARINE BIOLOGY. A Meeting will be held in the Zoological Laboratory, University College, Liverpool, on Saturday, March 14th, at 8 p.m., to discuss tlie proposed scheme for a thorough investigation of the Fauna and Flora of the neighbouring seas. W. A. Herdman." This meeting was attended by representatives of the scientific societies and museums of Liverpool, Manchester, and Chester, and by a number of the local naturalists. After a considerable amount of discussion it was unani- mously resolved " that steps should be taken to investigate the Marine Biology of Liverpool Bay during the coming summer, with the view of compiling a * Fauna ' of the neigh- * The L. M. B. C. District, or Liverpool Bay in a wide sense, is that part of the Irish Sea bounded by the coast of Lancashire, the north coast of Wales, and the Isle of Man. 2 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. bourhood, the arrangement of details being left in the hands of a small committee." The following gentlemen were then appointed as the Liverpool Marine Biology Committee : — F. Archer, Esq., B.A., Crosby. R. D. Darbishire, Esq., B.A., F.G-.S., Manchester. R. J. Harvey Gibson, Esq., M.A., F.R.S.E., University College, Liverpool. Professor Herdman, D.Sc, F.R.S.E., F.L.S., Univer- sity College, Liverpool. Rev. H. H. Higgins, M.A., Free Public Museum, Liverpool. A. Leicester, Esq., Waterloo. Professor A. Milnes Marshall, D.Sc, F.R.S., Owens' College, Manchester. T. J. Moore, Esq., C.M.Z.S., Curator, Free Public Museum, Liverpool. James Poole, Esq., J. P., Liverpool. Isaac Roberts, Esq., F.G.S., Maghull. I. C. Thompson, Esq., F.R.M.S., Liverpool. A. 0. Walker, Esq., F.L.S., Chester. This Committee resolved to make arrangements for — 1st, organising dredging, tow-netting, and other collecting expeditions ; 2nd, the examination and description of the speci- mens obtained ; and, 3rd, the publication of the results. It was intended at first to obtain subscriptions from those interested in the work for the purpose of hiring a steam-tug for the dredging expeditions, but, owing to the liberality of a few gentlemen in placing suitable vessels at the disposal of the Committee, that step has not yet been found necessary. Early in April, a letter was received from Mr. George Holt ofiering to provide a steam-tug for the first dredging INTRODUCTION. 3 expedition of the Committee. The expedition took place on the 9th of May, in the tug " Merry Andrew," chartered by Mr. Holt, and was attended by most of the members of the Committee and a few other naturalists. After some unsuccessful hauls of the dredge in the Kock Channel,* opposite Bidston Lighthouse, at a depth of five fathoms, on a sandy bottom, when only a few Zoophytes and Polyzoa were obtained, the " Merry Andrew " proceeded to Hilbre Swash, the deep channel which runs northwards from Hilbre Island, at the eastern mouth of the river Dee, and there dredging, trawling, and tow-netting operations were carried on during the remainder of the day. Hilbre Swash is the deepest part of the area of Liverpool Bay inside the Bar Lightship, depths of nine, ten, and eleven fathoms being frequently found in it. The bottom varies from a fine stifi" grey mud to sand and gravel, with occasional lumps of coarse red sandstone, more or less covered with Hydroids, Polyzoa, Sponges, and other incrusting animals. The most prolific locality examined was found to be a spot close to the north- west end of Hilbre Island, at a depth of ten fathoms. The more important species obtained in this expedition were the following: — ^ Ccelenterata. — Hydractinia echinata, Tuhularia indi- visa, Garveia nutans^ Calycella syringaj Sertidaria Jilicula, Actinoloba dianthuSf and Alcyonium digita- tum. Polyzoa.- Crisia ehurnea, Celleporapumicosa, Idmonea serpens, Flustra foliacea, Scrupocellaria scrupea, Amathia leridigera, Gemellaria loricata. PoLYCH^TA. — Sabella penicillus, Serpula vermicularis. * For this and the other localities mentioned, see the accompanying Chart (PL XI). t Preliminary accounts, giving the results of the various expeditions, have been published in the Liverpool papers. See Liverpool Daily Post, May 11, May 28, June 15, June 22, July 14. 4 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Crustacea. — Caprella linearis, Pagurus bernhardus, Porcellana longicornis, and P. platycheles, Hyas araneus, Portumts depurator, and Stenorhynchus rostratus, MoLLUSCA. — PJiolas Candida, Ancula cristata, Tritonia pleheia, Doto coronata. In the tow nets, Pleurobrachia, Medusoid Gonophores (chiefly species of Thaumantias), and Copepoda were taken in great abundance. The specimens collected were all brought to the Zoological Laboratory of University College, and were there roughly arranged in groups, preserved in alcohol or picric acid solution, labelled, and stored away. The most important result of this expedition was, undoubtedly, the discovery of Garveia nutans. This rare Zoophyte * had not been previously found in this neighbour- hood, although the investigations of the Liverpool Marine Biology Committee have shown that it is widely distributed over the area, and, apparently, is fairly abundant in the neighbourhood of Hilbre Island. About the middle of May, a letter was received from Mr. N. RuNDELL, Jun., offering, on behalf of the Liverpool Salvage Association, to allow the Marine Biology Committee to have the use of the S.S. " Hyaena " for a three days' cruise along the coast of North Wales. This afforded a welcome opportunity for investigating one of the more outlying parts of the district which could not be overtaken in a single day's expedition ; so it was decided that the region in the neigh- bourhood of the Great Ormes Head, Puffin Island, and the entrance to the Menai Straits, should be specially explored. About twenty naturalists took part in the expedition, which occupied three complete days, the 23rd, 24th, and 25th of May. Between thirty and forty hauls of the dredge and trawl * See Report upon the Hydroida, p. 99. INTRODUCTION. 6 were taken during this cruise of the " Hyaena," and the collec- tion of animals obtained was very considerable. On the 23rd May, the dredge was first let over on the western end of the Constable Bank, near Llandudno. At this spot three hauls were taken in depths of from six to seven fathoms, resulting in the capture of various species of Hydroids and Polyzoa, Pectinaria belgica, Corystes cassivelaimus, Thia polita, and Lolif/o media. Later on in the same day, several hauls of the trawl were taken a short distance off the Great Ormes Head, in depths of from seven to eight fathoms. Amongst the animals obtained were : — Hydroida. — Coppinia arcta, Tubulai^ia i7idivisa, 'PohYCB.MT A. — Sabellaria alveolata. EcHiNODERMATA. — Solastev papposci, Echinocyamns pusillus, Echinocardium cordatiwi, Cucumaria pen- tactes. Crustacea. — Hyas coarctatus, Stenorhynchus rostratiis^ Piliimnus hirtellus, and Portunus depurator. MoLLUSCA. — Mactra solida (large), Mactra stultorum (pale variety), Anomia patelliformis^ Pecten pusioy Pecten varius, Pholas Candida, Trochiis zizyphinus, Pleurotoma turricida, Fusus gracilisy Murex erina- ceus, and Dendronotus arhorescens. On the 24th of May, operations were commenced to the north of Puffin Island,* where several successful hauls were taken in depths of from eleven to fourteen fathoms. Amongst other species obtained in this locality were : — Crustacea. — Mysis spiritus, Pandalus brevirostris, Hippolyte cranchii, Crangon trispinosus and (7. fasciatus, Hippolyte pusiola, Portunus corrugatus and Eurynome aspera, Pycnogonida. — Pephredo hirsuta(?)y AcheUa echinata * See Chart, PI. XI. 6 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. and A. hisjnday Phoxichilidiwm femoratum, Phoxi- chillis spinosus, MoLLUSCA. — Doto coronata, Doto fragilis, Eolis gracilis, Mytiliis barbatuSf Anomia patelliformis, and Sepiola atlantica. Later on in the day, in the Menai Straits, nearly opposite Bangor, at a depth of about ten fathoms, the small red Ascidian, Styela grossularia, was obtained in quantity. Specimens of Ascidia virginea, Polycyclus savignyi, and Alcyonidiuni gelatinosum were also obtained in the Straits, along with many dead shells. On the morning of the 25th, the third day of the cruise, a few hauls of the dredge were taken in fourteen fathoms, between Puffin Island and Anglesea. In this channel, Ophiothrix pentaphyllum must be very abundant since it came up in dredgefuls. Amongst the Mollusca obtained here were : — Modiola harbdta, Sj^henia hinghami, Scrohicu- laria prismatica, Scrohicidaria alba, Tellina donacina, Saxi- cava rugosa, Cardium norvegicum, and Eledone cirrhosa. The trawl was then let down off Ked Wharf Bay, on the north coast of Anglesea, but resulted in little worthy of note except Dentalium entale and a large specimen of Eolis picta. On the way back to Liverpool, a few hauls were taken in fourteen fathoms, about six miles to the north of the Grreat Ormes Head. Here a large specimen of Astropecten irregularis was obtained, with the rare Annelid Malmgrenia castanea * as a commensal in one of the ambulacral grooves. Amongst the other species observed were : — Hydroida — Garveia nutans, Campamdaria verticillata, Sertularella polyzonias and Sertularia opercidata, PoLYZOA. — Vesicidaria spinosa. Tunicata. — Botrylloides rubrum. * See Report, upon the Vermes, p. 149. INTRODUCTION. 7 PoLYCHiETA. — ApJivodite aculeata, MoLLUSCA. — Li7na loscombii and Corbula gibba. The most important forms obtained during the cruise of the " Hyaena" were : — Garveia nutans, Cucumaria pentactes, Malmgrenia castanea, Mysis spiritus, Thia polita, Pilumnus hirtellus, Pandalus brevirostris, Eolis gracilis, Eolis picta, Sepiola atlantica, and Loligo media. The tow-nets were used frequently, capturing Medusoid Gonophores, Pleurobrachia, many Copepoda, and various larval forms (chiefly Crustacea). During May, June, and July, several expeditions were organised to explore Hilbre Island and the neighbourhood at low tides. These were largely attended, and very con- siderable collections have been formed of the species living between tide marks on the shore. Hilbre Island is well known amongst the local naturalists on account of its comparatively rich marine fauna. It is certainly the most interesting spot in Liverpool Bay from a biological point of view, and it would be the most suitable locality, within a reasonable distance from Liverpool, for the establishment of a marine laboratory for carrying on biolo- gical investigations. The rocks at the northern end of the Island are covered at and about low water mark by a rich and varied assemblage of invertebrate animals, and form a particularly favourable locality for certain Hydroid Zoophytes, Actiniae, Polyzoa, and Nudibranchs. A complete account of the fauna of Hilbre Island, with a description of the conditions, so far as they are known, under which the various species live, is one of the objects which the Liverpool Marine Biology Committee have set before them, and it will probably form a considerable part of one of their future Keports. Among the more important species which were found 8 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. last summer on the shores of Hilbre Island are the fol- lowing : — PoRiFERA. — Sycandra ciliata, Isodictya varianSy Su- berites carnosa, Halisarca dujardinii, CcELENTERATA. — Clava multicomiSf Garveia nutans^ Tabulariaindivisa, Tubular ia larynx ^ Coryne pusilla, Obelia dichotomaj Sertularella rugosa, Actinoloba dianthus, var. rubida, Cylista undata. EcHiNODERMATA. — Echiuus esculetitus, Asterias rubens, Echinocyainus pusillus, PolychjETA. — Sabellaria alveolata, Sabella penicillus, Siphonostomum gelatinosuin, Pectinaria belgica. Polyzoa. — PediceMina cernua, var. glabra, Bowerbankia imbricata, Anguinella palmata, Bugula flabellata and B, turbinata, Flustra foliacea, Bicellaria ciliata, Amathia lendigera. Pycnogonida. — Pycnogonum littorale, Phoxichilus spi- nosus. Crustacea. — Hyas araneus, Stenorhynchus rostratus, Porcellana platycheles. My sis Jlexuosa, Caprella linearis. MoLLUSCA. — Tapes pullastra, var. perforans, Pholas crispataj Eolis despecta, Eolis drummondi, Eolis coronata, Eolis nana, Ancula cristata, Doto coronata, Dendronotus arbor escens, Tritonia plebeia, Doris pilosa, Eledone cirrhosa, TuNiCATA. — Ciona intestinalis, Clavelina lepadiformis. The specimens of Garveia nutans were found living, and with gonophores, on June 13th, attached to the rocks just beyond low water mark at the north end of the Island, exactly opposite the spot in Hilbre Swash where the species was dredged on the "Merry Andrew" expedition, on May 9th. It is intended during next summer to divide the littoral INTRODUCTION. 9 zone at Hilbre into a series of regions or sub-zones, separated by contour lines parallel with low water mark, and to investi- gate the fauna and flora of each region separately, so as to determine their characteristic animals and seaweeds, and the relative capacities the diff'erent species possess for with- standing exposure to air and sunshine. Flustrella hispida was found, last summer, attached to the rock, within about one yard of high water mark, in a living and healthy condition. From its position, this animal can only be immersed in water during a small proportion of its life, at and about the time of high tide. It will be interesting to discover whether it shares this condition with other marine animals and to determine the nature of the food in such cases, and whether the species is able to stand considerable variation in the amount of its periodic exposure to air. On some parts of the Hilbre shore, especially at the northern end where sand and rock meet, a gregarious tubi- colous annelid, Sahellaria alveolata, is present in great abundance, and produces, by building up tubes formed of sand-grains, a loose, porous, but crisp and brittle, mass, which crumbles when walked upon, but which is constantly being renewed, and has its injuries repaired by the living annelid within. This, from its abundance and thickness, must have a very considerable effect in protecting the shore from the erosive action of the sea. The masses, hummocks, pla- teaux, ledges, and small reefs of this rock-building annelid, have often a curious external resemblance, superficial only, of course, to the forms produced by coral masses amongst coral reefs and islands. It might be possible, by a con- tinuous study on the spot of this Sahellaria at Hilbre, to determine what part the various factors — food, currents, muddy water, presence of sand and rock, exposure to waves, and arrangement of animals in the mass — take in producing the different shapes, and in favouring and retarding growth. 10 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. A considerable amount of variation was noticed in the relative numbers of certain species at the various expeditions to Hilbre Island. As an example, the large Dendronotus arborescens was almost absent from the shore early in the summer (May), while in July it occurred in abundance. This suggests that there is possibly a considerable amount of migration from deep water on to the shore, and back again, in the case of some species of molluscs and other animals. The discovery of Clavelina lepadiformis at Hilbre is interesting, as the Tunicata seem particularly rare in this neighbourhood. Clavelina was dredged in abundance, during August, off the south end of the Isle of Man, in deep water. In the middle of June, Mr. James Poole, a member of the Committee, offered to provide a tug, the " Spindrift," for a dredging expedition on the 20th of June. The channel between Hilbre Island and Point of Ayr, on the Welsh coast, was chosen for exploration on this occasion, and, notwith- standing very unfavourable weather, a considerable amount of work was done. Dredging, trawling and tow-netting were carried on in Hilbre Swash, in Welshman Gut, and in a deep hole lying a short distance off Point of Ayr. In this last locality, the following species amongst others were obtained : — CcELENTERATA. — Hydractifiia echinata, Halecium haled- num, Alcyonimn digitatum^ Actinoloba dianthus, Lafoea dtwiosa, Sertularia abietina, Sertularia oper- culata, Sertularia Jiliculaf Antennularia antennina. PoLYzoA. — Idmonea serpens, Scrwpocellaria scrupea, Amathia lendigera, Crisia eburnea, Alcyonidium gelatinosum* Crustacea. — Montagua alderi, Caprella linearis, My sis INTRODUCTION. 11 spiritus, Paguriis bernhardtis, Galathea intermedia^ Portunus arcuatus. MoLLUSCA. — Natica catena, Tellina tenuis, Sepiola atlantlca. Surface organisms seemed to be almost confined on this occasion to Noctiliica miliaris, a few Copepoda, and vast quantities of a small spherical gelatinous Alga. This last organism was met with again, later on in the summer, by Mr. Thompson, at Penmaenmawr.* Probably the region at the mouth of the Dee, lying between Hilbre Island and the Point of Ayr, will prove a very good dredging locality, when carefully investigated under more favourable circumstances. It was thought desirable by the Liverpool Marine Bio- logy Committee that the marine fauna at the extreme limits of the Liverpool Bay district f should be investigated, and collections made at these places, so that comparisons might be instituted with the faunas of Hilbre Island and of the immediate neighbourhood of the Mersey. Consequently one of the members of the Committee conducted dredging and tow-netting observations for several weeks in July, in the neighbourhood of Penmaenmawr, and another member spent five weeks in July and August in continuous dredging and collecting along the southern ^nd of the Isle of Man. For a detailed account of these observations, reference may be made to the separate Keports upon these outlying localities.! Several Ascidians (Ascidia virginea, Ascidia scabra, Styela- grossularia and Botrylloides ruhrum), which had not been pre- viously obtained in the district, were found at Penmaenmawr. * See Report upon Fauna of Penmaenmawr, p. 315. t The western limits are the Isle of Man to the north and Anglesea to the south. \ See Report on Fauna of Penmaenmawr, by I. C. Thompson, F.K.M S., p. 315 ; and Report on Fauna of Isle of Man, by Prof. Herdman, D.Sc, p. 318. 12 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Amongst the other more notable species observed were Aglaophenia pluma, Vermilia triquetra, Thelepus circinatus, Amathia lendigeraf Bugula flabellata, Philine aperta, and Pycnogonum littorale. The marine fauna at the south end of the Isle of Man was found to be particularly rich, and a number of rare species were collected, amongst which were the follow- ing :— PoRiFERA. — Halisarca dujardinii, Hymeniacidon san- guinea, Cliona celata, Dictyocylindrus stuposus, Chalina limbata, Isodictya elegans^ Halichondria incrustans, Leucandra gossei, Leucandra nwea\ Leucandra johnstonii, Leucandra Jistulosa, Ascetta coriacea, CcELENTERATA. — Gaweia nutans, Campanularia hincksii, Campanularia caliculata, Plumularia pinnata, Cory- nactis viridis, Polythoa arenacea, Sarcodictyon catenata, Halcampachrysanthellimi,Adamsia palliata, Heliactis vejiusta, Bunodes gemmaceus, Bougainvillea hritannica, Thaumantias octona, Thaumantias thompsoni, Tubularia simplex. EcHiNODERMATA. — Antedon rosaceuSf Asterina gibhosa, Genus brunneus, Cucumaria hyndmanni. PoLYCH^TA. — Hermadion assimile, Hermione hystrix, Harmothoe haliceti, Sthenelais zetlandica, Sagitta bipunctata, Filograna implexa. PoLYZOA. — Pedicellina gracilis, Cellaria Jistulosa, Schizoporella hyalina, Membranipora aurita, Um- bonula verrucosa, Mimosella gracilis, jEtea truncata and JE, recta, Mucronella coccinea, Eucratea chelata, var. elongata, nov. Crustacea. — Proto pedata, Inachus dorsettensis, Eury- nome aspera, Ebalia tuberosa, E, tumefacta and E, cranchii, Pagurus cuanensis. INTRODUCTION. 13 Pycnogonida. — Pephredo hirsuta (?), Phoxichilus spin- 08US, Phoxichilidium femoratum. MoLLUSCA. — Pectunculus glycimeris, Lima loscombiif and L. ellijJtica, Pecten tigrinus, var. costata, Modiolaria marmorata, Fissurella grceca, Dentalium entale, Trivia europcea, Trochus zizyphinus^ Phasia- nella pulliis, Pleurobranchiis memhirtnaceus, Aplysia punctata, Eolis picta, Eolis amoenay Eolis tricolor, Goniodoris castanea. Astarte sulcata, Venus casina, Thracia prcetenuis. TuNiCATA. — Botryllus violaceus, Botrylloides albicans, Morchellium argus, Morchellioides alderi, n.sp., Clavelina lepadiformis, Perophora listeri, Diplosoma crystallinum, Corella parallelogramma, Ascidia ple- beia, Eugyra glutinans, Molgula occulta and Poly- carpa monensis, n.sp. Other members of the Committee continued, during the summer, to make collections at Hilbre Island, and various points on the coast in the neighbourhood of Liverpool. Early in October, a meeting of the Biology Committee was held at University College, when all the collections, which had been preserved and stored in the Zoological Laboratory, were inspected and roughly classified. The conclusion was unanimously arrived at, that so much new and interesting material had been brought together during the summer's work, that it was desirable that the collections should be worked up by specialists, and the results published before the next season's dredging investigations commenced. The various groups were then placed in the hands of the members of the Committee and other naturalists who had consented to take charge of them, and whose Reports com- pose this volume ; and shortly afterwards, on October 19th, Professor Herdman, at the request of the Committee, laid 14 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. ■Si prelimiDary Report upon the first year's work before the members of the Liverpool Literary and Philosophical Society. A proposal was then made that the Council of that Society should undertake the publication of the series of Reports, as an Appendix to the annual volume of Proceedings, and also as a separate publication ; being aided, if necessary, by grants from the other local scientific societies, and by private sub- scriptions. * This proposal was accepted, and the present volume is the result. All the chief groups of invertebrate animals which were collected have been reported upon, but a few of the smaller groups, such as the Rotifera, the Ostracoda, the Turbellaria, and some others, have not yet been overtaken. These, along with supplementary reports upon those larger groups which need them, and monographs upon special animals, and a report upon the fishes of the district which Mr. T. J. Moore has undertaken to draw up, will form the subject matter of a second, and possibly of several additional volumes, which will probably be published by the Committee after one or two years of dredging, and other investigations in the locality. In order to render this Fauna of Liverpool Bay as nearly complete as possible, the species recorded by all previous investigators have been discussed along with those actually collected by the Committee. Consequently most of the Reports may be regarded as including records of all the work done upon the particular groups of animals in this District, brought up to date. It only remains to record the numerical results of the first year's work of the Committee ; for all further details the separate reports on the groups must be consulted. Prior * A list of the subscriptions will be found on p. 371, at the end of this volume. INTRODUCTION. 16 to 1853, investigators* in this locality, as recorded in Mr. Byerley's Fauna, \ had discovered in all about 270 species of Marine Invertebrata. Since that date there has been no general work on the subject. The Liverpool Marine Biology Committee have to place on record altogether 913 species, I of which at least 235 had not been found before in the locality. Sixteen of these species have not been previously discovered in British seas, and at least seven species and three varieties are new to science. University College, Liverpool, January, 1886. * For full details in regard to the work of previous observers, see Mr. Higgins' Report, p. 16. j- Appendix to vol. viii of Proc. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of Liverpool, 1855. J Including previous records. The district investigated by the L. M. B. G. is of somewhat wider extent than that treated of by Mr. Byerley. 16 PIONEERS IN LOCAL BIOLOGY. By Rev. H. H. Higgins, M.A. The earlier workers in the field of our local Natural History, before the word Biology in its more restricted sense had come into use, or the special study for which the term now often stands was more than rarely and imperfectly appre- ciated, belonged to a class of observers capable of doing excellent service to the science of their own day. Take for example the aid rendered to Geology by conchological collectors. Not a few memories are warmly cherished in Liverpool, of fellow-townsmen devoted to the pursuit of natural science, whose contributions to the literature of the subject extended only to the occasional appearance of their names as donors of specimens to authorities such as Johnston, Jeffreys, Yarrell, Carpenter, Alder, Landsborough, and others. But at the outset of a series of papers, the materials for which must to an important extent depend on the use of the marine dredge, Liverpool naturalists will be glad to be reminded that one of the first explorers of the sea-bottom for scientific purposes was a Liverpool merchant, Robert McAndrew, who, with his friend, Edward Forbes, have left undying names amongst the members and in the volumes of the British Association. Mr. McAndrew was a liberal con- tributor to the museums of Liverpool, and a generous promoter of every effort made to investigate the Natural History of the vicinity. His very fine collection of British and foreign Shells is now in the Museum of the University at Cambridge. It is remarkable for a large number of series illustrating the growth of shells from the nucleus, of micro- PIONEERS IN LOCAL BIOLOGY. 17 scopic proportions, to the full-sized shell. A considerable number of the species were collected within the Liverpool Bay. Mr. McAndrew was President of the Liverpool Literary and Philosophical Society in 1855. By far the best and most important memoir claiming to be here noticed, has been thus mentioned* : — Fauna of Liverpool, by Isaac Byerley, F.L.S., M.R.C.S.E., Literary and Philosophical Society. Appendix to Pro- ceedings, vol. viii., 1853-54, pp. 125. Species, Mammalia 42, Aves 195, Reptilia 5, Amphibia 6, Pisces 100, Mollusca 18), Crustacea 70, Lepidoptera 714, Annelides 33, Acalepha3 12, Ecliinodermata 11, Hydrozoa 35, Anthozoa 6, Polyzoa 26, Spongia 5. A valuable work, the best portions of which are those which were contributed mainly through Mr. Byerley's own investigations. During the excursions of the L. M. B. C. in the summer and autumn of 1885, so small a number of vertebrate animals was collected that it was thought better to defer an account of previous work done in this department till the appearance of a second volume ; more especially, since a very considerable amount of interesting materials might be collected from various sources. Long lists of Mammalia, Aves, and Pisces, are given by Mr. Byerley in his Fauna, often accompanied by valuable details, especially in the fishes. Our esteemed friend, Mr. T. J. Moore, Curator of the Public Museum, has given some short but valuable communications on our locally-collected vertebrate animals to the Literary and Philosophical Society. Most of these, but not all, have been noticed in the Proceedings of the Society. Occurrences of rare species are described in scattered records, which may possibly require careful weeding, as well as industrious finding. * List of local papers on Nat. Hist., L. N. F. C. Proceedings, 1874. B 18 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Mr. Byerley's Fauna recorded the occurrence of more than one specimen of the bottle-headed Dolphin, Hyperoodon ; also of the Dormouse and of the Marten. The Mollusca of the district, land, fresh-water, and marine, are represented in Mr. Byerley's Fauna by a fine series of 181 species, of which 123 are marine ; most of them, with many others, have been more recently taken within our area. The local workers in marine shells, most frequently quoted, are Dr. Donald Cameron, Mr. Webster of Upton Hall, Mr. F. P. Marrat, and for the shell-less marine species, Mr. John Price. To the north of Anglesea, within our area, must be some dredging ground very prolific in the Mollusca ; for about the time when Mr. Byerley's Fauna was printed, the writer spent three days on the sands and low rocks of Red-wharf Bay, eight miles from Beaumaris, and succeeded in collecting 84 species, an unusual number to be obtained without the use of boat or dredge. Not long after, whilst the writer was collecting with Mr. Byerley, on Caldy Blacks, in the river Dee, one lovely midsummer's morning, betwen four and five a.m., the in- coming tide, approaching from Daw-pool Deeps, cut us off, and though we rushed to our trap, and drove as rapidly as possible through the impatient stream, for a time it seemed more than likely that the horse would have to swim, and the trap be upset. I venture to recommend the members of the Marine Biology Committee, visiting Caldy Blacks during the low spring-tide of a June morning, to place a sentinel on the out-look, as a possible substitute for their own fascinated powers of attention to environments. The following species were found at Caldy Blacks : — Venus fasciata, a valve, Trochus cinerarius, Chiton cinereus, Doris, three species, EoliSy one species, and many Hydrozoa. In the Crustacea, Byerley's list of 70 species includes PIONEERS IN LOCAL BIOLOGY. 19 some which have very rarely been taken since ; e.g., Nephrops norvegwus and Pasiphoea sivado. The Entomostraca seem to have been chiefly collected by Mr. H. Weightman, who has recently occupied the chair of the Microscopical Society. After enumerating 11 species of Echinodermata, Mr. Byerley next supplies a list of 35 Hydrozoa, in which for the first time prominently appears the aid of our veteran col- lahoiriteur, K. A. Tudor, of Bootle, who in earlier days was a valued correspondent of some of the most distinguished men in *' Marine Biology," including Alder, Hancock, Landsborough, and Mr. Bean of Scarborough. The writer has selected from the Fauna some remarks by Mr. Byerley, on Actinia troglodites, as illustrating the true spirit of a Biological Observer : — Actinia troglodites. Has been found in pretty good numbers upon the Leasowe shore and near Egremont slip. I have kept as many as eight or ten together for upwards of six weeks. They were very often ill-used for want of a fresh supply of sea water, but seemed to be most tolerant under the infliction. It was seldom until after having been kept for ten or twelve days in the same water that they began to droop con- siderably, and they were speedily restored by a change. No food was given at auy time. At first they threw off a great number of germs or ova, which, before they were extruded, could be plainly seen through the external envelope, and especially at the bases of those specimens which had not attached themselves, and could be turned over for exam- ination. It appeared quite clear to me that these germs, young actiniae (or whatever they may be called), made their exit through breaches of continuity in the outer envelope, near its junction with the bnsal disk, and sometimes through ragged apertures in the base itself; in fact, I have hooked out the germs which were just on the point of emerging with a blunt probe, which was delicately used, and did not make the opening. The germs were about the size of a pin's head, and perfectly globular ; the}^ showed, by careful watching, a very sluggish motion. Three or four were put into a wide-necked 1^-oz. bottle, having a ground glass stopper, with sea water, and were intended for a microscopic inspection in the evening; they were quite forgotten 20 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. however, and at the expiration of two months one was found to have become developed into a perfect but very small actinia. It is now (after six months) alive, but has never increased in size ; it continues closely shut up, when there is a fresh supply of water, for some days, but after a week, and from that to a fortnight, fully expands again, For this reason the water has not been changed more than six times since it has been in my possession. No pabulum of any kind has ever been given. It seems to make no difference whether the stopper is kept in the bottle or not, so far as the animal's health is concerned. These creatures were shy of expanding during the day, and then were as flat as a coin. I used always to pay them a visit before bedtime, knowing that I should be repaid by a view of their full-blown expan- sion during the previous darkness. The stimulus of candle light used to set their tentacula in active motion, without making them " retire for the night." Mr. Byerley is still, and we trust may long continue to be, with us ; more cannot, therefore, be said than that the author of the Fauna was more anxious for justice to be done to the labours of his friends than to his own ; a proclivity which may account for the following sentence in the preface to the Fauna ; — " These remarks are made as an apology for any short-comings in this first attempt at a Fauna, the materials for which must always be receiving additions, and thus it never can be perfect. Much as I may feel on my own account, I must not dilate upon its imperfections, in justice to several industrious workers who have kindly assisted. Whilst dredging, the Rev. H. H. Higgins, Messrs. Webster, Samuel Archer, Marrat, and Cameron, afforded the greatest help ; without their efforts much of the information relative to the creatures in the neighbouring waters could not have been obtained. The last-named gentleman undertook, single-handed, the not over agreeable or safe duty of dredging the Mersey." That Mr. Byerley still continues to take a lively interest in our Local Marine Biology, is evident by a note the writer received from him, January 23rd, 1886 : — "I should be very glad if you will keep a good look out for PIONEERS IN LOCAL BIOLOGY. 21 Noctiluca when aggregated in patches. I saw one of these at Hilbre, where they had collected together in myriads, forming a circumscribed red patch about four or five feet in diameter. When I put my hand into it, it came out of the water completely covered with the little globules, all of a deep pink colour, so very different from the clear hyaline aspect of them as we usually find them. Similar patches have been observed by Dr. Collingwood, and more recently ; but the animals forming them were not examined. It is very desirable to Imow if this is a matter of not unusual occurrence, and what purpose it serves in the economy of the animal. In the Southampton water a Flagellate animalcule, Peridinium fuscum, I think, aggregates in the same way, but not in patches, as it is generally diffused, and continues to embrown the Southampton water from the end of July to September." Amongst the sons of biological toil on the shores of the Mersey and the Dee no one has gained a wider reputation, or secured a larger amount of affectionate regard, than the writer's very old friend, John Price, M.A., St. John's, Cam- bridge, out of whose many eligible characteristics one alone shall here be noticed — his facility in finding stores of natural beauty and instruction in, apparently, the most barren scenes and objects. His " History of Birkenhead Shore " was pub- lished in ten or twelve numbers of Old Plaice's Remains, 1863^64. Only the Ctenophora can now be mentioned — Berod and Cy dipper with which the name of Mr. Price will long be associated. His first introduction to Cydippe occurred at the Wood- side slip : — " My eye fell upon a small object of transcendent brilliancy lying in a crevice on the wet stones just left bare by the ebbing tide. It looked like a pebble of the finest rock crytal, fashioned with consummate skill into the shape of a diminutive melon. After gazing on it in amaze- ment, I took it up and found it was composed of a firm but tremulous jelly, about the size of a nutmeg, and exhibited on its eight ribs the most exquisite sculpturing I had ever seen, like the engravings of a signet. . . . Its perfect transparency was most remarkable. . . It was indeed ' a gem of purest ray serene. ' " 22 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. " It is curious to think that these two gentle creatures, Cydippe and Bero'e, which I encountered at such a long interval, and with which I became such good friends, proved to be mortal enemies I At least, that the Bero'e should be the natural foe of the Cydippe, which she pursues and swallows, one after another (if small enough, to the number of three, four, or even five), till the ingerent and ingesta, both equally transparent, look like a gauze bag crammed with decanters ! Whilst, if the victim be the larger of the two, as is very often the case, the captor will fasten on its prey like a lamprey, and take a large piece out of the side, leaving the poor unresisting Cydippe to sail about with cabin window wide open," The paper on ''Beroid Babies" {Remains, p. 532), directs the willing observer to select, at the close of summer, *' a large damaged specimen oi Beroe'' which he would reject for any other purpose, . . " and place it in a sample bottle of very clear sea- water ; this will soon swarm with eggs." These, in his own metaphorical style, Mr. Price discourses on, especially noting that from the very first they are " so very like their own mama." Regarded as Hydrozoa, this might be noteworthy. In the correspondence elicited by the preparation of the present paper, the writer received the following note : — Jan. 23, 1880. Dear Mr. Higgins, — I ought to have stated that C. pileus was always abundant at Birkenhead, C. pomiformis rare, hut perhaps often unnoticed ; Beroe ovata only occasional, sometimes tinted mauve, some- times olive-green. Alcinoe veriniformis (Cuvier), which Patterson called Bolina hibernica, occurred twice only aS marvels ! I made fifty draw- ings of the first I saw ! I met with several swimming past the little pier at Blairmore, on the north side of the Clyde, and caught one which greatly astonished Mr. Young, curator of the Glasgow Museum. It is a creature of extraordinary beauty, and very curious structure : "vermiformis " is a bad name, referring only to some very small wrigg- ling tentacles, at the edge of the mouth. Look for him at the obsolete Monks' Ferry slip, south side, at half-flood or ebb. " Nature is true to herself," said Ed. Forbes, and there the creature came, twice, at any PIONEERS IN LOCAL BIOLOGY. 23 rate. The same is a good station for Cijdippe, and Beroe, and Medusa ; and the shore and walls are most productive, in great variety, A large shabhy-looldng Cydippe is very apt to be " in spawn," and the ova will Jioat, visible to the naked eye, and may be mistaken for Noctiluca (see Remains, " Beroid Babies.") A rushlight shews such objects extremely well. — Our kind regards to all. Yours truly, J. Price. These lineB will elicit heartfelt admiration and sympathy in all who know the painful circumstances under which they were written. Mr. Price regards Cydippe as the most beautiful of all invertebrate living things. When Cydippe is seen in perfec- tion, the writer is quite inclined to agree with the estimate of Mr. Price, who adds : — I never saw Beroe take any food but Cydippes, nor Cydippe any but a very ghost-Uke Shrimp with staring eyes {My sis ?), refusing other Crustacea. Two large Cydippes were dissolved away in four and a quarter hours, and then replaced by two others. Cydippes may be often taken with the vessels full of a milky fluid, which shews the further process of digestion admu'ably. The Beroe is too flimsy to shew this so well. The trains and ciha work briskly after being swallowed. Query — How can the Beroe bite a hole out of the Cydippe when too large to bolt ? — See Remains. The Liverpool Naturalists' Scrap Book. — Issued in the form of a pamphlet, with lithographic text. Sixteen monthly numbers appeared, commencing March, 1863. A copy may be consulted in the Free Public Library. A few brief extracts only can here be given : — 1. Are Shrimps nocturnal ? Their habits, as observed in aquaria, indicate that Shrimps are noctural, but Prawns diurnal animals (p. 4). Thomas J. Moore. 2. Reasons for including blintshire in the Liverpool district. F. Archer, p. 32. 3. Hidden marine shells and the tracks they make. F. P. Marrat, p. 126. 4. Syrinx harveii, two or three specimens. Long and interesting 24 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. morphological and anatomical details, p. 142. Charles H. Brown, Southport. Locality, where S. harveii was taken, not certain. 5. Entomostracon. New to the district ; described and figured by T. J. Moore, p. 216. 6. Annelid. New to the district ; described and figured by T. J. Moore. 7. Alga. Delesseria sanguinea. Thomas J, Moore, Sepiola atlantica, Formby. Clava multicornis, Dingle. Eledone cirrhosus, Mersey, with very interesting and full details. Portunus arcuatus. On the bar. Mysis Chamceleon, Bootle. Corystes cassivelaunus. Near the Alt. C. S. Gregson. F. P. Marrat. Marine Algae, 19. 44. 21. 10. 5. Total 99. Mr. Marrat's Algae were found in the restricted district, and were carefully identified. Comparatively small space is given in the Liverpool Naturalists' Scrap Book to Marine Biology. Other kindred subjects occupy five-sixths of the volume. On June 22nd, 1865, during an expedition of the Liver- pool Naturalists' Field Club in the steamer *'Eblana," Mr. F. P. Marrat collected the following species of Algas on the shores of Puffin Island, at the entrance to the Menai Straits. The names are taken from Harvey's Phycologia Britannica : — Phyllophora rubens Halidrys siliquosa Gorallina officinalis Jania rubens Enteromorpha ramulosa Enteromorpha intestinalis Enteromorpha compressa Hydnea purpurascens Oelidium corneum Ceramium deslongchampsii Geramium rubrum Rhizodonium riparium Delesseria sanguinea, very rare and bad Delesseria sinuosa Delesseria alata Rhodymenia ciliata D union tia filiformis Cladophora Jlexuosa Phyllophora membranifolia Gladostephus spongiosus Gladostephus verticillatus Porphyra vulgaris Gladophora diffusa PIONEERS IN LOCAL BIOLOGY. 25 Ptilota sericea Gladophora rupestris Piilota plumosa Gladophora rudolpkiana Ulva linea Bryopsis jdumosa Oriffithsia setacea Asjwrococcus echinatus Oriffithsia equisetifolia Chordaria Jiagetliformis TridcBa edulis, a torn specimen Desmarestia aculeata Sphacelaria plumosa, rare Oracilaria confervoides Sphacelaria scojiaria Rhodomela subfusca Sphacelaria cirrhosa Melohesia fasciculata Sphacelaria fusca Chondrus crispus Cladojjhora loetevirens To Cuthbert CoUingwood, M.A., M.B., author of Rambles of a Naturalist on the Shores of the China Sea, Hon. Sec. of the Liverpool Literary and Philosophical Soc, 1860-65, must be assigned a distinguished place amongst the pioneers of our local Natural History; and though his writings, attractive in style as they are, indicate a compiler and a chronicler rather than an investigator, he was a zealous worker as well as a wide and an appreciative observer. In two papers published in the Proceedings of this Society, 1863-4, on the Geological Fauna and the Historic Fauna of the District, Dr. CoUingwood has quoted a very large number of authorities, principally on the fossil remains or recent occurrences of vertebrate animals. In June, 1859, September, 1860, and January, 1861, Dr. CoUingwood published in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History, three papers on the Nudibranchiate Mol- lusca of the Mersey and the Dee, from which the following list is taken : — List of the Nudibranchiata of the Mersey and the Dee. 1. Doris tuherculata. Mersey and Dee ; common. •Z. johnstoni. Mersey and Dee ; once or twice. 3. proxima. Mersey and Dee ; common (found nowhere else). 4. bilamellata. Mersey and Dee ; abundant. o. pilosa, Mersey and Dee ; not uncommon. 26 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. 6. Doris subquadrata. Dee ; once (the second known specimen). 7. depressa. Dee; once. 8. Polycera lessonii. Between Mersey and Dee ; once. 9. ocellata. Mersey and Dee ; occasional. 10. Ancula cristata. Mersey and Dee ; common. 11. Tritonia homhergii. Mersey and Dee ; occasional. 12. pleheia. Mersey and Dee ; occasional. 13. Dendronotus arboresoens. Mersey and Dee ; common 14. Doto Goronata. Mersey and Dee ; very common 15. Eolis papulosa. Mersey and Dee ; common. 16. coronata. Mersey and Dee ; common. 17. drummondi. Mersey and Dee ; very common. 18. rufibranchialis. Mersey and Dee ; not uncommon. 19. landsburgii. Mersey and Dee ; rare. 20. Goncinna. Mersey ; common (the second known locality). 21. olivacea. Dee : once taken. 22. auratitiaGa. Mersey and Dee ; common. 23. /jiicirt. Mersey and Dee ; not uncommon. 24. exigua. Mersey ; apparently rare. 25. despeGta. Mersey; common. 26. Embletonia pallida. Mersey (the only known locality) : very rare. 27. Antiopa Gristata. Dee ; occasional. 28. Antiopa hyalina. Dee (the only known locality) ; very rare. All these papers are excellent, but, in the Annals, they are so thoroughly within easy reach of students that any lengthened reference to them would be needless in the pre- sent paper. But let those who feel inclined to study this beautiful group by all means read these three papers in the Annals. It is truly refreshing to find objects of natural beauty exciting a freshness of enthusiasm that is easily lost but impossible to be recovered. About the same time, 1859, John Baker Edwards, Ph.D., F.C.S., read a paper before the Literary and Philosophical Society, on '* The Marine Animals of the Mersey Shore," with especial reference to the management of marine aquaria for the study of the habits, life-histories, and physiology of PIONEERS IN LOCAL BIOLOGY. 27 our local species. Dr. Baker Edwards was a very energetic and successful worker in aquaria, thus becoming a pioneer in an advanced department of our local Biology. The Liverpool Naturalists' Field Club, since its estab- lishment in 1860, has held many expeditions for dredging, and excursions to various parts of the coast. At the close of each year, prizes in the form of books on Natural Science are given to the most successful collectors. Two prizes have been gained in Algae, two in marine shells, and two in Hydrozoa and Polyzoa. In the latter classes, the collection made by Mr. and Mrs. Howard Chapman, wholly from specimens found on the shore, was remarkably good, and contained many rare forms. The Chester Society of Natural Science has published its Proceedings in three parts, well worthy of the scientific work they represent, which does honour to the distinguished founder of the Society, Charles Kingsley, Canon of West- minster. Dr. Henry Stolterfoth, M.A., in Proc. C.S.N.S., Part 2, 1874, gives a List of Diatomaceae found in Chester and the district, and Cwm Bychan, N.W. Very many of the species were collected in the estuary of the Dee. The list is copious, and occupies twelve pages. Fifty -eight genera are included, of which Navicula alone is represented by eighty species. The same author contributes to Part 3, a paper on " Surface dredging on the Dee." The paper describes many special forms, of microscopic life found on the surface of the estuary of the Dee, with the author's method of collecting them. Mr. J. D. Siddall has contributed to Part 2 an excellent paper on the Foraminifera of the River Dee. About 134 species are recorded, and Mr. Siddall makes some valuable observations upon the living Foraminifera.* * See Mr. Siddall's " Eeport upon the Foraminifera of the L. M, B. C. District," p. 44.— Ed. 28 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Mr. A. 0. Walker, F. L. S., although one of the most thorough-going of our local Pioneers in Marine Biology, has given his name less frequently than his valuable assistance. In the opening pages of Part 2, P.G.S. N.S., occurs a short paper of his, entitled, " Observations on Phenomena connected with the deposition of Sediment at the present day in the estuary of the Dee, and their bear- ing upon older deposits." It is a short paper, but leads to results higher than even the finding of rare or undescribed species. Very little has been done locally in the philosophy of life at the bottom of the sea. Free Public Museum of Liverpool. The specimens now exhibited in the table cases as British representatives in the six groups assigned to Sertularian and allied Zoophytes, and to the Polyzoa, were, with few exceptions, collected on the shores of the Mersey and the Dee, by the Kev. Henry H. Higgins, and were by him pre- sented to the Museum, together with many of the exhibited British representatives of the Marine Mollusca. Liverpool Naturalists' Journal. — Published in connection with the Liverpool Naturalists' Field Club. Printed in monthly numbers, of which 20 appeared, commencing June, 1866. It was designed to be " an organ by means of which naturahsts might record their observations and communicate their ideas for their common benefit." The Journal contains about 120 communications, which, though not confined to local natural history, include much information on the subject. Amongst the contributions of a more general character may be mentioned a valuable series of papers on the " Develop- ment of Plants," by J. B. Nevins, M.D., and various articles by F. Archer, Jun. A copy may be consulted in the Free Public Library of Liverpool.* * List of local papers on Nat. Hist., L.N.F.C., H.H.H., 1874. PIONEERS IN LOCAL BIOLOGY. 29 No. 5, p. 77. I. Byerle}^ Spontaneous fission in Anthea cereus and Sagartia Candida. The latter into four fragments. The writer noticed indications of a similar action in a stony coral, Halomitra, but is unable to recover the paper in which the phenomenon is described. No. 14, p. 155. I. Byerley. Tenacity of life in the cilia of a mussel, and in a Littorina. T. J. Moore. Cuttle-fish, Sejna officinalis, from Burbo Bank, No. 16, p. 174. W. Banister. Habit in Dianthus plu- nwsa, of throwing off mucus when irritated. The communications made to the Liverpool Naturalists' Journal were almost entirely botanical. Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire AND Cheshire. A considerable number of papers on local Zoology and Botany may be found scattered in these Transactions ; very few, however, relate to the special subject of the Report. Thomas Comber. Trans., vol. xi, 1859. " List of Diatomaceae found in the vicinity of Liverpool." Mr. Comber ofi'ered this paper as a contribution to the Flora of Liverpool, already fairly represented in most of the other groups. The list contains 257 species, included in fifty-one genera, and has been named and arranged after W. Smith. Mr. Comber mentions as his fellow-workers, G. Mansfield Browne, T. Sansom, and L. Hardman. Richard A. Tudor. Trans., vol. viii, 1856. *' General Remarks on the Natural History of the Shores of the Mersey." Mr. Tudor's name occurs in the Annals, and in the volumes of the Ray Society as a correspondent and fellow-worker with the distinguished authors of Mono- graphs, but his published remains are so uncommon that the 30 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. writer was gratified in finding some short extracts from the above-named paper. " In many patches, nearer to high water mark, on the shore, may- be observed millions of worm casts. These are produced by the lob or lug-worm. A few inches from the cast may invariably be seen a round hole, through which the animal came and fed while the tide covered the surface ; and the cast is deposited after the nutritious portions have been extracted. These creatures are very much sought for by fisher- men, and when first taken, they display the prismatic colours very beautifully by their movements. The rings of the head of this animal are very peculiarly constructed, forming a regular cone, which it has the power of drawing in and extending as circumstances require. In these localities the ripple marks, formed by the recent action of the water, present very beautiful appearances, and the shade produced by the varying altitude of the sun cannot but attract the attention of the observer. They partake of great similarity in shape and character." On February 3rd, 1886, the writer received a note from Mr. R. A. Tudor, who speaks of having collected on the shores of the Mersey, with Mr. Johnson, Curator of the Royal Institution ; and in the Isle of Man, with Professor Edward Forbes. Mr. Tudor has now entered his 89th year. The following table is a Report* drawn up by Mr. Byerley and Dr. Collingwood, in behalf of a Dredging Committee of the Estuary of the Mersey, appointed by the British Associa- tion, at the Oxford Meeting, 1860. NAMES OF COMMITTEE. Dr. J. GwYN Jeffreys. Isaac Byerley. Dr. C. Collingwood. Dr. J. B. Edwards. Rev. H. H. Higgins. Thos. J. Moohe. The writer's desire to collect together as many as possible of his old Natural History friends, some of them very old friends, yet all, with two exceptions, still living, arose from his recognising the issue of the present volume as epoch- making in the study of the Fauna of the Liverpool Bay. ' From Brit. Assoc. Report for 1861. PIONEERS IN LOCAL BIOLOGY. 31 O ^ o S^ ^ ►J § I d -3 ,- S e ^d3 --5 *^ en >H w O oQ >»!3 " a> (rt 0) > o 9 o) ® 2 ^,^ fl fl o c3 as P» 03 eg O ■CO (» .2 8 § CO '^ ►>5 r! « (3 P5 ,3 ri-< CD j2 ,-; CS 32 5 2 9^ft so fq<1 S at 0 d . rt o) l> o 6D 00 nS - <=> S i=^ e3 OQ _ *H r^ OQ O o «8 c3 OoOix, •a a i o 08 1 a o a s a a> ^ ■*a otS a -i >5 rrt n nn n?-^ 03 Sa 2 CO •5 .S ••= 02 02 TJ pi fl O flS O) to ~ Sed © -:H to > d o CO -" sal M .^ c3 si's |§ OQ a 00 -pH « 2 © ft 03" a o P. 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P4 -«^ > CD •g co' • n3 -4-9 -•^ _: <§ , ® S t^ P^'3 08 2 03 a ? •^ o o H-1 o D be • 1—1 a a fifi as a p § S bq o »H 1— H o •—4 o O ^ SiH s-=3 , ^ g.J 2 o O O o 73 1- Lli cc 1— 1 o 1 n3 CQ > > CD ^ DO ^ r:i o O m 03 O o^ Oh« a; < 1— H o ^ o 1—1 o W o O O < CC LU 0 o • l-H • l-H 1 o M 1 1 o 1 Li. Z < DC 1 »H O 3> 1 • P •^ 1-1 p? p w h^ s p o 1 02 CO OS 3 • l-H g 03 • rH (^ CD 0) '« e »» cq 1 1— 1 1—1 •l-H a 03 03 g OQ O • l-H i 1 M W t^ o •73 8 ^ C8 "^ H 1 0(2 cc LU 03 OQ O 5, n i O H • • • • • • • • Hi Q CC o 03 a B n3 • • • • • a^ o g -(-3 "^ • • m EH >H 03 Ph • Is • -4-3 9 ; c8 -V o ^ • : a 03 * 03 1— H o • ■•a ^1 ^3 •l-H • OS a l-H ■d 03 S o Ph QQ •S.2 H § :: « 03 1 .J ^ 02 ( ;b -£ j^^ CQ J^ 62 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. • -j • o 03 r— ^ o « . . ^ -^ *^ o 2 S « § o o :. C ^ ■^■J: . X Si g ?:? vh ;h 03 . 03 fl-fl Sh 03 e, . _ — 03 P=^rrt Iwyn Bay, and gene nerally distributed nerally distributed >t at all common North Wales Coast ti-i o cS -4^ e, Colwyn, and Lla e, Colwyn, and Lla equent everywhere, tuary of Dee, ve o3 1 O me remarks apply a ry common, some o chitinoiis only. moderately commor moderately commoi e specimen from D re m Dee. re in Dee and Colw tuary of Dee, a goo HI o o QJ CJ w OQ 03 CJ i-, CO ^- 1 (^ t- o *^ ^ iO cq MH *"* T— 1 o o rH rH ^ CO 1 • rH lO tH 1— 1 rH •s tH as 1 cS i— 1 M 1— 1 H-l hH 1— 1 1— 1 ^ X X X M w M X! hH 1— 1 >« ' > f> > M H-t 1-1 M t> P> >^ Q > CQ • rQ ' : * P=^ * r^ ^ -tJ r^-' ^^ S-i 5-1 •- (—-. y— V 1-1 Sh a ^ 03 r-r-' -^ 55p^Pow^|fi|| aga ^=«? fig- fij««,§«« J^.,|fl .mV. p^^i c3 ec fl ^ S g -^ ^ .^ S S 5 -g S, S s -^ -S cc -to ..|g|||ii|||iri •ill ili§t§ o •§ ^ -^ ^ .S '^ ^ $^ ;^ it S '•^ ^ ^ ^ $ ^ -^ ,^ ,i ^ ?i- THE FORAMINIFEHA. 63 64 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITEEE REPORT. OQ S3 O a 03 g O i a OQ o a o OQ •r-l a OC OQ > a ft OQ OQ • f— 1 h-l a. J o g o p o H at g . . u <» at "S c3 O • <-> O a m p^ H O. CO S ® -2 ^ ^ a "^ f^ o -^ -—J o3 ^ ^> '^ o 03 "tj CQ K P -1-3 o o 2 ^ 03 -<-3 CD QQ 08 S hS •l-H "• r— I c3 a Oi O rH ^ ^ X a ><) M >^ >< ^ H >< XX X X XX X X XX X -(-3 a o o OQ O . m P^ O xO a o o « (M a GQ 05 H o3 c3 oS P-i ?-( ?-i i-^ ',^ u> u 03 03 05 OJ >t > f> t> oT oT oT oT 05 05 Q 05 54-1 ^-H C|-| li(-l o o o o t»% t>^ P>i t>s ^ ?H ;^ ;-4 c8 1^ o3 o3 P! p c:) ^3 -tJ -t-3 -U -*J m m m Tji 05 05 05 ?-< ?H ^H c8 o3 o3 !h Ph ;h $-1 ^ ^ 05 05 05 r^ ^ r^ -»-> -»-3 -»J 03 03 o3 PhPhPh CO Oi CO Oi rH tH I I I I rH b- O t* CD ^^ U3 > > > > X X X X X X X X X X X X X X o "pq ** si c5 ^ o S ^2 f-J i"«o ""^ ^ a. m CC 05 P5 CC O £c«^ -:ph ^ ^ : ^ n3 Ph • I— t '^ j: e S.'^ ^ o Oh CC 03 o3 o CC « -2 ^ m^ THE FORAMINIFERA. 65 s ^ a "^ >H ?-( O c3 «^-i ;iH 53 2 ;=! o |a M oT o .2S DO CQ OS ^ tiO DQ.a s -^= O o3 o) a »i4 ^ c3 © O -^J '—' 'Ti ce =3 o 03 O '-I ^ o ?3 ?d p-H Sh O . %4— • S-l • ^ o • a;) ^ o > 1 M a B ui Ph < ->1 1^ 3.2 J D O H H ^ rS X Eh -U 13 ZD >^. ^ a 2 oT 3 ^ c3 S c3 Jj ?IH o ^ S SO 02 cs :; aren ate. lOUS. ies •for rplj spec y pel dimo ■ger ous ten ^ g o ^ §"'^" o E2 oj -. ^ CO - c3 . >• tH (D O — r— 1 'r^ c3 rXq OQ At »H €3 g Rare. Rare. Very rare. Frequent. Rare. Very rare. 6 z l-l h-l Hi Frequent. Rare. Rare. Very rare. Rare. Not common Not common Very rare. 00 '~' <^ ^ r-l 15-17 1-3 Ci r-i o ^ ^ 9 CO -f c^i '-^ CO t- '"^ tH O 03 XLII XLIII XLIII XLVII XLVII > 1— 1 X 3 S3 h; h:i K^ h:; ^q J Hi * * ■ • • I : • =s • • • : : : : I'P ?-t pp . CO ,J2 O "T^ •^ i ^^ ?^ %^, ^^ -^ '^^ « * - ^f§ s §^ g S ^- . ^ 5 S e . -2 .5, ec H^ '^ ■^ ^^ g "^ b 2^ -f^'i ^ .|. .1 1^ § - i -^ ^" ^- g. E 66 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. s >. >, t>5 " ■S ?H ^ o O c8 03 2; 03 a 2 '^ i ^ ^^^Q^^ P^P^ 0 o >>>>^ 1 — 1— ( a g 1 Oi r-i P Q W o o3 ^ -J! CO t- l-H tJb CO tH tH 9 00 tH CD 1 o tH CD O CO 1 tH <1 O ^ 1^ I M M Hi l-H 1— 1 h3 • .-1 a I •g > Hi > M a id ^ r3 a GQ l-H M > Hi i-t t-H . . o3 CD O a ^ o . • Sh o ft • ;^ ?^ CO ^ jlI ^ ;^ c3 cS '^ C!3 p^ > \> > tx cq o o t^ THE FORAMINIFERA. 67 OD B d o , ^ , S . ^ ci3c3oSOc3SS"^'^'^'^=3^'33o3S o3o3c3000c8 S '^ '^ '-^ ^ '^ ^ ^ ^ ''■' ^ ''^ '^ B ''^ ''^ ^ - '^ '^ '^ B B B '^ ~ a)o^-io3a)q;)a>ooo'D T 1^ ^ -•- CO S^-^C^^^'^O^^S^^'^ tH T*< COCO CO 1-1'-' dO^TiT'"' ^ -♦3 e3 B pL, C3 P=4 ,0 CQ rQ .......... . n^ ::::::::::: ^ : ^ CS * ^» I I I I * * * . 1 J— s '. I -s >% cr< Cri . >s P-. O) cr" CD cr o^ o^ cr* o^ p*^ n (T) S-( ;h qj O) =2 rH i-H J-i ;h (u i^ Qj (D qj Qj <3J >-i fH O) Oi cS S oi V4 ;h ^ ^ Sh pRk!>pR P^W >> t> (ShP^ W i-i P^ Pq Pl:^ Pc^ p3^ f> 53 — f^ - 03 M O tH fH <:o c^ cq C^ ^ <.o iO Gi CO o tH o tiO CO CO r-i 1-H (M c^ rH ^ rH CO CM >H ^ cq oi 00 s 00 CO (?q o 05 O CO ^ t>r O o ^^ ^ ^^ Cq (M tH tH rH Cq tH T-H r-\ oq i:m iH CM - 1 . • 00 >^ • f-4 a 0) LXIII LXI LXIII LXII > > X X X in (—1 > *-* l-H 1 LXXI LXXI LXXII LXXII S - • • • • • • • • • • • • • 03 •-im^ o i-!4 fe ec o e ^ ':S ^ ^* S •^ s S sec c- .ft •5^ SW ;^ .2 1-5! o 'S S£ • 5e ^ '-^ •?* g-' ^. cc «J •♦^ THE FORAMlNIFERA. 69 03 a be ^ o o pi. CO ^ a* CO :3 03 o ':^ '-' sh '-I ^H CO oS Q 0^ CD Gi iO X X t-5 (^ QJ O) ^ f-( Jh OT T-l tH CO I I I rH iC »-( > > > X X X X X X >^ ^ h^ CD O Hi OS • r-H CG <» b£ c3 Sh ;h c3 n3 c3 a s 03 o >^ O) PR CD 00 > X X CO 03 >-. 0) CO 00 CO - ^ 2 . N • . O ft p^ :;: 5 ;f^ O O fr ^ ^fi^QQ ?Si ?* cc 'V') O s ^»- •>;> <^ '^^ O. ^ A,« m 0 o 2 .g ^.;§ s 2 i- :S '^ ?^ -2 -^ '^ ^ o ^ ^ 70 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. © x-^ r^ '« -»^ ^ ^S. O 03 ^ ^ ^ S •N •!— 1 • t-t <» (33 • «+-4 •'^ fl o -^ «+-i ;i3 i=l 03 o -♦J ^ o >> p^-fl V. O S o 03 •!=< -4-3 r^ 53 c8 f— « ^ O • ^ ^ DQ § H l-l c8 52 • 1— ( >— < OS O p^ . rt >^2 -»-3 1 >< ^'s rH 1— 1 2 0. >-! r>^ O cc • I-H «4-l O a 03 c3 iS Pt< Test free or adherent, calcareous, visible, on the superior surface. iX! CO *k ^ f-l »* a 03 rH ^ !3 « OS ;>^ CD ft e3 a CO > i > S > : • : : • : : a :S P H ^ ^ ^ m ^ ^ q '^ . .s . I . .^ . iiiss §§..s§§J|s .sjfes II THE FOEAMINIFERA. 71 53 P 0) P3 a o s a o o a > o o o « a a> o 1 55 . ^3 -^ ocr: GO >^ rH CO tH t^ 00 cq O « c4 . i— 1 1— ( ^ ^ *~* t-H 'pi ^ X M o o o O c3 P>H .a • • • C3 • CO . . . o a o o a ca 03 o C3 o o a a o o cj (U t>j o a ^ ;h r-i ;h ;-i ;-i S OS Co oj cS ^ c^ 03 O o a a o o <*i o t-H Ph s ^ 1-^ OQ o o M r 1 CD ^ C^ ^ rH "^ •>- lO CO r^ rH o rH t^ ^ 00 CO "^ CD C^ 1 jz; • I— ( Jh Ah 1—1 tH (M CO M H-3 © a a 1 - 'a 03 M >-. ;>s •I-H >< >^ X X! >^ « fxH 1— 1 • I-H a a I-H I-H I-H I-H I-H hH Q O Q O Q Q ,Q 02 S Cj p OQ : P=^ o a C3 s - '. '. ' I ' • • • • • • c« o ft o . o - I»».i fe ;<: c3 e « ?. ^5 . ^i Gs -sec O . CO .• . :§ • ft e >: a i^ 5e -^ --^ ^1 ;:>, S: « -c; 2 ~ ^ O O 00 72 0 V^^\5t^BEP0RT on the PORIFEKA of the L. M. B, C. DISTRICT. By Thos. Higgin, F. L. S. The following classification will show the systematic position of the species discussed in this Report, while the right hand column will serve as a list of all the species collected. PORIFERA {= Class SPONGIDA, Huxley). Order I.— CARNOSA (Carter). Family. Group. Genus. Species. Halisarcida.... .. ... Halisai'ca dujardinii, J. Order IIL-PSAMMONEMATA (Carter). Family. Group. Genus. Species. Arenida. ... Arenosa, ... Dysidea fragilis, J. Order IV.— RHAPHIDONEMATA (Carter). Family. Group. Geuus. Species. Chalinida. ...Digitata. ... Chalina oculata, Bk. Reptata. ... Chalina linibata, Bk. Order V.— ECHINONEMATA (Carter). Family. Group. Genus. Species. FtCTYoiiiBA.Dictyoci/lindrina. Dictyocylindrus sUiposus, Bk. Plumohalichondrin a.Plumohalicho7idria pliLmosa, C. Echinoclathrma. ...Ophlitaspongia sei^iata, Bk. Order VI.— HOLORHAPHIDOTA (Carter). Family. Group. Geuus, Species. . Renierida. ...Amoiyliosa. ... Amorphina panicea, S. Amorphina coccinea, S. Amorphina albescens, S. Amorphina caruncula, S. THE PORIFERA. 73 Family. Group. Genus. Species. Renierida. ...Isodictyosa, ... Isodictya varians, Bk. Isodictya elegans, Bk. Isodictya simidans, Bk. Isodictya pallida, Bk. Isodictya densa, Bk. Isodictya fistidosa, Bk. Isodictya clava, Bk. Isodictya fucorum, Bk. Halichondrina. Halichondria incriistans, J. Esperina. Esperia cegagropila, C. SvBEHiTiD A,,, S^oheritina. . . . Cliona celata, J. Raphyrns griffithsia, Bk. Suberites carnosa, S. Suherites snberea, S. Hyineniacidon sangidnea, Bk. 'PACRYTRAGiBx.Geodina. Pachymatismajohnstonia, Bk. Stellettina. ... Ecionema ponderosa, Bk. Stelletta grahii, Sdt. 'PACRASTR^LJjiDA.Pachastrellina.Dercitus niger, C. Order. VIII. CALCAREA (Haeckel). Family. Group. Genus. Species. ASCONES Ascetta coriacea Ascaltis botryoides Leucones. ... Leitcandra fistidosa Sycones. Leucandra gossei Leucandra nivea Leucandra johnstonii Sycandra ciliata Sycandra coinpressa Aphroceras ramosa, n.sp. The arrangement of all Sponges, excepting the Calcarea, followed in these notes is that puhlished hy Mr. Carter, in 74 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. his "Notes introductory to the study and classification of the Spongida,"* and corresponds with the "teaching collection," arranged hy me in the Free Museum, Liverpool, in trays containing examples of all the groups. The specimens obtained by Professor W. A. Herdman will be alluded to with the letters L. M. B. C, with locality and a number, being part of the collection of the Liverpool Marine Biology Committee, and those found by Mr. T. J. Moore and Mr. Higgin, under the letters L. F. M., being part of the collection of the Liverpool Free Museum. The specimens in the L. F. M. collection of species, named by Dr. Bowerbank, to which the letter V is attached, were verified by him a few years before his death. This is of considerable importance, because the student finds it very difficult, and in many cases impossible, to recognise Bower- bank's species from his descriptions of them ; whilst, in many instances, his illustrations afi'ord no assistance. Order I.— CARNOSA. Family — Halisarcida. Halisarca dtijardinii, Johnston. This interesting species, having no spicules or skeletal parts, was first observed by Dujardin on the coast of Normandy in 1838, and by him it was named Halisarca. In 1842 Dr. Johnston found it, and described it in " British Sponges " as Halisarca dujardinii. In 1862 Dr. Oscar Schmidt described a new species difi'ering in form and colour from H. dujardinii, as Halisarca lohidaris. In 1847 Nardo described another aspiculous sponge under the generic name of Chondrosia, and stated that it had for many years been known to the fishermen of the Mediterranean as Carume di * Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1875; ser. 4, vol. xvi. THE PORIFERA. 75 Mar, and since that time several other species have been described. The different varieties of Carnosa now known, including both aspiculous and spiculous species, have lately been grouped by Mr. H. J. Carter, F.R.S., in two families — Halisarcida and Gumminida {Annals and Mag, Nat. Hist., October, 1881), embracing in all twenty-five species." The specimens of H. diijardinii found at Holyhead in March, 1873, contained ova in the first stage of development only, that is before any duplicate subdivision had taken place, but those obtained by Mr. Carter in July and August the following year contained ova as well as embryos in every stage of development. The Port Erin examples also, gathered in July and August last year, contained embryos in the later stages of development. Dr. Bowerbank would not believe in the existence of sponges without any spicules, and assumed that Dr. Johnston was mistaken in not finding spicules in the sponge he described. He has figured a thin coating sponge amongst his Hymeniacidons as Hymeniacidon dujardinii, under the impression that this must have been the species Dr. Johnston had described (Mon. Brit. Spon., vol. iii, pi. 38, fig. 1 to4).f L. M. B. C, No. 85. 1., near low-water mark, Bay-ny- Carrickey, between Port St. Mary and Poyllvaaish, Isle of Man, Aug. 8., 1885 ; from Laminar ia roots on shore between Port St. Mary and Spanish Head, Isle of Man, Aug. 13, 1885; in rock-pools, near Port Erin, Isle of Man, Aug., 1885. L. F. M., No. 22. 4. 74, 3. Collected at Holyhead. * See also Carter's papers in 1874 in Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist., "On the Spongozoa of Halisarca dujardinii,*' and "On the Ilalisarca lohularis,*' also '' Development of Marine Sponges," &c.. &c., 1874. i For excellent work on Halisarca, with beautiful and faithful plates, see the papers by F. E. Schultze in Zeitschrift f. iciss. Zoologie, 1877, Bd. xxviii, and 1879, Bd. xxix. 76 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Order ITL— PSAMMONEMATA. Family. — Arenida. Dysideafragilis, Johnston. This sponge, which is found all round our coasts, and is widely distributed over other parts of the world, was called fragilis by Dr. Johnston* because when dried it is easily made to crumble away. This arises from the nature of its skeletal parts. The skeleton is composed of grains of sand taken up by the sponge from the wash of the tide, and worked into a network by being agglutinated together by a very small quantity of horny material. Consequently when the sponge is dried, the horny matter being in such small proportion, the grains of sand easily become separated and the skeleton breaks up. It is the Spongelia of Dr» 0. Schmidt. + Only two British representatives of arenaceous sponges have been described. Mr. Carter has placed them in his order Psammonemata, which also contains the " Sponge of Commerce " or " bath sponge," whose skeleton is clear horny material, almost entirely, if not altogether, free from grains of sand. Mr. Carter, however, states that there are always some grains of sand to be found in some parts of the fibre of even the best specimens of " Turkey Sponge." The order, therefore, contains every variety of arenaceous fibre, from Si)ongia officinalis to such sponges as Dysideafragilis, L. F. M., No. 24. 5. 73. 14. Collected at Holyhead. Order IV.— RHAPHIDONEMATA. Family. — Ch alinida. Chalina oculatay Bk. Halicliondria oculata, J. Chalina pohjcliotoma, Carter. Spongia polychotoma, Esper. * British Sponges, p. 187; see also Bowerbank, Mon. Brit. Spong., vol. i, pi. xiv., fig. 270 ; vol. ii, p. 381, and vol. iii, pi. Ixix. ^ Spong ienfauna Allan., 1870, p. 77. THE PORIFERA. 77 This digitate species is representative of Mr. Carter's family Chalinida, and of his order Rhaphidonemata, which embraces all sponges having a horny fibre cored with spicules produced by the sponge.* L. F. M., No. 29. 12. 61. 1. Collected at Morecambe Bay. Chalina limbata, Bk. Spongia Limbata, Johnston. This is a Chalina of quite different form and appearance from C. ociilata, but it is distinctly a Chalina, a pretty net- work of horny matter enclosing the acerate spicules of the species. It is a sessile species, t L. M. B. C, No. 85.2. Collected at Port Erin, Isle of Man. L. F. M., No. 24. 9. 73. 1. Collected at Holyhead. Order V.— ECHINONEMATA. Family. — Ectyonida. Dictyocylindrus stuposus, Bk. This is a Dictyocylindrus with a stellate flesh spicule, and is most probably the Puispalia stelligcra of Schmidt. Mr. Carter has lately broken up his group Pluriformia into three divisions, the last of which is Dictyocvlindrina, to receive sponges of this type. The appearance of the stellate spicule in this species t is a noticeable feature, probably evidencing a relationship to some species in the next order, Holorhaphidota. L. M. B. C, No. 85. 3. Collected at Port Erin, Isle of Man. L. F. M., No. 29. 10. 73. 1. Collected at Holyhead. * See fig. 262, pi. xiii, vol. i, Bowerbank's Mon. Brit. Spong. ; Johnston's Brit. Spong., fig. 94, pi. iii ; Mo7i. Brit. Spong., vol. iii, pi. Isvi ; Esper., 1794, taf. xxxvi ; Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist., October, 1885. t See Mon. Brit. Sponges, vol. ii, p. 373 ; vol. iii, pi. Ixvii. X Mon. Brit. Spon., vol. iii, pi. xix, figs. 1-7; Spongienf. Atlan., p. 60, taf. 5, fig. 14. 78 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Plumohalichondria 2>luinosa, C. Hymeniacidon plumosa, Bk. = Microciona plumosa, Bk. Halichondria plumosa, J. This species, as well as Ophlitaspongia seriata, represents, with a few other species, the British examples of Mr. Carter's order Echinonemata, which embraces all sponges whose fibre is echinated with spicules.* L. F. M., No. 32. 3. 73. 2. Collected at Holyhead. Ophlitaspongia seriataf Bk. Ghalina seriata, Bk. = Halichondria seriata, J. This species t is plentiful at Holyhead, surrounding in a layer about a quarter of an inch thick, the stems of Laminar ia. L. F. M., No. 25. 9. 73. 12. Collected at Holyhead. Order VI.— HOLORHAPH IDOTA. Family. — Eenierida. Group. — Amorphosa. Amorphina panicea, S. Halichondria panicea, J. This is a species t without any fibrous skeletal structure, the spicules, which are simple acerate, being dispersed throughout the sponge substance, and loosely congregated together in support of the areolar mass, which, when cut through, has the appearance of a slice of bread (bread- * For illustrations of this kind of fibre see figs. 287, 288, 289, 290 and 291, pi. xvii, Blon. Brit. Spong., vol. i. For illustration of the fibre of this species, see fig. 13, pi. xxiv, vol. iii. t For illustration of the fibre of this species, see fig. 287, pi. xvii, vol. i, Mon. Brit. Spong. For figure of sponge coating a piece of rock, see pi. ixv, vol. iii. I For good illustrations of the usual forms of this sponge, see pi. xl, vol. iii, Mon. Brit. Spong. Johnston's Brit. Spong., p. 114, pi. xxxi; Mon. Brit. Spong., vol. i, pi. xix, fig. 300; vol. ii, p. 229; vol. iii, pi. xxxix and xl, THE PORIFERA. 79 crumb). Sponges of this character come under Schmidt's genus Amorjihina, and into Mr. Carter's group Amorphosa. Amorphosa is the first group in Mr. Carter's Order VI, which embraces the Reniera of Schmidt, the Snberites and the Pachytragida, or Corticata, as well as the Lithistina and Spo7igilla. It is a very large order, but the divisions of it are very marked, and easily distinguishable. L. M. B. C, No. 85. 4. Collected at Hilbre Island, and also at Port Erin, Isle of Man. L.F. M., No. 24. 5. 73, 4. From the Egremont shore and Holyhead. Amorphina coccineay S. Hymeniacidon coccinea, Bk. This species is, as its name implies, a scarlet coloured sponge, and having acerate spicules, I have placed it in the group Amorphosa. It is a sessile species. The specimen in the L. F. M. Collection is mentioned by Dr. Bowerbank in his third volume, page 353. L. F. M., No. 24. 5. 73, 16. Collected in Belfast Lough. V. Amorphina albescens, S. Hymeniacidon albescens, Bk. This is a sessile species, which puts out usually one, but sometimes more than one, branch, about a couple of inches in length, with a diameter of a quarter of an inch or less. It is yellow when living, but in the dried state is greyish white. Its spicules, like those of the preceding species, are acerate. L. F. M., No. 22. 4. 9. 74, 5. Holyhead. V. Amorpliina carunculay S. Hymeniacidon caruncula, Bk. Dr. Bowerbank makes this species to differ from its very near relative Hymeniacidon sanguinea in colour, and in the size of its spicules. In the living state it is '' light to deep 80 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. orange," whilst the other is " blood red ; " and its spicules are rather stout acuates, whilst those of H. sanguinea are of the same form but longer. L. M. B. C, No. 85. 5. Collected in shore pools at Kitterland, near Port Erin, Isle of Man. L. F. M., No. 32. 3. 73, 1. Collected at Holyhead. V. Group ISODICTYOSA. Isodictya varians, Bk. This sponge, belonging to the group Isodictyosa, rather resembles Chalina ocidata in appearance — compare plates Ixvi and Ixxxviii in Dr. Bowerbank's third volume — but it differs greatly under the microscope. The skeleton of C. ocidata is a horny fibre cored with spicules, whilst that of I. varians is a structure made up of spicules merely held together, where they touch each other, with horny matter ; the spicules are simply cemented together thus, and are not enclosed in horny fibre. This difference distinguishes the Chalinas from the Isodictyas, and these species, which rese-mble each other so much in form, are good examples of the two groups. The orders Rhaphidonemata and Holorhaphidota run together in Isodictya, and perhaps the group of Isodictyosa might without disadvantage be taken out of the latter order and placed in the same order with Chalinida. Dr. Bowerbank's plate Ixxxviii in his third volume is from a specimen in the Liverpool Free Museum, one of a large number taken at low water near the old ferry slip at Egremont by myself, in company with Mr. T. J. Moore, in 1869. It was found flourishing in the bed of a stream of warm fresh water running from the engine-house connected with the slip. The fact that this marine species was found in brackish water growing luxuri- antly within the influence of a fresh water stream, becomes of great interest when considered in relation to a fresh- THE PORIFETIA. 81 water sponge found in very deep pools in a South American river, more than two hundred miles from the sea (river Uruguay),* together with some others of like form from deep parts of an inland lake (Lake Baikal), t Dr. Bowerbank described this Uruguay species in his " Monograph of the Spongillidae " (Proc. ZooL Soc, Nov., 24, 1863), under the name Sponr/iUa coralloides, but Mr. Carter (Annals and Mag, Nat. Hist., Feby. 1881), created a new genus for it, Uriiguaya, and grouped it with the other sponges of similar growth just alluded to, Luhomirskia baicalensis, and its varieties. Isodictya varia^is, until the discovery of the sponge in the Mersey, was only known by ''a small fragment surround- ing two adjoining branches of a small Fuciis, forming two parallel and united cylinders of sponge, an inch in length, and seven lines in width, and varying in thickness from one to two lines, sent to Dr. Johnston by Mr. Barlee, from Shetland." Whether this fragment was brought up by the dredge or was picked up on the shore does not appear. It is, however, clear that it is not common on our coasts as a marine species, whilst the great profusion in which it was found at Egremont under the circumstances already stated (for the bed of the stream was thickly covered with it), indicates that the conditions of life there were most favourable for its growth and development. It thus appears to form a link between marine and fresh water sponges. Marine sponges reproduce by means of ova and spermatozoa, and fresh water sponges can also reproduce in this way, as was shown by Lieberkiihn in 1856 {Beitrdge zur Entwickelungsge- chichte der Spongillen, Archiv /. Anat. u. Physiologie, Heft i, u. ii, pp. 1-19, January), but all fresh water sponges, with * Proc. Lit. and Fhil. Soc. Liverpool^ 1877-8, vol. 32, p. Ivi— *' On a fresh-water Sponge from Babia," T. Higgin, F.L.S. \ Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist., Feby., 1881, and July, 1884. F 82 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. the exception of the one from the river Uruguay and those from Lake Baikal, have been proved to reproduce in addition by means of a seed-like body or " statoblast." The method of reproduction in the case of Uruguay a coralloides, and of Luhomirskia haicalensis with its varieties and allies, is not known, but the most diligent search by various observers has not resulted in finding the statoblast in any examples of the different species. In this respect, for the present, these fresh water species stand apart from the rest of the Spongillidae which are classified according to the spicules of the statoblast, the body spicules of the various species not being sufficiently different from each other for the purpose. Isodictya varians * in its form bears a very strong resemblance to Uriiguaya coralloides and to Luhomirskia haicalensis , and it also con- tains in quantity in its spiculation the curved cylindrical form of spicule common to them. The points of resem- blance, or, it may be, of relationship, therefore, between these marine and fresh water species seem well worth recording. L. M. B. C„ No. 85. 6. Collected at Hilbre Island. L.F.M., No. 32. 12. 69. 40. Type specimen. Collected on the Mersey shore, at Egremont, in 1869. Isodictya elegans, Bk. Dr. Bowerbank figures three fragments, as type speci- mens of this species, f Professor Herdman obtained one specimen at Port Erin, of reptant growth; but in a shore pool where the sponge was protected and could grow freely, he obtained two nice complete specimens of erect growth, tubular and branched. The colour of these when taken was lilac pink, a colour which is seen in some species of Chalina, and which, coupled with other characters common to both, may be regarded as indicating a relationship between * Mon. Brit. S-pong., vol i, pi. xx, fig. 309 ; for skeletal network of spicules, vol. ii., p. 281 ; vol. iii., pis. xlviii and Ixxxviii. t Mon. Brit. Spong., vol. ii, p. 283, and vol. iii, pi. xlix, figs. 1-5. THE PORIFERA. R3 the genera Isodictya and Chalina. Professor Herdman's specimens abound with ova in an advanced state of duplicate sub-division, and ciliated embryos. They were obtained in July and August. L. M. B. C, No. 85. 7. In shore pool, Port Erin, Isle of Man ; also dredged near Port Erin. Isodictya simulans, Bk. * This is a compact form of Isodictya of pretty well marked character, and, therefore, is more easily recognised than many species of the genus. Its spicules are short, rather stout, acerates. It is usually found of a branching growth, but it is polymorphous. L. F. M., No. 24. 5. 73, 16. Collected at Douglas Bay. V. Isodictya pallida^ Bk. f The colour of this sponge is pale grey, or cream. Its spicules are stout and very slender acerates. It is of massive coating growth, and is not difficult to recognise. L. F. M., No. 24. 5. 73. 7. Collected at Douglas Bay. V. Isodictya densa, Bk. | This is a massive spreading growth with stout acerate spicules. L. F. M., No. 24. 9. 73, 2. Collected at Holyhead. V. L. M. B. C, No. 85. 19. Collected at Port Erin. Isodictya fistulosa, Bk. § This is a massive form throwing up thin-walled tubes or fistulffi. Its colour alive is white, with a pinkish tint. Its spicules are two kinds of acerates, the one fairly stout and the other very slender. L. F. M., No. 4. 9. 74, 10. Collected at Holyhead. V. * Hon. Brit. Spong.,\6\. ii., p. 308; vol. iii, pi. 51. f Op. cit., vol. ii, p. 297 ; vol. iii, pi. 50. % Op. cit., vol. ii, p. 292 ; vol. iii, pi. 50. § Op. cit., vol. ii, p. 299; vol. iii, pi. 53. 84 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Isodictya clava, Bk. * The examples collected at Douglas Bay were long slender stems, about a couple of inches long, with a diameter of a line or less, sometimes branched; the specimens figured by Dr. Bowerbank have the appearance of immature forms. The spicules are rather short stout acerates. L. F. M., No. 2. 5. 9. 73, 8. Douglas Bay. V. Isodictya fucorum, Bk. f This is a pink or red coloured sponge, of amorphous growth, with acerate spicules and an equianchorate flesh spicule. L. F. M., No. 24. 5. 73, 12. Douglas Bay. V. Group Halichondrina. Halichondria incriistans, Johnston. In the preceding species of the orders IV, V, and VI, which produce spicules, we have been dealing generally with sponges having simple acerate or acuate spicules, but in H. incrustans I we have a species supplied abundantly with flesh spicules, in addition to the spicules of the skeleton which consist of smooth or spined acuates and curved or straight cylindrical forms, sometimes inflated at the ends, sometimes pointed and microspined near the ends. The flesh spicules are C-shaped, bihamate and equianchorate. Mr. Carter has made this sponge representative of the group Halichondrina. It is of wide distribution, having been found in the West Indies, the Falkland Islands, and in other parts of the world. In one example, the spined acuate is * Mon. Brit. Spong., vol. ii, p. 316 ; vol. iii, pi. 53. + Op. cit., vol. ii, p. 322 ; vol. iii, pi. 56. J See Johnston's Brit. Spong., p. 122, pi. xii, fig. 3 ; Mon. Brit. Spong., vol. ii, p. 249, and vol. iii, pi. xliv, fig. 7-12. THE POKIFERA. 85 found ecbinating the skeleton fibre, thus bringing this variety into Mr. Carter's order Echinonemata. L. M. B. C, No. 85. 8. Collected at Port Erin, Isle of Man. L.F. M., No. 4. 9. 74, 5. Collected at Holyhead. Esperia oegagropila, C. Desmacidon cegagropila, Bk. Halichondria cegagropila^ Bk. This species* is also the British representative of a large group of wide distribution, the genus Esperia of Nardo. The skeleton spicule is a sub-pin-like form, the inflated end of which is usually of less diameter than the shaft, and the flesh spicules are bihamate, tricurvate, and inequianchorate. A characteristic feature of the genus is a beautiful polygonal lace-like dermal reticulation covering the surface, by which examples are readily recognised. L. F. M., No. 18. 10. 73. 4. Collected at Holyhead. Family. — Suberitida. Cliona celata, J. Raphyrus griffitJisia, Bowerbank. Johnston described two varieties of this sponge, one "massive," the other "sinuous." The massive variety Dr. Bowerbank made a new genus for, and named it Raphyrus griffithsia ; the sinuous variety, that found boring into shells, he placed iu his genus Hymeniacidorif as Hymeniacidon celata. Mr. Carter has found Johnston's view more correct than that of Bowerbank, and asserts that the sinuous form becomes the massive form. In support of this view, from a large number of examples of this sponge (which is * Johnston's Brit. Spong., p. 119, pi. xi, fig. 1 ; Jilon. Brit. Spong., vol. ii, p. 352 ; vol. iii, pi. Ixiii, figs. 8-14 ; pi. Ixxxiii, fig. 23. Spovgienf. Atlan., Schmidt, 1852, pp. 53-57, pi. v, fig8. 2-8, 14. 86 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. very abundant all around our coast), it is said that one may select gradations of every variety of form, from the shell bored with small circular holes, through various stages during which the shell becomes more and more perforated and the sponge grows over it, surrounds it and encloses it, until it reaches the massive free form christened by Dr. Bowerbank Raphyrus griffithsia. On the other hand, however, Schmidt makes Raphyrus griffithsia equal to his Papillina suherea. This species* belongs to the large family Suberitida, which embraces another sponge {Suberites suherea, see below) common on our coasts surrounding shells of various sizes, and in fact, in some instances, converting the shell into sponge substance, whilst to some extent the form of the shell is retained. The characteristic form of spicule is " pin- like." The well-known " Neptune's Cup " sponge Raphio- phor a patera (Gray), also belongs to this group. L. M. B. C, No. 85. 9. Collected at Port Erin. L. F. M., No. 9. 2. 75. 6. Collected at Holyhead. Suberites suherea, S. Hymeniaciclon suherea^ Bk. Halicliondria suherea^ J. This is the species t alluded to in the notes on Cliona celata as surrounding shells. It is the Suberites domuiicula of Schmidt, and is representative of the compact forms (group Compacta) of the family. L. F. M., No. 15. 6. 62. Collected at Holyhead, Liverpool Bay, and Morecambe Bay. Suberites carnosa, S. Hymeniacidon carnosa^ Bk. Halicliondria carnosa, J. This is another Suberite of compact form. The spicules * Johnston's Brit. Sponges, p. 125 ; Mo7i, Brit. Spong. vol. ii, p. 212 ; vol. iii, pi. xxxviii, and pi. Ixiv ; Spongf. Atlan., p. 65. + Johnston's Brit. Spang., pp. 139-141, pi. xii, figs. 5, 6; Man. Brit. Spong, vol. ii, p. 200 ; vol. iii, pi. xxxvi, figs. 1-4; Spongf. Atlan., p. C7. THE PORIFERA. 87 are very similar to those of S. suberea, but the growth of the sponge is different, and the surface is more hispid.* L. M. B. C, No. 85. 10. Collected at Hilbre Island. Hymeniacidon sanguinea, Bk. Halicliondria sanguinea, J. This species t Schmidt places in his genus Amorphina, but Mr. Carter places it in the family Suberitida, though the spicules are acuate and not pin-like, with the remark that Bowerbank found on Johnston's type specimen in the the British Museum, No. 47. 9. 7. 19, flesh spicules (which, however, he does not appear to have regarded as belonging to the specimen) like those of Vioa johnstonii, Schmidt, a Suberite. Mr. Carter has placed it in his group Laxa, which also contains Vioa johnstonii. L. M. B. C, No. 85. 11. Collected in tidal pools near Port Erin. L. F. M., No. 24. 5. 73. 10. Collected at Holyhead and Douglas Bay. V. Family.— Pachytragida. Pachymatisma johnstonia, Bk. This sponge belongs to a family quite different from any previously considered in these notes. It has a crustular sur- face,! and is embraced in Mr. Carter's family Pachytragida, which also contains the genera Geodia (Lamarck), Tethya (Johnston), and Stelletta (Schmidt). It corresponds with Schmidt's group Corticatse. The pachytragous sponges possess the various forms of four rayed spicules (quadrira- * See Johnston's Brit. Spon. ; Mon. Brit. Spong., vol. ii, p. 203 ; vol. iii, pi. xxxvi. f Johnston's Brit. Spong., p. 133, pi. xiv, fig. 3 ; Mon. Brit. Spon., vol. i, p. 239, pi. iii, fig. 72 ; vol. ii, p. 168 ; vol. iii, pi. xxxii, fig. 5-8. X See Mon. Brit. Spang., vol. i, pi. xxvii, fig. 353; vol. ii, p. 51; vol. iii, pi. viii, figs. 1-7. Annals, 1869, vol. iv, p. 8, pi. ii, figs. 7, etc. 88 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. diate). The crust in the genus Geodia consists of globular or ellipsoidal siliceous bodies closely packed together, upheld by the short arms of the four rayed spicules. The species of Stelletta have no globular siliceous bodies on the surface, but have a thick dermal layer of cells charged with the stellates of the species, whilst the surface of the genus Tethya is hirsute with tufts of spicules projecting through the dermal layer. L. F. M., No. 4. 9. 74, 2 (spirit). Collected at Holyhead. Stelletta gnibii, Schmidt. This species is described by Schmidt in his Atlantic Sponges,* and has also been found by Mr. Carter at Budleigh Salterton. L. F. M., No. 4. 9. 74, 6. Collected at Holyhead. Ecionema po7iderosa, Bk. This is no doubt the same sponge which Mr. Carter described in 1871 as Stelletta aspera. It is undoubtedly a species allied to Stelletta. t L. F. M., No. 4. 9. 74, 3. Collected at Holyhead. Family. — Pachastrellida. Dercitus niger, C. Hymeniacidon buoklandi, Bk. Battersbyia bucklandi, Bk. Before issuing his third volume in 1874, Dr. Bowerbank removed this sponge from his genus Hymeniacidon and created a new genus for it, Battersbyia, and gave a section of it in one of his illustrations. It had been, however, more particularly described and figured by Mr. Carter in 1871 as * Spongf. Atlan., 1862, p. 46, pi. iv, fig. 2. ^Mon. Brit. Spong., vol. ii, p. 56, and vol.iii, pi. viii, fig. 8-15 ; Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1871, vol. vii, p. 7, pi. iv, fig. 7, etc. THE PORIFERA. 89 Dercitus niger.-' This is the sponge which Dr. Bowerbank likened in appearance to a piece of bullock's liver. Mr. Carter has included it in his family Pachastrellida, which embraces Schmidt's genus Pachastrella, and the Lithistid, or stony sponges. L. F. M., No. 4. 9. 74, 4. Collected at Holyhead. Order VIII.— C A LC AREA. The only monograph of the Calcarea or sponges which have calcareous spicules is that published by Professor Haeckel f in 1872. Previous and subsequent writers have described a few species only, but Haeckel had a large number before him. There has been a general concurrence in his classification, though exceptions have been taken to some of his views and speculations. The Calcarea of the " Challenger " Expe- dition were examined and reported upon by Dr. N. Pole- jaeiF, I of the University of Odessa, a distinguished pupil of Professor F. E. Scliultze ; and, at the present moment, Mr. H. J. Carter, F.R.S., of Budleigh Salterton, has under examination a very large collection from Australian waters. Dr. Polejaeff had only a few species to report upon. Professor Haeckel divided the whole order into three families, Ascones, Leucones, and Sycones, according to the canal system, and these again into groups and genera, according to the prevailing forms of spicules. " The Ascones present the simplest form of the canal system. The thin wall of the sponge consists of three parallel layers, ecto- derm, mesoderm, and endoderm. Here and there the cells separate, and thus give origin to the pores " (Vosmaer.) The * Mon. Brit. Spong. vol. ii, p. 226 ; vol. iii, pi. xxxviii, fig. 9-12, and pi. xcii, fig. 8, p. 346. Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1871, vol. vii, p. 3, pi. iv, fig. 1, etc. Proc. Zool. Soc , 1867, p. 542. i Die Kalkschicamme, Haeckel, 1872. \ Report on the Calcarea, by Dr. N. Polejaeff, M.A., Zool. Cliall. Exp., part xxiv, 1883. 90 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Leucones are those with branched canals, and the Sycones those with a radial canal system. Polejaeff does not agree with Haeckel's distinction of Leucones from Sycones, but proposes to group the Ascones in one order, Homocoela, and both the others in another order, Heteroccela, treating the Calcarea as a separate Class. The Calcarea found on our coasts are usually very small. I have never found an example of Sycandra compressa more than one-and-a-half inches in length, but Dr. Bowerbank speaks of one from Ipswich River five inches long by three- and-a-quarter broad. Sycandra ciliata is generally a quarter to half an inch in length, but Ipswich River produced one for Dr. Bowerbank three inches long by three-quarters of an inch in diameter. The size evidently depends on the locality being favourable for growth or otherwise. Family. — Ascones. Ascaltis botryoides, H. Leucosolenia botryoides, Bk. Orantia botryoides, Fleming and Johnston. The specific name is descriptive of the way in which a number of individuals of the species are found congregated together in branches or tufts.* Colour white. L. F. M., No. 25. 9. 73. 3. Collected at Holyhead. Ascetta coriacea, H. Leucosolenia coriacea, Bk. Grantia coriacea, Fleming and Johnston. This is a pretty encrusting species. f Colour greyish white or dark crimson, or lemon yellow or nut brown. * Mon. Brit. Spong., vol. ii, p. 28 ; vol. iii, pi. iii, figs. 1-4. Bie Kalksclno amine, vol. ii, p. 65 ; vol. iii, taf. 9, fig. 10. \Mon. Brit. Spong., vol. ii, p. 34; vol. iii, pi. iii, fig. 11-14. Die Kalkicliwdmme, vol. ii, p. 24 ; vol. iii, taf. 3. THE PORIFERA. 91 L. M. B. C, No. 85. 12. Collected at Port Erin, Isle of Man. L. F. M., No. 22. 4. 74. 6. Collected at Holyhead. FamHy. — Leucones. Leucandra gossei, H. Leucogypsia gossei, Bk. This is a massive sessile species.'^ It is readily recognised by the large acerate spicules lying longitudinally on its surface. Colour white. L. M. B. C, No. 85. 13. Collected at Port Erin, Isle of Man. L. F. M., No. 22. 4. 74. 3. Collected at Holyhead. Leucandra nivea, H. Leuconia ?iivea, Bk. Orantia nivea, Fleming and Johnston. Coating smooth or lobular.! Colour white. L. M. B. C, No. 85. 14. Collected at Port Erin, Isle of Man. L. F. M., No. 25. 9. 73. 4. Collected at Douglas Bay. Leucandra johnstonii, H. Leuconia Johns tonii, C. Mr Carter says, a good feature for recognising the species is the large four-rayed surface spicule with a dark centre, the dark centre being the fourth ray, or shaft, penetrating the sponge substance, J Colour white. L. M. B. C, No. 85. 15. Collected at Port Erin, Isle of Man. L. F. M., No. 26. 8. 82. 1. Collected at Holyhead. • Mon. Brit. Spong., vol. ii, p. 42 ; vol. iii. Die Kalkschwdmme, vol. ii, p. 177 ; vol. iii, taf. 37. i Mon. Brit. Spang., vol. ii, p. 36; vol. iii, pi. v, fig. 1-8. Die Kalkschwdmme, vol. ii, p. 211 ; vol. iii, taf. 39. \ Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1871, ser. iv, vol. viii, p. 3, pi. i, figs. 5-12. Die Kalkschwdmme, Haeckel, vol. ii, p. 216, pi. 34. 92 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Leitcandrajistidosa, H. * Grantia fistulosa, J. Leuconia fistulosa, Bk. L. M. B. C, No. 85. 16. Collected at Port Erin, Isle of Man. Family. — Sycones. Sycandra compressa^ H. Grantia compressa, Fleming. This is a very easily recognised species from its hollow compressed form ; it is found in quantity all round our coasts attached to seaweed. It is well figured both by Haeckel and Bowerbank.f L. M. B. C, No. 85.17. Collected at Port Erin, Isle of Man. L. F. M., No. 22. 4. 74. 2. Collected at Holyhead. Sycandra ciliataf H. I Grantia ciliata, H. L. M. B. C, No. 85. 18. Collected at Port Erin, Isle of Man. L. F. M., No. 22. 4. 74. 4. Collected at Holyhead. DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES BY H. J. CARTER, F.R.S. Aphroceras ramosa, n.sp. Small, cylindrical, branched, sessile ; branchlets more or less acuminated, horn-shaped ; withoilt peristome. Colour whitish-yellow. Surface even, consisting of long, large, fusiform acerates arranged parallel to each other and closely * Mon. Brit. Spong., vol. ii, p. 39 ; vol. iii, pi. v, figs. 9-16. Die Kalkschwatnme, Haeckel, vol. ii, p. 197; vol. iii, pi. 31. t Moil. Brit. Spong., vol. ii, p. 17 ; vol. iii, pi. i. Die Kalkschwamme, vol. ii, p. 360 ; vol. iii, taf. 57. + Mon. Brit. Spong., vol. ii, p. 19 ; vol. iii, pi. ii, figs. 1-15. Die Kalkschwdmme, vol. ii, p. 296 ; vol. iii, taf. 58, firr. 9. THE PORIFERA. 93 approximated, on the same plane, more or less covered by small sagittiform triradiates. Pores situated in the inter- stices between the arms of the triradiates, along the intervals of the large acerates. Vent single, at the end of each branch, naked, i.e., without peristome ; leading into a cylindrical, cloacal cavity, about the same shape as the sponge, and equally branched ; presenting on its surface a great number of circular holes in juxtaposition, rendered more or less polygonal by the intercrossing of the rays of the radiates that form the skeletal structure of the cloaca, which is sparsely echinated by the fourth ray of the quadriradiates. Wall consisting of simple, cancellated sarcode, traversed horizontally, at intervals, by the shafts of large, sagittiform triradiates which, coming from opposite sides and over- lapping each other, have their heads in the internal surface of the cortex and that of the cloaca respectively. Spicules of three kinds, viz., acerate, triradiate, and quadriradiate. 1st, acerate, very large, long, fusiform, slightly curved, and often lance-pointed anteriorly, averaging ^th inch long by 2 lyth inch in its greatest transverse diameter ; 2nd, triradiates, small and large, the latter averaging t^ho by Y^'ooth inch in the shaft, and the arms respectively frds of this size ; 3rd, quadriradiates, of the same size as the large triradiates, with the addition of the fourth arm which is short and curved, about y^^ooths inch long. No. 1 is confined to the surface with the arrangement before stated ; No. 2 in its larger form, to the wall, also as above stated ; and the smallest, which are chiefly sagittiform, to the outer and inner surfaces ; No. 3 to the inner part of the cloaca, where they are formed by the addition of the fourth arm to the heads of the large triradiates of the wall which abut against this part ; thence projecting into the cavity of the cloaca^ Size of specimen, which is much broken, under yVth inch in the diameter of the stem ; length unknown ; longest 94 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. fragment Aths of an inch ; thickness of the wall, including the cortex and the cloaca, ahout ith inch. L. F. M., No. 22. 4. 74. 7. Collected at Holyhead. This species in spiculation is very much like Leucogyima gossei, Bowerbank, who, when he made a genus of it under the name of ^'Leiicogyijsia^' in 1862 {Phil. Trans., p. 1095), stated that he had not seen another species in Great Britain. In 1858, Dr. J. E. Gray described and illustrated a cylindri- cal branched species from Hong Kong, to which he gave the name of Apliroceras alcicornis {Proc. Zool. Soc, Lond., p. 114, pi. X, figs. 1 and 2), and in 1867 (Ih., p. 558) he made a family for it under the name of " Aphrocerasidae." This species is closely allied in form to that discovered by Mr. Higgin, but differs greatly in structure ; while the struc- ture of A. alcicornis is almost identical with that of Leiico- gyima gossei, hence Haeckel has placed them among his Leucones; but the structure of Aphroceras ramosa is Syconid, and belongs to a genus which I have named ** Heteroina^^ in my forthcoming description of the Calcareous Sponges from the neighbourhood of Port Phillip Heads, S. Australia, sent to me by Mr. Bracebridge Wilson ; meanwhile, Haeckel's illustration of the '' Eadial-tuben," in his Sy cilia cylindrus, represents it well {Die Kalkschivdnime, Atlas, taf. 43, fig. 6). Note. — A species of Sycandra, probably new to science, was also dredged near Port Erin, Isle of Man. It has been examined by Mr. Harvey Gibson, and his description and fiofures will be found further on in this volume. — Ed, 95 KEPORT on the HYDROIDA of the L. M. B. C. DISTRICT. By Mr. W. R. Melly, J. Sibley Hicks, L.R.C.P., F.L.S., and Prof. Herdman, D.Sc. A FEW words of explanation are necessary in regard to the joint authorship of this Report. Before the Liverpool Marine Biology Committee commenced their investigations, Dr. Sibley Hicks had done a good deal of work at the Hydroid Zoophytes of this neighbourhood, and had drawn up a list of thirty-eight species found in the estuary of the Mersey. This list was exhibited before the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool, in 1880, but has not been published. As Dr. Hicks found that he could not spare sufficient time to undertake the Report upon the Hydroida, he handed over his list of species to the Committee, and has also given some assistance in identifying the specimens. Mr. W. R. Melly, while working as a student in the Zoological Laboratory of University College, paid special attention to the Hydroids, and on the dredging expeditions which he took part in, he assisted me in collecting and preserving the smaller species of Zoophytes. Consequently, when it was found that Dr. Hicks could not undertake the preparation of this Report, I handed the collections over to Mr. Melly for examination. The work has been carried on during the present Winter Session in the Laboratory, under my direction. The greater part of the labour of preparing the Report has, then, been performed by Mr. Melly. He has examined and identified every specimen in the collection, and hasdrawn up the list of species, with records of their previous occurrence in the locality. My share of the work has been 96 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. confined to a general supervision of Mr. Melly's investigations, and some assistance in identifying the more difficult species. W. A. Herdman. The Hydroida are well represented in the neighbourhood of Liverpool, and are especially abundant on the shores of Hilbre Island. Former investigators in this locality have paid more attention to the Zoophytes than to most other groups of animals, and consequently there are comparatively few species to add to the existing lists as the result of the Committee's dredging investigations. Mr. Byerley, in his Fauna, published in 1855, records thirty-three species, of which twenty-six have been found by members of the Com- mittee during 1885; fifteen of the species previously recorded from this neighbourhood have not been found during 1885. Dr. Sibley Hicks records thirty-eight species, including six not mentioned by Byerley, in his list drawn up in 1880. A few localities within the L. M. B. C. District have been given by Hincks, Allman, and Pennington in their works on the Hydroid Zoophytes. Mr. A. 0. Walker, of Chester, has furnished us with records of the species which he has found in the neighbourhood. The large collections made by the Liverpool Marine Biology Committee yielded forty-two species, eleven of which had not been previously recorded from this neighbourhood. Seven of the species were collected at Hilbre Island, sixteen were from various parts of Liverpool Bay, seven were obtained during the cruise of the " Hyaena," seven were obtained at Penmaenmawr by Mr. Thompson, and thirty were collected off the south end of the Isle of Man by Professor Herdman. The classification and nomenclature of species given by Mr. Hincks * have been followed. * History of the British Hydroid Zoophytes, Y(xn Voorst, London, 1868. THE HYDROID ZOOPHYTES. 97 Order.— HYDROI DA. Sub-order I.— ATHECATA. Family I. — Clavid^. Clava multicorniSf Forskal. Clava discreta, Allman, Ann. N, H., Nov., 1859. Recorded by Byerley as having been found on floating Fuci by Mr. Price. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Found at Hilbre Island, May 17th, 1885, and June 13th, 1885, on the under surfaces of stones. The specimens found on May 17th had gonophores. Some of these specimens, obtained at Hilbre Island, lived in the laboratory at University College in a small 1-oz. bottle of sea water for over six months. A few specimens were obtained at the south end of the Isle of Man adhering to Corallina officinalis, Clava leptostyla, Agassiz. Mentioned by Hincks as being found at Morecambe Bay. Also recorded by Allman from the same locality. Family II. — Hydractiniid^. Hydra ctinia echinata, Fleming. Alcyonidiwm echinatum, Johnston, B. Z. (1st. edit.) 304, pi. xiii, figs. 3, 4. Recorded by Byerley. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Dredged at Hilbre Swash, June 20th, 1885, from a depth of ten fathoms ; also dredged on the Constable Bank, near Llandudno, during the cruise of the *' Hyaena," May 23rd, 1885. Found by Mr. Thompson at Penmaenmawr, and at Point of Ayr by Mr. A. 0. Walker ; in all cases on shells inhabited by Hermit Crabs. Family V. — Corynid^. Coryne sp. (?). A species of Coryne was found attached to masses of wood at the breakwater, near Port Erin, Isle of Man, in August, G 98 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. 1885. The specimens are not in the collection, and are recorded on the authority of Prof. Herdman, who examined them in a living condition. Coryne pusilla, Gaertner. Recorded by Byerley as being found on the Dingle rocks by Mr. Price. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Hilbre Swash (A. 0. Walker). Bangor (A. S. Pennington). Found at Hilbre Island, June 13th, 1885. The speci- mens are not in the collection, but the species was identified and recorded at the time. Family IX. — Eudendriidje. Eudendrium rameumy Pallas. Tuhularia ramosa, Johnst. Trails. Newc. Soc, ii, 253, pi. x. E. rameum, Johnst. B. Z. (2iid edit.) 45, pi. v, figs. 1, 2, &c. Recorded by Byerley. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Men- tioned by Hincks as being plentiful at Lytham. Recorded by Allman from Morecambe Bay. Eudendrium ramosum, Linnaeus. Recorded by Byerley as having been found on Bootle shore by Mr. Marrat. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Common in the district (A. 0. Walker). Mentioned by Allman as being found at Morecambe Bay. One large colony, growing on a stone, was dredged ofi" the south end of the Isle of Man from a depth of ten to twenty fathoms, during August, 1885. This specimen resembles the figures given both by Hincks and by Allman, but it has no gonophores. Eudendrium capillar e. Alder. Gorymbogoniwm capillare, Allman, Aim. N. H. for August, 1861, p. 168. Found at Colwyn Bay in September, 1882, by Mr. A. 0. Walker. THE HYDROID ZOOPHYTES. 99 One colony, about IJ inches in height, attached to the back of a specimen of Hyas coarctatus, and a second colony, about 2J inches in height, were dredged off the south end of the Isle of Man, in August, 1885, from a depth of ten to twenty fathoms. Gonophores are present in both. Neither Hincks nor Allman give any very good distinguish- ing characteristics by which E. capiUare can be known from E. ramosum. The colonies of the former species seem to branch more irregularly, and, according to Allman, they develop gonophores between June and September, while in E, ramosum these are produced in April. The Manx speci- mens were obtained in August and have the gonophores well developed : they probably belong to E, cajpillare. Family X.— Atractylid^. Gai-veia nutans, T. S. Wright. Eudendrium (Corythamnium) bacciferum, Allman, " Notes on Hydroid Zoophytes," Atin. N. H., July, 1859. This rare Zoophyte was first found by Dr. Strethill Wright on the island of Inch Garvie, in the Firth of Forth, and almost simultaneously by Prof. Allman in the same locality (see Allman, Gymnohlastic Hydroids, p. 294). It has since been found in Shetland by Hincks, and at More- cambe Bay by Allman. It had not been previously found in Liverpool Bay, but last summer, during the expeditions of the Liverpool Marine Biology Committee, it was discovered in several localities, and seems to be fairly abundant novv off the north end of Hilbre Island. It was found at low water on Hilbre Island on May 17th, with well developed gonophores ; at the same locality, on June 13th ; and was dredged in Hilbre Swash on May 9th, and again on June 20th, from depths of ten fathoms. It was also obtained during the cruise of the " Hyaena," on May 25th, off the Great Ormes 100 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Head. It was found living at Colwyn Bay on drift stuff on April 19th, 1885, by Mr. A. 0. Walker.* Bimeria vestita, T. Strethill Wright. This species is mentioned by Allman as having been found at Morecambe Bay. Bougamvillia miiscus, Allman. Found at Colwyn Bay on April 27th, 1884, by Mr. A. 0. Walker, Family XI. — Tubulariid-s:. Tubularia indivisa, Linnaeus. Kecorded as being very abundant by Byerley. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Dredged in the Welshman's Gut, June 20th. Found growing at Hilbre Island in large quantities, near low water mark. Dredged in Hilbre Swash on June 20th, depth ten fathoms. Dredged off the Great Ormes Head, from seven to eight fathoms, during the cruise of the '' Hy^na," May 23rd, 1885. Tubularia coi'onata, Abildgaard. Tubularia larynx, var. /3, Johnst., B. Z. (1st edit) 116. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Mentioned by Hincks as being plentiful at Lytham. Some dried stalks, which are probably those of T. coronata, were dredged in Welshman's Gut, on June 20th, from a depth of seven fathoms. Collected at low water on Hilbre Island, on June 13th. Tubularia simplex, Alder (?). Tubularia dumortierii, Johnst., B. Z. 50. A specimen which was dredged from deep water between Port St. Mary and the Calf, off Spanish Head, Isle of Man, on August 3rd, 1885, probably belongs to this species. * Garveia nutans has also been recently found on Dalkey Island, Dublin Bay, by Prof. Haddon (see Proc. R. J, Acad., ser. ii, v. iv, p. 524.) THE HYDROID ZOOPHYTES. 101 Tuhularia larynx, Ellis and Solander. Recorded by Byerley as being very common round the coast. It has not been found during our investigations, and is not mentioned by Dr. Sibley Hicks. Possibly it may have been T. coronata. Tuhularia hritannica, Pennington. This species was found by Mr. Pennington in the Menai Straits. Ectopleura dumortierii, Van Beneden. Tuhularia dumortierii, Johnst., B. Z. pi. vii, figs. 1, 2 (not the species described in the text) . Mentioned by Allman as being found at the Isle of Man, and recorded by Pennington from Point of Ayr. Corymorpha nutans, Sars. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Isle of Man (Pennington). Sub-order II.— THECAPHORA. Family I. — Campanulariid^. Clytia johnstoni, Alder. Conipanularia volubilis, Jolmst., B.Z. 107, 108, woodcut fig. 18. Camj^anularia johnstonii, Allman, Proc. Roy. Soc. Ed. fforDec. 6th, 1858. Hilbre Swash and Abergele Bay (A. 0. Walker). Mersey (Hicks). Several very large colonies were dredged. during August, 1885, ofif the south end of the Isle of Man, in the neigh- bourhood of Port Erin. One well-developed colony was attached to the siphons of a specimen of Molgula occulta. Another colony, with gonothecae, was found adhering to the stalk of a Tuhularia. A third colony from the Isle of Man differed considerably from the typical condition. It was of much smaller size, and the calycles were much longer and 102 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. narrower than is shewn in Hincks' figure. It may be regarded as a small variety of the species. Possibly this is the species mentioned by Byerley under the name of Campanularia volubilis. Obelia geniculata, Linnaeus. Kecorded by Byerley under the name of Laomedea geni- culata, as being very abundant upon Algse, dead shells, &c. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Obelia gelatinosa, Pallas. Kecorded by Byerley under the name of Laomedea gelatinosa, as being common. Found in Hilbre Swash on July 2nd, 1872, by Mr. A. 0. Walker. Liverpool (Colling- wood). Menai Straits (Pennington). This species is recorded by Hincks as being very common on the Dingle rocks, Egremont, Hilbre Island, and other places near Liverpool, in 1868. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). One colony of this species, about 2 J inches in height, was obtained at the south end of the Isle of Man, August, 1885. This colony differs from Hincks' figure and description in having the margins of the hydrothecae distinctly not denticulated. The hydrothecas are very thin, and the edges are slightly ragged in some cases, but never denticulated. In all other respects the zoophyte agrees with Hincks' description. Obelia longissima, Pallas. Laomedea dichotoma, var. ^3, B. Z. p. 102. Found off the Little Ormes Head on June 22nd, 1880, by Mr. A. 0. Walker. Recorded from Blackpool by Pennington. Obelia flabellata, Hincks. Campanulai'ia fiabellata, Hincks, Ann. N. H. ('3rd series), xviii, 297. Not previously recorded from this neighbourhood. THE HYDROID ZOOPHYTES. 103 This species was found at Hilbre Island on June 13th, 1885. Several colonies were also obtained from the Isle of Man, growing on the stalk of a Tuhularia. Some of these specimens have gonothecae. A specimen, which was dredged off the Isle of Man in August, 1885, resembles Hincks' figure in most respects, but is a little less zigzag in its growth, though not so straight as 0. dichotoma. Hincks figures three rings above each joint; our specimen has only one. Hincks does not. mention the presence of tendrils in the species, while our specimen shews several. The hydrothecse spring in some cases from the axils, a condition which Hincks mentions in his description of Obelia dichotoma, but not in the case of 0. fiahellata. Obelia dichotoma, Linnaeus. Laomedea dichotoma, var, a, Johust., B. Z. 1 02, pi. xxvi, figs. 1, 2. Kecorded by Byerley under the name of Laomedea dichotoma, as growing in small tidal pools. Mersey (Hicks). Several small colonies were obtained off the south end of the Isle of Man ; no gonothecae were present. One small colony, also without gonothecae, was found at Penmaenmawr, by Mr. Thompson. One of the specimens showed tendrils like those figured by Hincks for Campanularia angulata. A colony found at Hilbre Island on June 13th, is mentioned in the notes taken at the time, as being probably 0. dichotoma, and is recorded as having had medusoid gono- phores attached. Campanulaiia volubilis, Linnaeus. Recorded by Byerley as " Adhering to shells and Fuci in pools on the shores." Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Point of Ayr (A. 0. Walker). Several small colonies were dredged ofi" the south end of 104 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. the Isle of Man during August. They were adhering both to the stalks of Tuhularia and also to colonies of Sertularia filicula. None of these specimens had gonothecae. Campanularia hincksii, Alder. Campanularia volubilis, var., Hincks, Ann. N. H. (2nd ser.) xi, p. 180. Several colonies, attached to the stalks of Tuhularia, were dredged off the south end of the Isle of Man, in August, 1885. They had gonothecae. Campanularia caliculata, Hincks. Several small colonies of this species were obtained off the south end of the Isle of Man, from depths of ten to twenty fathoms, during August, 1885. Campanularia verticillata, Linnaeus. Recorded by Byerley as being very common. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Common in the neighbourhood (A. 0. Walker). Two colonies, about 2^ inches in height, were dredged at Penmaenmawr in July, 1885, by Mr. Thompson. One large colony, about 3 inches long, was dredged between Port St. Mary and the Calf, off Spanish Head, Isle of Man, in ten to twenty fathoms, August, 1885. Campanularia flexuosa, Hincks. Laomedea gelatinosa, Johnst., B. Z. 105, pi. xxv, figs. 3, 4. Laomedea Jiexuosa, Hincks, Devon and Cormv Cat., Ann. N. H. (3rd series), viii, 260. Allman, Ann. N. H. for May, 1864. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Mentioned by Hincks as being found at the Isle of Man. Point of Ayr (A. 0. Walker). Several colonies attached to sea-weeds and to the old stalks of Tuhularia, were dredged at the south end of the Isle of Man in August, 1885. Some of them have gonothecae. THE HYDROID ZOOPHYTES. 105 Campanularia angulata, Hincks. Kccorded from the Menai Straits by Pennington. A great many colonies attached to Algae, were obtained at the south end of the Isle of Man, in August, 1885. The long claspers are present on several of the colonies. Most of the specimens have the pedicels much shorter than those figured by Hincks. He describes the pedicels as consisting of nine to twelve rings, while those on most of our specimens have not more than six or seven. None of our specimens have gonothecae. Campanularia neglecta. Alder. Found in Colwyn Bay on September 14th, 1878, by Mr. A. 0. Walker. Several colonies about t% iiich in height were dredged at south end of Isle of Man in August, 1885. They are attached to a stalk of Tubular ia, and have no gonothecae. Gonothyrcea lovenif Allman. This species is not recorded by either Sibley Hicks or Byerley. It was found in Hilbre Swash on July 12th, 1878, by A. 0. Walker ; and has been recorded from the Menai Straits by Pennington. Four colonies were dredged off the Isle of Man, in August, 1885. Two were attached to the stalk of a Tubularia, and the other two, about f -inch in height, were attached to Algae. Family II. — Campanulinid^. Opercularella lacei'ata, Johnston. Campanularia lacerata, Johnston, B. Z. iii, pi. xxviii, fig. 3. Laomedea lacerata, Hincks, Ann. N. H. (2 series), x, 86. Calycella lacerata, Allman, Ann. N. H. for May, 18G4, 81. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Mentioned also by Hincks as being found at the Isle of Man, 106 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Family IV. — Lafoeid^. Lafo'ea dumosay Fleming. Tubularia tuhifer a, Johnston, Edin. Phil. Jour., xiii, 222, pi. iii, figs. 2, 3. Calicella dumosa, Hincks, Cat. Devon and Gornw. Zooph, 23 ; Ann. N. H. (3rd series), viii, 293. Recorded by Byerley under the name of Campanularia dumosa as being common, parasitic upon Zoophytes, &c. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Colwyn Bay (A. 0. Walker). Dredged in Hilbre Swash on June 20th, 1885. Several colonies were dredged at the south end of the Isle of Man in August, 1885. Calycella syringa, Linnaeus. Oamjjanularia syringa, Johnston, B. Z. 110, woodcut 19. Recorded by Byerley, under the name of Campami- laria syringa, as being fairly common. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Hilbre Swash (A. 0. Walker). Very common on stalks of Tubularia off south end of Isle of Man. Found in Hilbre Swash, June 20th, 1885, depth ten fathoms. This species seems to some extent to have taken the place of the other Zoophytes of its family in this neigh- bourhood as it is commoner than Lafoea dumosa. Filellum serpens, Hassall. Beticularia serpens, Hincks, A7171. N. H. (2nd ser.) xviii, 469 (1856). Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Family VI. — Coppiniid^. Coppinia arcta, Daly ell. This species has not been previously recorded from this neighbourhood. It was dredged during the cruise of the *' Hyaena," off the I THE HYDROID ZOOPHYTES. 107 Great Ormes Head, at a depth of seven to eight fathoms, on May 23rd, 1885, and was found at Colwyn Bay on June 13th, 1885, by Mr. Walker. It was dredged from fifteen fathoms at the Isle of Man, off Port St. Mary, on August 3rd, 1885. It has also been found cast ashore on the sands at West Kirby, opposite Hilbre Island. Family VII. — Haleciid-s:. Halecium halecinum, Linnaeus. Kecorded by Byerley as abundant. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Very common (A. 0. Walker). Dredged in Hilbre Swash on June 20th, from ten fathoms. Two large colonies, one male and the other female, both with gonothecae, were dredged at Penmaenmawr, July, 1885. Five colonies, without gonothecae, and one female and two male colonies, with gonothecae, were dredged off Port Erin, Isle of Man, in August, 1885. In one of the male specimens from the Isle of Man, the gonothecae are not " borne in rows on the upper side of the pinnae ; " but are borne at the base of the calycles, as in H. beanii. But in the latter species there is no pedicel to the gonotheca ; while in our specimen a short pedicel of about two rings is always present. In all other respects our specimens agree with Hincks' description of H. halecinum, Hincks mentions in his Appendix a colony of H. beanii dredged off the Isle of Man, which presents a curious modi- fication of the gonothecae ; probably our abnormal specimen is similarly only an unusual condition of H. halecinum, Halecium beanii, Johnston. Thoa beanii, Johnston, B. Z. (1st edit.) 120, pi. iii, figs. 1, 2. Mr. Walker states that this species is not uncommon in the district, and he has also found the variety mentioned by Hincks in his Appendix (p. 324). 108 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Two small colonies without gonothecge, dredged off the Isle of Man in August, 1885, resemble H. heanii more nearly than any other species. The hydrothecse are mostly single-jointed, but some have two joints. The polypites are large. One large colony, about three inches in height, with male gonothecse, about which I think there is not much doubt, was also obtained off the south end of the Isle of Man, in August, 1885. Family VIII. — Sertulauiid^. Sertidarella polyzonias^ Linnaeus. Recorded by Byerley as not uncommon among drift sea- weeds ; seldom or ever found with living polypes. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Little Orme, June, 1880 (A. 0. Walker). Several good colonies with gonothecse were dredged off the south end of the Isle of Man, in August, 1885. Dredged off Puffin Island and Anglesey, during the cruise of the " Hyana" in May, 1885. Sertularella rugosa, Linnaeus. Recorded by Byerley as being parasitic on Flustra foliacea. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Found at Hilbre Island, attached to colonies of Flu sir a foliacea, on June 13th, 1885. Diphasia rosacea, Linnaeus. Sertularia rosacea, Johnst., B. Z. 64, pi. xi, fig. 1, ; 468, fig. 83. Recorded by Byerley under the name of Sertularia rosacea, as being found rarely at New Brighton and else- where, attached to Plumularia falcata. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Found at Puffin Island in June, 1880 (A. 0. Walker). Several colonies were obtained from the Welshman's Gut during the *' Spindrift" expedition, on June 20th, 1885. A small colony, about half-an-inch in height, attached to the stalk of a Tuhularia, along with some other zoophytes, THE HYDROID ZOOPHYTES. 109 was dredged at the south end of the Isle of Man, in August, 1885. Diphasia attenuata, Hincks. Sertularia rosacea, Jolinst., B. Z. 470. Sertularia pinaster, var., Johnst , B. Z. 72, fig. C. D Sertularia attenuata, Hincks, " On New British Hydroida," Ann. N. H., October, 18G6 (3rd series), xviii, 298. Several large colonies of this species were dredged from Hilbre Swash on May 9th, 1885. Diphasia pinaster y Ellis and Solander. Sertularia margareta, Johnston, B. Z. 7 2, 73, fig. 13. Mr. Byerley records this species under the name of Sertularia margareta as being found at the mouth of the Mersey by Mr. K. A. Tudor, and at New Brighton by Mr. Marrat. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Diphasia tamarisca, Linnaeus. Sertularia tamarisca, Johnston, B. Z., pi xiii, figs. 2, 3, 4. Recorded by Byerley under the name of Sertularia tamarisca as having been found on the Bootle coast by Mr. Tudor. One small piece, about an inch in height, was dredged in Hilbre Swash, from ten fathoms. May 9th, 1885. Sertularia pumila, Linnaeus. Recorded by Byerley as *' having been found by Mr. Marrat between Seacombe and Egremont. Not common." Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Very common on Fucus, Colwyn Bay (A. 0. Walker.) One colony showing gonothecae was dredged off the south end of the Isle of Man in August, 1885. Found at Hilbre Island, on May 17th, with gonothecae. Diphasia fallax, Johnst. Sertularia fallax, Johnst., B. Z. 2nd ed., p. 73. Point of Ayr (A. 0. Walker). 110 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Sertidaria gracilis, Hassall. This species is recorded from Blackpool and from Bangor by Pennington.* Sertularia operculata, Linnaeus. Recorded by Byerley as having been found without polyps by Mr. Marrat. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Very common, dead (A. 0. Walker). A large number of colonies were obtained from Hilbre Swash on May 9th, 1885, and on June 20th ; and also from the Welshman's Gut, on June 20th. Dredged during the cruise of the "Hyaena" on May 25th near Puffin Island. Sertularia filiculay Ellis and Solander. Recorded by Byerley as being ** a general but not a very abundant species." Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Dredged in Hilbre Swash on June 20th, 1885, from a depth of ten fathoms. Several small colonies were obtained from the Isle of Man. No gonothecae were present. Sertularia abietina, Linnaeus. Recorded by Byerley as being common upon the coast. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Common, dead (A. 0. Walker). One small colony was found at Penmaenmawr in July, 1885. Some large colonies were dredged off the south end of the Isle of Man in August, 1885. One of these colonies was much covered by specimens of Cr'isia de^iticulata. Dredged at Hilbre Swash on June 20th. Several large colonies were dredged from Welshman's Gut on June 20th. Dredged off the Great Ormes Head on May 23rd, during the cruise of the ''Hyaena." Sertularia argentea, Ellis and Solander. Recorded by Byerley as being very common. Mersey * British Zoophytes, 1885. THE HYDROID ZOOPHYTES. Ill (J. S. Hicks). Very common (A. 0. Walker). Menai Straits (Pennington). Several very small pieces were obtained from the Isle of Man in August, 1885. A great many large colonies with gonothecae were dredged from Hilbre Swash on May 9th, 1885. Also a large amount was dredged from Welshman's Gut on June 20th, 1885, with gonothecsB. Sertularia cupressina, Linnaeus. Eecorded by Byerley as being not quite so common as S. argentea. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Common (A. 0. Walker). Several large colonies were dredged from the Welshman's Gut, June 20th, 1885, with gonothecae. Also large colonies were obtained in Hilbre Swash, on May 9th, 1885, with gonothecae. Hydrallmania falcata, Linnaeus. Recorded by Byerley under the name of Pliimularia falcata, as being frequent in pools at low water. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Very common, dead (A. 0. Walker). One small colony was obtained from Penmaenmawr, in July, 1885. A young colony was dredged off Port St Mary, on August 3rd, 1885. A great number of very large colonies were dredged from Hilbre Swash, on May 9th and June 20th, 1885. Also large colonies, with gonothecae, were found in Welshman's Gut, on June 20th, 1885. On all of these occasions, large masses were brought up in the dredge, along with other zoophytes. Also obtained attached to Bucciiiuni, Fiisus, and Natica, on May 23rd, during the cruise of the " Hyaena." Thuiaria articulata, Pallas. Recorded by Byerley as being found at Hilbre, New Brighton, and elsewhere. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). This species has not been found during our investiga- tions. 112 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Family IX. — PLUMULARiiDiE. Antennularia antennina^ Linnaeus. Eecorded by Byerley as being picked up frequently with out polyps. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Not uncommon (A. 0 Walker). Several very large colonies, from three to ten inches in height, with gonothecae, were obtained from the south end of the Isle of Man in August, 1885. Obtained in Hilbre Swash on June 20th. Antennularia ramosa, Lamarck. Recorded by Byerley as being about as common as the preceding species. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). A small piece, very much broken, showing neither gono- thecae nor nematophores, was dredged from the Welsh- man's Gut on June 20th, 1885. Aglaophenia pluma, Linnaeus. Plumularia cristata, Johnston, B. Z. 92, pi. xxiii, figs. 1-3. pi. xxiv, fig. 1. Recorded by Bj^erley under the name of Plumularia cj'istata as having been found on the Bootle coast by Mr. Tudor. Rare, and frequently with polyps alive, parasitic on Halidrys siliquosa, Mr. Marrat. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Also mentioned by Hincks as being common at the Isle of Man. Menai Straits (Pennington). Colwyn Bay (A. 0. Walker). Found at Penmaenmawr in July, 1885, by Mr. Thompson. Aglaophenia myriophyllum, Linnaeus. Plumularia myriophyllum, Johnston, B. Z. 99, pi. xxiii, figs. 4, 5. Lytocarpus myriophyllum, Pennington, Brit. Zooph. Recorded by Byerley under the name of Plumularia myrioyhyllum as being very rare ; found once by Mr. Marrat at Waterloo, and once between Egremont and Seacombe. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Isle of Man (Forbes). 1 THE HYDROID ZOOPHYTES. 113 Pluviularia pinnata, Linnaeus. Several very large colonies, from three to four inches in height, all shewing gonothecae well, were dredged at the Isle of Man during August, 1885. One colony, shewing gonothecae on the pinnae, as well as in double rows on the stem, was dredged off Port Erin, Isle of Man, from a depth of fifteen fathoms. Plumularia setacea, Ellis. Recorded by Byerley as having been found at Bootle and New Brighton. Not common. Mersey (J. S. Hicks). Plumularia catharina^ Johnston. Common at the Isle of Man (Hincks). Plumularia similis, Hincks. Mentioned by Hincks as being common at the Isle of Man. 114 LIST of the MEDUSyE and CTENOPHORA of the L. M. B. C. DISTRICT. By J. A. Clubb, ASSISTANT IN THE ZOOLOGICAL LABORATORY, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LIVERPOOL, The Medusoid Gonophores enumerated below were all, with the exception of Thaumantias convexa, and the species recorded by Mr. Byerley, collected by Professor Herdman off the south end of the Isle of Man, during July and August, 1885. Thaumantias convexa was taken by Mr. I. C. Thomp- son off Penmaenmawr, in July. The true Medusae and the Ctenophora were obtained at the mouth of the Mersey. The method of preservation adopted in the case of the Isle of Man specimens was as - follows : — The tow-net was inverted in a large jar, containing about a gallon of salt water, to which about five or six grains of picric acid was added. The Medusoid Gonophores, and other organisms, which settled in a layer at the bottom of the jar, were shortly afterwards removed from the solution, and placed in weak alcohol. In the case of many of the Medusoid Gonophores so treated, there was found to be considerable contraction, especially of the tentacles, and the colour was always obli- terated by the yellow staining due to the picric acid. Hence there is considerable difficulty in identifying them, and, in a few cases, the specimens are in such a condition that the species cannot be satisfactorily determined. The specimens have been examined and identified in the Laboratory, under the direction of Professor Herdman ; and I have followed the nomenclature given by Professor Edward Forbes in his '' Monograph of the British Naked-eyed Medusae," Ray Society, 1848. THE MEDUS-^ AND CTENOPHORA. 115 Of the four species of Medusoid Gonophores recorded by Byerley, in 1853, not one has been found by the L. M. B. C. ; and of the four species of the true Medusae, recorded from the neighbourhood by Byerley, only the two commoner species were obtained during last Summer's investigations. HYDROMEDUS/E.* Order.— HYDEOIDA. Family. — Clavid^. Turris neglecta, Lesson. " Taken rarely in the Mersey, by Mr. Price " (Byerley). Family. — CoRYNiDiE. Sarsia tubulosaf Sars. " Caught in the Mersey. Rare. Mr. Price " (Byerley). Family. — Atractylid-e. Bougainvillia hritannica, Forbes. Several specimens of this species were taken on August 1st (mid-day) ; on August 21st ; and one specimen on August 22nd (noon, stiff breeze), off Port Erin, Isle of Man. The specimens were all small. This species is new to the locality. Family. — Companulariid^. Thaumantias pilosella, Forbes. Found abundantly by Mr. Garner,! in Douglas Bay. Thaumantias octona, Forbes. This species is fairly common off Port Erin, Isle of Man. Specimens were obtained on August 19th, 21st, and 22nd. Some of the specimens differ from Forbes' description in having the tentacles much shorter and thicker, and the tentacle-bulbs larger. Also, in one or two specimens, I could * For the Hydroid forms of the Hydromedusae, see Report on the Hydro ida, p. 95. t Holiday Excursions of a Naturalist, p. 82. 1867. 116 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. only make out one colourless tubercle between the tentacles, whereas Forbes describes two. This species is new to the locality. Thaumantias convexa, Forbes. Found by Mr. I. C. Thompson, off Penmaenmawr, in July, 1885. This species is new to the locality. Thaumantias thompsoni, Forbes. This species was obtained in fairly large numbers, on four different occasions, off Port Erin, Isle of Man, viz., on August 1st, 19th, 21st, and 22nd. The specimens are generally small and contracted, the breadth of the umbrella varying, after preservation in picric acid and alcohol, from about tV inch to ^ inch ; while Forbes describes it as being, when living, and full-grown, about J inch across the umbrella. This species is new to the locality. Thaumantias hemisphcerica, Miiller. This species was obtained in great profusion on August 21st, from the sheltered harbour of Port Erin, Isle of Man, inside the Breakwater. I may here remark that the surface material of August 21st was the most fruitful in Medusoid G-onophores, four species in all being obtained ; thus bearing out Forbes' statement, that '* they (Medusoid Gonophores), abound most in sheltered bays." This species was also obtained on the following day, August 22nd, but in much smaller numbers. The specimens varied very much in size, and the adult formula of Forbes for the tentacles (7x4 + 4) was by no means constant. This species is new to the locality. Thaumantias lucida, Forbes. Medusa hemisphcBrica, var. lucida, Macartney, Phil. Trans. (1810). Two small specimens only of this species occurred on THE MEDUSiE AND CTENOPHORA. 117 August 1st, oflf Port Erin, Isle of Man. This species is new to the locality. Thaumantias punctata, Forbes. "Rare in the Mersey" (ByerJey). This species was obtained off the Isle of Man, in June, 1839, by Professor Forbes {British Naked- Eyed Medusa, p. 53). Family. — Leptoscyphid^. Lizzia octopunctata, Sars. " Taken by Mr. Price, in the River Mersey." (Byerley). Order.— ACALEPHA. Sub-order.— DISCOPHORA. Family. — AuRELiDiE. Aarelia aurita, Linn. " Mr. Price, who has paid great attention to this beautiful tribe of animals, finds this species most abundantly about the month of May every year" (Byerle\). It was obtained by members of the L. M. B. C, during last summer, stranded on the shore at New Brighton. Family. — Pelagid^ . Chrysaora hyoscella, Esch. " Rare. Seen mostly during the months of July and August " (Byerley). This species has not yet been obtained by the L. M. B. C. ; but Mr. Walker informs me that it is frequently very common all along the coast. Family. — Cyaneid^. Cyancea capillata, Esch. " A very common species. Appears on our shores from July to October. Mr. Price has observed a yellow Medusa, very like this species, during the May month " (Byerley). 118 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. This species has been obtained by the L. M. B. C, stranded on the shore at New Brighton. Family. — Rhizostomid^. Rhizostoma pidmo, Linn. " This large species may be considered rare in the district. Mr. Price informs me that he has commonly observed about three or four in a year. Mostly seen in the month of Sep- tember, and later in the year " (Byerley). This species has not been found during the last year ; but Mr. Walker states that it is sometimes very common, and that he has often seen many hundreds in a day. [None of the Siphonophora belong properly to the Liver- pool Bay Fauna, but Mr. T. J. Moore informs me that" numerous specimens of Physalia pelagica were found cast ashore at Southport, after strong westerly gales, at the end of Feb., 1860, and several examples were obtained for the Liverpool Museum.] CTENOPHORA. Order.— SACGATA. Family. — Cydippid^ . Pleurobrachia pileus, Flem. This species appeared in great profusion in the neighbour- hood of Hilbre Island, towards the end of May, 1885. A few specimens were also obtained by Professor Herdman off the south coast of the Isle of Man, during the month of August, in the same year. Byerley records it as being " found mostly early in April, but also, more sparingly, at other times." Mr. Price * records it as being very plentiful at Woodside Slip, in 1834. * Old Price's Remains, Liverpool. THE MEDUSiE AND CTENOPHORA. 119 Pleurobra cliia pomiforviis . *' Very rare" (Byerley). Has not yet been obtained by the L. M. B. C. Order.— EUEYSTOMATA. Family. — Beroid^. Beroe ovatus, Lam. " Irregular in the time of its appearance, but sometimes as early as Cydippe pileus'' (Byerley). Has not yet been obtained by the L. M. B. C. Order.— LOBATA. Family. — Mnemiid^ . Bolina hihernica. This species (= Alcinoe vermiformis, Cuvier) has been found twice by Mr. Price at Birkenhead. f 120 REPORT on the ALCYONARIA of the L. M. B. C. DISTRICT. By Professor Herdman, D.Sc. Only two species belonging to the Alcyonaria — the common Alcyonium digitatum and the rare Sarcodictyon catenata — can be recorded here. None of the British Pennatulida, although they all occur on the West Coast of Scotland, have yet been found in this neighbourhood. ALCYONARIA, ALCYONIDA. Family I. — CoRNULARiDiE. Sarcodictyon catenata, Forbes (PI. II, figs. 1 and 2). Several colonies of this rare species were dredged in August, 1885, between Port St. Mary and Spanish Head, Isle of Man, from a depth of twenty fathoms ; bottom, Nullipores. They all belong to the red variety, and one of them shows that widening of the stolon in places to form expansions upon which the polypes are grouped in twos and threes, which Forbes supposed to be characteristic of his Sarcodictyon agglomeratum.* The colonies vary in size from three to nearly thirty polypes. They agree in all respects with the Scotch specimens described in my paper on, Sarcodictyon referred to below. In specimens of Sarcodictyon catenata, dredged from Loch Fyne, I had never succeeded in inducing the polypes to expand in captivity, but in the case of a large colony obtained in Lamlash Bay, in the autumn of 1884, and again * See Forbes, Trans. Roy. Soc, Edin., vol. xx, p. 307, 1853; and Herdman, Proc. R. Phys. Soc, Edin., vol. viii, p. 31, 1883. REPORT ON THE ALCYONARIA. 121 in the colonies dredged off the Manx coast, after being kept in an aquarium for a few days, the polypes expanded fully, and then presented the appearance shewn in PI. II, figs. 1 and 2. Figure 1 represents the colony, about natural size, and figure 2 one of the polypes enlarged. These shew that the polype may expand to over three times its normal height, the clear upper part of the body being about twice the length of the opaque lower part. This expanded upper part of the body is of a translucent white colour. The tentacles are exceedingly slender and graceful, and may be extended to a great length ; they are usually as long as the entire body of the polype. They are very delicate, and have an entirely different shape from that which they present when dead and preserved in alcohol.* The stomodseum is usually dis- tinctly visible in the expanded polype (see PI. II, fig. 2) as a less translucent white band running from the mouth downwards to the opaque red lower part of the body. The colonies which expanded in captivity were very sluggish in their movements, and slow in responding to stimulation. The specimens were dredged and placed in the small aquarium on August 7th, and it was not until August 12th that the first polype of the first colony elongated its body and expanded its tentacles. On the following day (Aug. 13th), the whole colony of fifteen polypes was in a completely expanded condition (see PI. II, fig. 1). But when once expanded the polypes remained so, with very slight movement of any kind, and it was not very easy to induce them to retract the tentacles — agitation of the water sur- rounding them, and even shaking of the stone to which they were attached, seemed to have no efi'ect whatever. When the tentacles were pricked with the point of a needle they slowly retracted, and if the irritation was continued the upper part of the body wall was slowly and gradually drawn inwards * Herdman, loc. cit., see pi. i, figs. 8, 9, 10. 122 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. until the polype was completely retracted. But the neigh- bouring polypes of the same colony were not affected in the least degree ; they remained in a fully expanded condition. On the following day (Aug. 14th), the polypes were all retracted, and they remained in that condition until August 18th, when a few of them again became elongated and showed their tentacles. On the next day again, most of the colony was fully expanded for a short time, and then all the polypes retracted until August 21st, when a few of them again expanded for the last time. On this day, the second colony in the aquarium expanded for the first time, exactly a fort- night after it was dredged. Some of the polypes of this second colony expanded again on August 23rd, and a few days later, both colonies were placed in alcohol. Family II.— Alcyonid^. Alcyonium digitatum^ Linn. This species is fairly abundant at Hilbre Island at low water mark, attached to the rocks. Byerley records it also from New Brighton and shore-pools at Egremont, where, however, the specimens were much smaller. There are probably none at all in these latter localities now. Both the common varieties, the deep orange and the pure white, are found at Hilbre. As in the case of Sarcodictyon catenata, the difference in colour is entirely due to the spicules. This species was also dredged between Port St. Mary and the Calf, Isle of Man, from a depth of fifteen fathoms, during August ; and it was obtained on the " Spindrift " Expedition, off Point of Ayr ; and in Hilbre Swash, on several occasions, from depths of nine to eleven fathoms. During the cruise of the " Hyaena," it was dredged to the north of Puffin Island, from a depth of fourteen fathoms. 123 REPORT on the ACTINIARIA of the L.M.B.C. DISTRICT. By John W. Ellis, L.R.C.P., F.E.S. The classification and nomenclature of species ^iven by Dr. Andres ^^ in his recent monograph on the Actiniae of the Bay of Naples have been followed in this Report, but the old and well-known names used by Gosse f and other writers on British Anemones have been inserted, when required, as synonj^ms. ACTINIARIA. Family. — Actinid^ . Sub-family. — Halcampin^. Halcampa chri/santhellum, Peach (?). A single specimen of a species, which from the presence of twelve tentacles only would seem to be correctly placed in this genus, was dredged from a depth of ten to twenty fathoms off the S.E. coast of the Isle ot Man, by Professor Herdman, in August, 1885, but from its contracted state and loss of colour, the specimen is not capable of being identified. Very probably it is Halcampa chrysanthelkim, which accord- ing to Professor Haddon, is a very variable species, and is found on the Irish coast, near Dublin. Sub - family . — S ag artin^ . Actinoloba dianthtis, Ellis (1767). This species, the Plumose anemone, is probably one of the most common anemones in the immediate vicinity of Liverpool. • Fauna und Flora des Gnlfes von Neapel. IX Monographia. Die Actinien. Leipzig, 1884. t Actinologia Britannica, London, 186C. 124 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. It is recorded by Byerley as being found at " Hilbre Island at low ebbs ; some specimens pure white, and others of a deep buff colour. The white variety is plentiful on the Dingle shore." Mr. Wood, the attendant in the aquarium at the Derby Museum, Liverpool, informs me that the species still occurs on the pontoons of the Liverpool landing-stage, the locality recorded by Gosse in Actinologia Britannica. Fine speci- mens are frequently procured by him for the tanks at the museum at extreme low water-mark on the Leasowe shore, opposite the embankment, on a gravelly and stony bottom, the handsome semi-translucent white specimens (var. sidonea, Gosse) being the most plentiful. In one of the tanks at the museum there are now (December, 1885) two beautiful speci- mens, found by him in this locality, with the column of a rich purple-brown and the tentacles pure white; evidently a form of the variety hrimnea, Gosse. A few large specimens, all of the white variety, have been dredged during the expeditions of the Marine Biology Com- mittee ; and in one of the shore excursions to Hilbre Island, a large number of the flesh-coloured variety {ruhida, Gosse), all, however, very young, were found studding an overhanging detached piece of rock at the extreme north end of the island. Professor Herdman found small specimens of this form at the south end of the Isle of Man in August last. Mr. Gosse (A ctinologia Britannica) records this species from Morecambe Bay, his authority being Mr. F. H. West. Mr. A. 0. Walker has taken the variety sidonea in Colwyn Bay ; . and Mr. J. Chard has taken the species at Moelfra Bay, Anglesea. Heliactis bellis, Ellis and Solander (1786). Sagartia bellis, Gosse and other authors. Recorded from Puffin Island and from the Isle of Man, by Gosse, in Actinologia Britannica. We have no record of its occurrence in the immediate vicinity of Liverpool. REPORT ON THE ACTINIARIA. 125 Heliactis miniata, Gosse (1853). Saga/rtia miniata, Gosse and others. The Menai Straits and Hilbre Island are given by Gosse as localities for this species, but no specimens have been found there by members of the Committee. Heliactis venusta, Gosse (1854). Sagartia venusta, Gosse. This species was obtained in the vicinity of the Calf of Man, by Professor Herdman, in August last. It is also recorded from Puffin Island by Gosse. on the authority of Mr. E. L. Williams. Cylista viduata, Miiller (1776). Sagartia viduata, Gosse. This is a species which is recorded by Gosse as abundant, in the Menai Straits, and also as occurring at Puffin Island, and at the mouth of the Kiver Dee, but which, so far as can be ascertained, has not been procured during the expeditions of the Marine Biology Committee. It was found at Beaumaris on August 13th, 1881, by Mr. A. 0. Walker. Cylista undata, Miiller (1788). Sagartia troglodytes, Johnston (1847). Kecorded by Gosse as occurring in the Menai Straits and the estuary of the Mersey, and at Birkenhead, Hilbre Island, Morecambe Bay, and the Isle of Man. Recorded by Byerley as having been found upon the Leasowe Shore and near Egremont Slip. Mr. Byerley {Fauna, p. 106), gives an account of the habits of this species in captivity. This species was found very abundantly during one of the shore expeditions of the Marine Biology Committee to Hilbre Island, but out of a very large number of individuals collected and observed, very few differed from the type form as described by Gosse (var. scolopacina) . Several specimens were noticed 126 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. with orange tentacles surrounding a dull blue disc, but these were so injured by the attempt to detach them that they died without expanding, and whether these belonged to the variety nohilis, Gosse, first brought under his notice by the Honourable Lady Gust, will remain for future observa- tions to verify. This variety was found by Mr. Walker at Llandrillo, in 1879. Among the specimens brought home by myself on this occasion (July 11th, 1885), was one which I was quite unable, after repeated endeavours, to identify with any of the varieties of this most protean species described by Gosse. This form is so very distinct that I have ventured to append a description and a figure of it, and since it possesses a disc of the purest white, I propose the name of var. Candida for it. The following is a description taken from the specimen during life. Cylista uiidata, Miill., var. candid>a, nov. (see PI. II, figs. 3 and 4). Column. — Capable of great elongation, pale drab, with darker longitudinal lines at the base, disappearing at about half the height. Disc. — Pure opaque white, the radii not indicated ; the extreme margin of the disc is translucent deep purple. Mouth. — Concolorous with the disc, slightly elevated on a cone. Tentacles. — Not very numerous, in about five rows, the inner ones being longest. All are pellucid grey, tipped with opaque white ; the inner row, six in number, have a dark purple longitudinal stripe on the face and back; the remainder have similar stripes of scarlet, the whole of the base of the tentacle being sufi*used with the same colour as the stripe. Near the foot of the inner tentacles only, is a faintly indicated dark cloud representing the B mark of the typical form of this species. REPORT ON THE ACTINIARIA. 127 Habitat. — Hilbre Island, at the extreme north extremity, near low-water mark. The varieties of Cylista undata recorded by Mr. P. H. Gosse as inhabitants of our district, principally on the authority of Mr. F. H. West, are as follows : — Var. hypoxantha . . . Morecambe Bay. badifrons do. alhicornu do. nigrifrons do. fidvicornis do. pallidicornis ... do. melanoleuca . . . do. aiiricoma do. luna ... do. nox do. eclipsis do. nycthamera . . . do. nohilis . . Cheshire coast. Adamsia palUata, Bohadsch (1761). Recorded from the Isle of Man, by Gosse. Several specimens were dredged off Spanish Head, between Port St. Mary and the Calf, Isle of Man, from a depth of twenty fathoms, by Professor Herdman, these being, as usual with this species, attached to shells inhabited by the hermit-crab, Pagurus prideauxii. Sagartia sphyrodeta, Gosse (1858). Recorded (Gosse's Actinologia Britannicd) from Hilbre Island, on the authority of Mr. E. L. Williams. Sub -family. — Actinin^ . Actinia equina^ Linne (1766 to 1768). Actinia mesembryayithemum, EUis and Solander (1780). This species, in most localities the commonest anemone, 128 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. is not at all common in the district investigated by the Marine Biology Committee. It has only been taken by mem- bers of the Committee on the Manx coast. The fact of its absence from the Mersey district is thus noted by Gosse * : — "It is a curious fact, for which I am indebted to Mr. E. M. Williams, Jun., that * the Mersey estuary is the only place on the coasts where he has not found this species,' which he attributes to the foulness of the water. This absence would be less remarkable were it not that Tealia crassicornis is abundant there ; but Actinia is clean and Tealia is dirty in its habits. In the neighbouring estuary of the Dee the former is common as usual." Byerley, in his Faunae remarks : — " Mr. Price states that he met once with this species upon our shore. I have a specimen now (1855) alive, which I took at Hilbre ; rare on this coast until this year, when several have been taken." It has not been found at Hilbre Island on any of the expedi- tions of the Liverpool Marine Biology Committee during 1885. The species is common at the south end of the Isle of Man, and also at Colwyn Bay. Anemonia sulcata, Pennant (1766). Anthea cereus, Auct. This species has been obtained by one of the members of the Committee, at Douglas, Isle of Man, the only locality in our district recorded for this species by Gosse, but the con- tracted and bleached state of the specimens prevents any differentiation of varieties. It was also obtained in rock pools on the shore at Port Erin, Isle of Man. Sub-family. — Bunodinje. Tealia crassicornis, Miill. (1776). This is probably the species referred to as Actinia coriacea by Byerley. It is abundant throughout the dis- * Actinologia Britannica. REPORT ON THE ACTINIARIA. 129 trict, but it has nearly disappeared from one locality where it used to be common, viz., below the New Brighton light- house. Most of the specimens seem to belong to the ordinary type form, but Professor Herdman noticed speci- mens at the Isle of Man which answer to the descriptions of the varieties insignis and purpurea of Gosse, while one of the latter form is now in one of the tanks at the Liverpool Museum. Mr. Price recorded the species from New Brighton thirty years ago. It was then very abundant. Bunodes genwiaceus, Ellis and Solander (1786). Recorded by Gosse, from Douglas, Isle of Man. Professor Herdman obtained a number of specimens of this species at Port Erin. The medium-sized specimens shew best the characteristic variation in the size and colour of the warts. Family. — Stichodact ylid^e . Sub -family. — CoRYNAcxiNiE, Corynactis viridis, Allman (1846). This species, which is recorded from the Irish coast by Gosse, was obtained by Professor Herdman, by dredging in deep water off Spanish Head, at the south extremity of the Isle of Man, in August last. From descriptions given to me of the appearance of the specimens during life, I believe these to be of the variety rhodoprasina, Gosse. Capnea sanguinca^ Forbes (1841). Obtained by Professor Forbes, '' in deep water off the Isle of Man, on Nullipore beds." Since, with the exception of Falmouth, this is the only locality recorded for this beau- tiful species, it is very desirable that it should be specially looked for in any future dredgings off the Manx coast. I 130 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Family. — Zoanthid^. Sub-family. — ZoANTHiNiE . Polythoa arenacea, Delle Chiaje (1886). Zoanthus coucJiii, Johnston (1838). Several examples of this species, which is not recorded by Gosse from any locality nearer to us than the Irish coast, were obtained by Professor Herdman, along with Corynactis viridis, off Spanish Head, at the south end of the Isle of Man, from a depth of twenty fathoms. This is therefore a new locality for both these species. The specimens are adherent to fragments of a Nullipore. Family. — Cerianthid^ . Sub-family. — Cerianthin^e . Ceriauthus lloydii, Gosse (1859). So named by Mr. Gosse from its discoverer, Mr. Alfred Lloyd, who found it in the Menai Straits, in July, 1856. This species also deserves to be specially looked for in future expeditions. Of the twenty species of Actiniaria recorded by Gosse as inhabiting the Irish Sea (for one of which, however, Sagartia nivea, he gives no Irish Sea locality), seventeen are known to inhabit the Liverpool Bay district, and of these eleven have been collected by members of the Committee. Only four distinct species {Actinia equina, Cylista undata, Tealia crassicofiiis, and Actinoloha dianthus) are recorded in Byerley's list. They were all obtained in the immediate neighbourhood of Liverpool. 131 REPORT upon the CRINOIDEA, ASTEROIDEA, ECHINOIDEA, and HOLOTHUROIDEA of the L. M. B. C. DISTRICT. By W. a. Herdman, D.Sc, PBOFESSOR OF NATURAL HISTORY IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. LIVERPOOL. This Report deals with all the groups of the Echinodermata with the exception of the Ophiuroidea, which are discussed in a separate paper by Mr. H. C. Chad wick (see p. 140). Most of the species were obtained off the southern end of the Isle of Man, where there is a rich and varied Echinoderm fauna. In the immediate neighbourhood of Liverpool comparatively few species were obtained, although some of them exist in great profusion (e.g., Asterias ritbens at Hilbre Island). The numbers of species to be recorded in the different Echino- derm groups are as follows : — Crinoidea, 1 ; Asteroidea, 11 ; Echinoidea, 6 ; Holothuroidea, 5. Mr. Chadwick (p. 140) discusses six species of Ophiuroidea, making in all twenty- nine Echinodermata. For previous records of occurrence I have made use of Mr. Byerley's Fauna, Forbes' British Star Fishes, The British Association Report upon Marine Zoology, and a List compiled by the Isle of Man Natural History Society, in 1884. I have to thank my friend. Professor Jeffrey Bell, for assistance in regard to the nomenclature and synonymy of some of the species. CRINOIDEA. Family. — Comatulid^. Antedon rosaceus, Link. Comatula rosacea, Link. Forbes, British Star Fishes, p. 5. This species occurs in. deep water around the shores of 132 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. the Isle of Man. It has been dredged by Mr. R. Garner off Douglas Bay, and near Port Erin and The Calf. It is also recorded by Forbes (Brit. Assoc. Rep., 1850), as having been taken off the Isle of Man in twenty-five fathoms. It occurred in abundance in depths of from ten to twenty fathoms off Port Erin, Port St. Mary, and Spanish Head, at the southern end of the Isle of Man, last summer. The specimens were of fair size, and shewed the usual variations in colour ; yellow, tawny, orange, and crimson individuals being obtained. Some of the specimens of Antedon were infested with the interesting little ectoparasite, Myzostoma. The Pentacrinoid larvae of Antedon were obtained during the last week of July and first fortnight of August, attached to seaweeds, from a depth of ten to twenty fathoms, off Port Erin, Isle of Man. ASTEROIDEA. Family. — Asteriad^. Asterias rubenSf Linn. This species, the Uraster ruhens of Forbes' British Star Fishes, and of Byerley's Fauna, is exceedingly abundant on the rocks at the north end of Hilbre Island, between tide marks. In some places the star fishes are so closely placed as to almost entirely cover the rocks for some yards. They seem to have been increasing in numbers at Hilbre Island of late years, and possibly they may be driving away or extermi- nating some of the other animals of the littoral zone. The common star fish is also found in this neighbour- hood by dredging. It was obtained in abundance, and of large size, in Hilbre Swash, during the "Merry Andrew" and ** Spindrift " expeditions, and was dredged, during the cruise of the " Hyaena," off the Great Ormes Head, depth seven to eight fathoms, on May 23rd, 1885. REPORT UPON THE ECHINODERMATA. 133 It is plentiful around the south coast of the Isle of Man, and also in the neighbourhood of Penniaenmawr, and at Fleetwood. Asterias glacialis, Linn. This large species, the Ur aster- glacialis of Forbes and other authors, has been taken in deep water off the Manx coast (Wallace, recorded by Forbes), and has also been found at Port Erin and the Calf of Man, by Mr. Garner.* It has apparently not been found nearer Liverpool. The species is not uncommon further up the west coast. I have dredged it in Lamiash Bay,t Arran, and at the entrance to Loch Fyne, and in the Sound of Mull. Asterias hispida, Pennant. Uraster hispida, Penn. Forbes, British Star Fishes, p. 95. I have referred to this species a small star fish with short and rather rounded rays, which was obtained during the cruise of the " Hyaena," on May 24th, 1885, in the entrance to the Menai Straits, near Bangor. The specimen measures 2*5 cm. in diameter, and seems to agree with the description and figure given by Forbes. This species was originally found by Pennant in Angle- sea, and Dr. Coldstream came upon it on the limestone rocks, near Castletown, Isle of Man. Family. — SoLASTERiDiE. Cribrella sanguinolenta, Sars. Crihella oculata, Penn. Forbes, British Star Fishes, p. 100. Several specimens of this species were dredged off Port Erin, and between Port St. Mary and The Calf, Isle of Man, during August, 1885. It has not been recorded from the • The Holiday Excursions of a Naturalist, by R. Garner, 1867. t ♦* Notes on the ^'auna of Lamiash Bay." Proc. Roy. Phys. Society y Edin., vol. v, p. 193, 1880. 134 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. immediate neighbourhood of Liverpool, and does not occur in the list of Echinodermata drawn up by the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society* in 1884. It was found, however, by Pennant, on the shores of Anglesea ; and Forbes, in his British Association Rej)ort,\ records having dredged the species both off the Isle of Man and off the North Wales coast, from depths of twenty to twenty-five fathoms. Mr. A. 0. Walker informs me that he has found it on the shore at Colwyn Bay. The Manx specimens which we have found are rather small, and have the rays relatively narrower, and the upper surface less spinose, than is usual in the species. Solaster endeca^ Linn. Forbes {Brit. Star Fishes, p. Ill) records this species as being not rare in deep water off the Isle of Man. We have not found it. Solaster papposa, Linn. This common species, the sun-star, is recorded by Byer- ley as being not uncommon at Hilbre Island, Caldy Blacks, New Brighton, &c. Forbes dredged it in deep water around the Isle of Man, and also off the North Wales coast. This species was obtained frequently, during last August, off the southern end of the Isle of Man. It was also obtained during the cruise of the '' Hyaena," off the Great Ormes Head, depth seven to eight fathoms, on May 23rd ; and north of Puffin Island, depth eleven to thirteen fathoms, on May 24th. It has been found on shingle at low water at Blackpool. Family. — Asterinid^. Asterina gibbosa, Pennant. This small species was obtained in abundance during * For a copy of this paper I am indebted to the President of the Society, Mr. P. M. C. Kermode, of Ramsey. + " Report on British Marine Zoology," Part I, British Association Report, 1850, p. 211. REPORT UPON THE ECHINODERMATA. 135 July and August, 1885, at various points on the eastern, southern, and western shores of the Isle of Man. It was found at Bay-ny-Carrickey, near Poyllvaaish, Port 8t. Mary, Port Erin, Fleshwick Bay, etc., always in tidal pools, and usually attached to Corallina officinalis. Prof. Forbes and Dr. Coldstreana found the species in tidal pools at Castletown, Isle of Man, and Mr. R. Garner obtained it from pools amongst the rocks, north-west of the Stack. The specimens which I have collected vary in extreme diameter from 2'5 mm. to 2*8 cm. They were, when living, nearly all of a dull greenish colour, although a few yellowish and reddish specimens also occurred. The specimens from Port St. Mary and the neighbourhood were much larger than those from Port Erin. Palrnipes membranaceuSy Retz. "This species is by no means uncommon in deep water off the coast of the Isle of Man, where I have dredged many specimens." (Forbes, Brit. Star Fishes.) Porania pulvillus^ Gray. Ooniaster tempUtoni, Forbes, Wern. Mem., and Brit. Star Fishes, p. 12 J. Recorded by Forbes from deep water, off the Isle of Man ; and by Garner from near The Calf. Family. — Astropectinid^. Astropecten irregularis, Penn. Asterias aurantiaca, Linn. Forbes, Brit. Star Fishes, p. 130. This species is recorded by Forbes from the Manx coast, and from the coast of North Wales. It is often found cast ashore by storms at Penmaenmawr (Darbishire) ; and has been found at Formby Point (G. H. Morton). A very fine specimen, with the Annelid Mabngrenia 136 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. castanea stretched along one of the ambulacral grooves, was dredged during the cruise of the ** Hyaena," from a depth of fourteen fathoms, at about six miles north of the Great Ormes Head. Luidea savignii, Audouin. Luidea fragillissima, Forbes, Brit. Star Fishes, p. 135. Prof. Forbes states that he has taken this species several times on the Manx coast — always with seven rays. ECHINOIDEA. Order I.-DESMOSTICHA. Family. — Echinid^. Echinus esculentus, Linn. This common species, the Echinus sphcera of Forbes' British Star Fishes, and other works, is common off the south end of the Isle of Man. It was taken frequently last summer in the neighbourhood of Port Erin, and some very large specimens occurred. In one case the Annelid Hermadion assimile was found coiled around the edge of the peristome of the Echinus. One or two specimens have been found, cast ashore near Liverpool, by Mr. Marrat (Byerley) ; and it was obtained at low tide at Hilbre Island, on June 13th, 1885. Forbes {Brit. Assoc. Rep.) records this species from the Isle of Man, but not from the shores of North Wales. It was obtained during the cruise of the " Hyaena," between Puffin Island and Anglesea, on May 25th, 1885, and was taken by Mr. Thompson in the neighbourhood of Penmaenmawr. Echinus miliariSf 0. F. Miiller. This species is recorded by Mr. Byerley as having been taken sparingly in the dredge at the entrance of the Dee ; and by Prof. Forbes from the Isle of Man, and from the coast of North Wales. REPORT UPON THE ECHINODERMATA. 137 It was obtained during the cruise of the " Hyaena " near Puffin Island, on May 24th ; and was taken frequently in the neighbourhood of Port Erin and Port St. Mary, at the south end of the Isle of Man, last summer. The largest specimens measure from 1 cm, to 1*5 cm. in diameter (exclusive of spines). It was also obtained in the neighbourhood of Penmaenmawr in July. Order H.— CLYPEASTRIDA. Family. — Euclypeastrid^. Echinocyamus pusillus, Gray. This little species is not uncommon in this locality. Byerley records having taken several specimens by dredging ; and Forbes {Brit. Assoc. Rep.) has found it both at the Isle of Man and also on the North Wales coast. It was obtained by the Marine Biology Committee, at the follow- ing places in the district during last year's investigations : — (1.) During the cruise of the " Hyaena," on May 23rd, off the Great Ormes Head, depth seven to eight fathoms. (2.) Off the south end of the Isle of Man, near Port Erin, ten to twenty fathoms, and off Spanish Head, fifteen fathoms, bottom Nullipores. (3.) At Hilbre Island, at low tide, on June 13th, 1885. Some dead tests of this species were found worked into the sandy investments of Molgula occulta, dredged off Port Erin, Isle of Man. Order III.— PETALOSTICHA. Family — Spatangid^. Spatangus purpureus, Miiller. Forbes {Brit. Star Fishes, p. 182) records this species as being abundant on the scallop-banks, off the Isle of Man. He has also found it off the coast of North Wales, at a depth of 138 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. twelve fathoms. It is found living of large size at low water in muddy gravel near Beaumaris (Darbishire). One rather small specimen was dredged in August, off Port Erin, Isle of Man, from a depth of fifteen fathoms. Echinocardiuin cordatum, Pennant. Amjihidotus cordatus, Penn. Forbes, Brit. Star Fishes^ p. 190. This species is common in the locality. Byerley records having dredged living specimens, and found dead shells cast ashore. It is very abundant at low water from Pen- maenmawr to Southport. It has been found by the Marine Biology Committee at various points on the coast. Echinocardium Jiavescem, 0. F. Miiller. Amphidotus roseus, Forbes, Brit. Star Fishes, p. 194. This species was found by Forbes, in deep water, on the Manx coast, and also on the North Wales coast. It was dredged last August off Port Erin, Isle of Man, from a depth of fifteen to twenty fathoms ; and a number of small specimens, about 7 mm. in greatest length, probably belonging to this species, were dredged off Bradda Head, near Port Erin, from a depth of fifteen fathoms. HOLOTHUROIDEA. Order.— PEDATA. Family. — Dendrochirot^. Thyone papillosa, Miiller. Forbes dredged this species on the scallop-banks, off the Isle of Man, in 1838, and a single specimen was obtained in August, 1885, from a depth of fifteen fathoms, off Port Erin, Isle of Man. Thyonidium drummondii, Thompson. Oucumaria drurnmondii, Thompson. Guaumaria communis, Forbes and Goodsir. Thyone portlockii, Forbes. REPORT UPON THE ECHINODERMATA. 139 Byerley states that a single specimen of Cihcumaria communis was obtained by a fisherman at Hoylake. Pro- bably it was the present species. A large Holothurian which was found cast ashore alive on the north end of Hilbre Island by the Committee agrees closely with Forbes' description and figure of Thyone portlockii, which is identical with Thyonidium drmmnondii. It has also been found on the beach at Penmaenmawr. Ocnus brunneuSf Forbes. = Ocnus lacteusy Forbes and Goodsir (?) Forbes records this species from the Isle of Man, and a small specimen was dredged in August, 1885, from a depth of fifteen fathoms, off Spanish Head, Isle of Man. Cucumaria pentactes, Miiller. This species is recorded by Forbes (Brit. Assoc. Rep.) from the Isle of Man, twenty fathoms. A single specimen was obtained during the cruise of the "Hyaena," on May 24th, 1885, near Pu£&n Island, from a depth of fourteen fathoms. Cuciimaria hyjidmanni, Thompson. A single specimen of this species was dredged in August, 1885, from a depth of twenty fathoms, off Port Erin, Isle of Man, 140 REPORT on the OPHIUROIDEA of the L. M. B. C. DISTRICT. By Herbert C. Chadwick. The specimens of Ophiuridas, or Brittle Stars, collected in the dredging expeditions of the Liverpool Marine Biology Committee, during the summer of the year 1885, and placed in my hands for examination, include examples of six well- known species, referable to five genera. None of the specimens present features of special interest. OPHIUROIDEA. Family. — Ophiurid^ . Ophioglypha ciliata, Retzius (sp). Asterias ciliata, Retzius, Diss, sisUns species cognitas Astejria- rum, p. 29, 1805. Ophioglypha ciliata, Ljungman, Dr. Goes, Oph. Of. Kong. Akad., p. 651, 1871. Ophiura texturata, [pars], Lamarck, Hist. Anim. sans Vert., p. 542 ; Forbes, Wern. Mem., vol. viii, p. 125, pi. 4, figs. 3, 4 ; British Star Fishes, p. 22. Ophioglypha lacertosa. Lyman, III. Gat. Mus. Comp. Zool., No. I, p. 40 ; Ludwig, Echin. des Mittelmeeres, p. 546. Specimens of this species were dredged from a muddy bottom, at a depth of ten fathoms, in the Menai Straits, oflf Bangor, during the cruise of the " Hyaena." Associated with the next species it occurs in considerable numbers in that locality. It was also found off Port Erin during August. Mr. Byerley * records it as having been taken at * Isaac Byerley " Fauna of Liverpool," Proc. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of Liverpool, 1853-4, No. VIII, Appendix. REPORT ON THE OPHIUROIDEA. 141 Hilbre Island, and dredged at "various points around the coast. It has been found at Formby Point by Mr. Morton. Ophioglypha albida, Forbes (sp). Ophiura albida, Forbes, Wern. Trans., vol. viii, p. 125, pi. 4, figs. 5, 6 ; British Star Fishes, p. 27 ; Lutken, Addit. ad Hist., part i, p. 39, pi, 1, figs. 2a, b Ophioglypha albida, Lyman, III. Cat. Mus. Com]). ZooL, No. I, p. 49, 1805 ; Ludwig, " Anatomie der Ophiuren," Zeits. filr Wissen. Zoologie, vol. xxxi, p. 241 ; Echin. des Mittel- meeres, p. 547. This species, associated with the foregoing, occurs in great numbers in the Menai Straits, where it was dredged during the cruise of the " Hyaena," on May 24th. It was also dredged in August, from a depth of twelve fathoms, ojBf Port Erin, Isle of Man ; bottom gravel and stones ; and from depths varying from ten to twenty fathoms, off Spanish Head and Port St. Mary to The Calf, Isle of Man ; bottom chiefly nuUipore and gravel. Also obtained off Pen- maenmawr. Byerley {loc. cit.) records it as occurring in deep water about the mouth of the Dee and north of Wirral. Ophiopholis acideata, Ketzius (sp). Asterias aculeata, Retzius, Asteria Gen., p. 240, 1783. Ophiojjholis aculeata, Gray, Rad. Animals Brit. Mus., p. 25, 1848 ; Lutken, Addit. ad Hist., part i, p. 60, pi. 2, figs. 15, 10. Ophiocoma bellis. Forbes, Wern. Mem., vol. viii, p. 126; British Star Fishes, p. 63. Ophiopholis bellis, Lyman, Ul. Cat. Mus. Camp. Zool., No. I, p. 96, pi. 1, figs. 4-6. Polypholis echinata (?), Duncan, Journ. Linn. Soc, vol. xv, p. 73, pi. 3 (young). Specimens of this species were dredged in August, off Port Erin, Isle of Man ; depth twelve fathoms ; bottom gravel and stones ; also off Port St. Mary, from a depth of twenty fathoms. 142 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Forbes * records it as occurring commonly in deep water off the Isle of Man. Amphiura squamatciy Delle Chiaje (sp). Asterias squamata, Delle Chiaje, Mem. sulla storia e anatomia degli animali del regno di Napoli, pi. 34, fig. I, 1828. Amphiura squamata, Sars, Oversigt af Norges Echinodermer, p. 21, 1861. OpMocoma neglecta, Forbes, British Star Fishes, p. 30. Amphiura neglecta, Forbes, Trans. Linn Soc, vol. xix, p. 150. Amphiura elegans, Norman, Biology " Valorous " Cruise, Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond., vol. xxv, p. 215. Amphipholis lineata, Ljungman, Dr. Goes, Oph. Of. Kong, Akad, p. 634, 1871. Specimens of this species were dredged during the cruise of the ** Hyaena," in the Menai Straits, off Bangor, from a depth of ten fathoms; bottom muddy. It was again taken in August, from a depth of twelve fathoms, off Port Erin, Isle of Man ; and from rock-pools at Fleshwick Bay, Port Erin, and elsewhere in that neighbourhood, almost always on Corallina officinalis. Byerley (loc. cit.) records it at Hilbre Island, among sea- weed and sponge. We have found it in great abundance under stones at low water spring-tides at Llandudno and Beaumaris ; and, more sparingly, in deep water in the Menai Straits, from Puffin Island to Menai Bridge. Ophiocoma nigray Abildgaard (sp). Asterias nigra, Abildgaard in Miill., Zool- Dan., pi. 98, 1789. Ophiocoma nigra, Miill. and Tr., Wieg. Archiv, p 328, 1840 ; Ast., p. 100. Lyman, III. Cat. Mus. Gomp. Zool., No. 1, p. 81 ; 8yst. Ludwig, Anatomie der Ophiuren, Zeits. fur Wissen. Zoologie, vol. xxxi, p. 241. Ophioeoma granulata, Forbes, British Star Fishes, p. 50. Ophiocoma Nilsonii, Miill. and Tr., Syst. Ast., p. 100, 1842. Specimens of this species were dredged in August, from * Forbes A Hiatory of British Star Fishes. REPORT ON THE OPHIUROIDEA. 143 depths varying from ten to twenty fathoms, off Spanish Head, and from Port St. Mary to Calf, Isle of Man, bottom chiefly Nullipore and gravel. Ophiothrix pentaphyllum, Pennant (sp). Asterias pentaphyllum, Pennant, Brit. Zool., vol. iv, pp. 54, 55, 1812. Ophiothrix pentaphyllum, Ljungman, Dr. Goes, Oph. Of. Kong. Akad., p. 622.; Lyman, Bull. Mus. Gomp. ZooL, vol. ill, part X, p. 249. Ophiocoma rosula, Forbes, British Star Fishes, p. 60. From a depth of fourteen fathoms, in the Sound between Puffin Island and Penmon, Anglesea, the dredge was brought up several times during the cruise of the " Hyaena," com- pletely filled with specimens of this species. It was also obtained opposite Bangor, on May 24th. During August, it was found to occur in great numbers off Spanish Head and Port St. Mary, Isle of Man, at depths varying from ten to twenty fathoms ; bottom chiefly Nullipore and gravel ; and at low-water mark in Douglas Bay. It was also found at Pen- maenmawr, in July. Byerley {loc, cit,) records it as occur- ring plentifully at Hilbre Island. We have found it in large numbers under stones and among the roots of Laminaria at low water spring-tides at Beaumaris, and in deep water at several points between that town and Puffin Island. /«: 144 K. REPORT on the VERMES of the L. M. B. C. DISTRICT. By R. J. Harvey Gibson, M.A., F R.S.E., F.R.M.S. DEMONSTRATOR OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LIVERPOOL. Introduction. The Vermes collected by the Liverpool Marine Biology Committee during the summer of 1885 form a fairly representative series of types of all the main groups. The Chaetopoda, are especially well represented, numbering no less than thirty-seven out of the total number of forty-two species collected. Some of these are particularly interesting, not only as having been found here now for the first time, but also as having been observed only very rarely around our coast. Most of the Tubicolous Annelides are, however, com- mon forms. The classification I have adopted is that of Claus ; * in the nomenclature of species I have followed Mcintosh in his Monographs t on the various groups of British Vermes and his " Challenger " Report, I desire specially to acknowledge my indebtedness to Dr, Mcintosh, F.R.S., for the uniform kindness with which he has answered many questions with regard to the identification of species with which I had difficulty. Of the more important additions to our Fauna, as recorded by Byerley, the following seem worthy of special mention : — Carinella linearis among the Nemertea ; Lagisca propinqua, Harmothoe haliceti, Malmgrenia castanea, Iphione imiricata, Hermadion assimile, Sthenelais zetlandica, Spio- * Traite de Zoologie, 1884. + " Monograph on British Nemerteans," Ray Soc, 1874. Trans. Zool. Sfoc,, vol, 9. Trans. Roy Soc, Ed. 1868-69. "Keport on the Annelida," ' Ghall. ' Exp. Repts. REPORT ON THE VERMES. 145 chcetopterus typicus, Thelepus circinatus, Dasychone lucul- lana, Filograna implexa, Protula protensa, among the PolychsBta. A few observations, more especially on the Polychseta of the collection, form a distinct paper. Class.— Platyelmia. Order IV. — NEMERTEA. Sub-order.— ANOPLA. Family .^Malacobdellid^ . Malacohdella grossa, 0. F. Miiller. A fine specimen of Malacohdella grossa was obtained parasitic in the shell of a live Cyprina islandica, which was found on Lavan Sands, Llanfairfechan. Family. — Lineid-e. Carinella linearis, Montagu. An example of this species was dredged off Port Erin, Isle of Man. In colour, form, and anatomical features it agreed entirely with Montagu's description, as also with Mcintosh's notes in his Ray Society Monograph on the Nemertea. The specimen was of a brick red colour, with white bands, when living, but after preservation in alcohol was of a yellowish white colour, the pale bands and annula- tions being pure white. Only about 1^ in. of the worm was preserved, and that fragment tended to break into segments at the white annul ations. Lineus mai-inus, Montagu. A specimen of this species was obtained in Bay Fine, Isle of Man, coiled around the dredge and its contents. The bottom was composed of stones and loose seaweed. A specimen was also found by Mr. R. D. Darbishire on the beach, east of Beaumaris. K 146 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. This is the Borlasia nigra of Byerley's list. Borlasia octoculata, Johnston. Lineus scmguineus, Rathke. Eecorded by Byerley as having been found by Mr. Weightman on oysters. Class. — Nematelmia. Order.— CH/ETOGNATHA. Sagitta hipunctatay Quoy and Gaimard. This form was found in abundance by tow-netting off Port Erin. During July and August it seems to have occurred in greatest quantity when the water was rather rough and while a strong breeze was blowing. It does not occur in Byerley's list. Class.— Gephyrea. Order.— CH/ETIFERA. Thalassema sp. (?). One specimen of a species apparently belonging to the genus Thalassema was obtained at the entrance to the Menai Straits on the " Hyaena " expedition. The body had a length of 10 mm., while the sheath of the proboscis measured 25 mm. The sheath was grooved and, though swollen at the end, not bifurcated. The body was smooth poste- riorly, but bore two spines anteriorly, ventrally placed and recurved. The alimentary canal was coiled, but the anus was terminal. I have not been able to make out as yet whether the species is one already described, and post- pone further observations till I have investigated that point. Class.— Annelida. Sub-class.— Hirudinea. Family.— Rhynchobdellid-s:. Pontobdella muricata, Linnaeus. REPORT ON THE VERMES. 147 Found by Mr. Darbishire on skates at Southport, and also at Penmaenmawr. Subclass— Chaetopoda. Order.— OLIGOCH>€TA. Family. — LuMBRiciDiE. Lumbricus lineatus, Miiller. Two small worms which I refer doubtfully to this species, were found in mud, in a dredging obtained oflf Hilbre Id., in company with Sahellaria alveolata. They were unmistakably Oligochaeta of the genus Lumbricus, but I am doubtful as to the species. Carrington * mentions L. lineatus as being found in mud at Southport, though " very rare," so that the probability is that the examples obtained by the L. M.B.C. are not far off the form mentioned. Carrington also records L. capitatuSy John., and L. pellucidus, Flem. Order.— POLYCH/ETA. Section A.— ERRANTIA Family. — APHRODiTiDiE. Hermione hystrix, Savigny. Two specimens of this form were obtained, one on a gravelly bottom at a depth of fifteen fathoms, half way between Port Erin and the Calf, Isle of Man, and one on a bottom composed of Nullipores, in twenty fathoms water, off Spanish Head, near Port St. Mary, Isle of Man. It does not occur in Byerley's list. It is noted as occurring at the Channel Islands, on the S. English coast, in the Mediter- ranean, and at St. Vincent. It is figured by Mcintosh in his Report on the '* Challenger " Annelides (pi. viii, fig. 3). Hermione hystrix, under the generic name of Aphrodite, is mentioned by Forbes t as having been found at the Isle of Man and S. Wales. * " Polychaeta of the Southport Shore." Proc. Manch. Lit. and Phil., 1865. British Assoc. Report, 1850. 148 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Aphrodite aculeata, Linnaeus. Mentioned by Byerley as having been found " once at Leasowe, and rarely on other parts of the shore ; " and by Forbes (loc, cit.), as having been taken at the Isle of Man, and also by Carrington on the Southport sands. A specimen of A. aculeata was dredged by the L.M. B. C. in the Channel between Puffin Island and Anglesea. It has also been frequently brought for the Liverpool Museum Aquaria by Liverpool fishermen ; and used to be found occasionally at Egremont, and on the Bootle shore, by the Museum Collector, Mr. Wood. Family. — Polynoid^ . Lagisca projnnquay Malmgren. One specimen of this species was obtained in Hilbre Swash, from a depth of four fathoms. The specimen was in a rather mutilated condition, but the characteristic markings on the spines, the scales, the dark spots at the bases of the feet, and the absence of the tentacle proved its identity with Malmgren's species, corresponding with Mcintosh's figures. * The colouring of the head region did not agree with Mcintosh's description, but the colour is not of much specific value. The species does not occur in Byerley' s list ; it is mentioned, however, by Mcintosh as having been found at St. Andrews and Shetland. Harmothoe lunulata^ Delle Chiaje. Polynoe maculosa, Carrington, Proc. Manch. Lit. Phil. Soc , 1865. This species is described by Mcintosh {loc, cit.) and by Carrington {loc. cit.), in detail. Acholoe astericola, Delle Chiaje. Polynoe asterince, Carrington, Proc. Manch. Lit. and Phil , 1865. This species is described both by Mcintosh and Carring- * Trans. Zool. Soc, vol. ix, p. 376, pi. Ixvii, 12. REPORT ON THE VERMES. 149 ton ; by the latter as being found commensal on Astroj^ecten irregularis {Asterias aurantiaca of Forbes) from Southport. Harmothoe haliceti, Mcintosh. This species was first dredged in fifty-three fathoms in the Minch by Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys, and afterwards during the " Knight Errant " Expedition in the Faroe Channel. Mcintosh describes and figures the species in the Trans. Zool. Soc. (loc. cit.), and the body and scales in the " Chal- lenger " Keport (p. 96). Unfortunately the scales in the specimen obtained by the L. M. B. C. were absent; the spines, position of the eyes, and cirri, however, agree with Mcintosh's account. The specimen was found at Port Erin, Isle of Man, in about fifteen fathoms water. It was about 20 mm. in length. It is not recorded by Byerley. Harmothoe imbricata, Linnaeus. A large number of examples of this form were found under stones, and on rocks and loose stones, covered with seaweed, and also abundantly in rock pools. They were most plentiful at low water-mark. Most of the specimens were obtained at Bay ny Carrickey, between Port St. Mary and Poyllvaaish, Isle of Man. A few were also obtained from Hilbre and the Anglesea coast. Probably this is the Polynoe cirrata of Byerley's and Carrington's lists. The latter mentions them as '' very rare " ; that may, no doubt, be explained by their preferring a rocky shore. Malmgrenia castanea, Mcintosh. This rather rare species, which has not been previously recorded as having been observed on this coast, was found as a commensal in the ambulacral groove of AstroiJecten irregu- laris, between the rows of pedicels. The head of the worm was level with the peristome. It has been dredged by Gwyn Jeffreys off North Unst, Shetland, in ninety to ninety-six fathoms, in 1867, and again in 1868, as a commensal near 150 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. the mouth of Spatangus purpureus, from a depth of eighty- five fathoms, and a shell-sand bottom. He also obtained it in eighty fathoms ofi* Valentia, in a hundred and ten fathoms off Blasquet, and in the Channel Islands (Mcintosh, Trans, Zool, SoCf loc. cit.) The two specimens obtained by the L. M. B. C. were dredged with their host from a depth of fourteen fathoms from a sandy bottom, six miles north of the Great Ormes Head. The species is fully described but not figured (save the spines) by Mcintosh (loc. cii.)* Iphione muricata, Savigny. One specimen of this species was obtained from the Beaumaris shore. It was very large, but all the scales were unfortunately removed. There was, however, no difficulty in including it under Savigny' s species, with which it agreed in the structure of the head, spines, and cirri. Mcintosh, in the Report on the '' Challenger " Annelida, describes this form, which he contrasts with Iphione cimeXy collected on that expedition. Savigny describes and figures Iphione muricata. f Polynoe floccosa, Savigny. One large and two small specimens of this Polynoe were found along with Harmothoe imbricata at Bay ny Carrickey. It is a common form round our coast, and is described and .the spines figured in the Trans. Zool. Soc. (loc. cit.)^ by Mcintosh. It is not recorded by Byerley. Polynoe squamata, Linnaeus. A number of examples of Polynoe squamata were found on the shore at Hilbre, and also in dredgings in eight fathoms in Hilbre Swash from a gravel bottom. One small specimen was obtained at Port St. Mary, Isle of Man. Byerley mentions it as having been found at Hilbre and at New Brighton. * Syst. des Annel., p. 21 and pi. iii, fig. 1. f Vid. Notes on some of the Polychceta of the L.M.B.C. District Report I. REPORT ON THE VERMES. 151 The species is worked out in detail by Bourne. * Carrington {loc. cit.) mentions two varieties of this form, both of which occur in the collection of the L. M. B. C. The markings on the scales are, however, very variable. Hermadion assimile, Mcintosh. This form was first found by Mcintosh at St. Andrews, and afterwards (according to that author) " on the west coast of Ireland, south of England, and off the Spanish coast in the ' Porcupine ' expedition." The species is described by Mcintosh in Trans. Zool. Soc. {loc. cit.) Two examples were found by the L. M. B. C. They were coiled round the peristome of Echinus esculentus hidden by the peristomial spines. The Echinus was dredged from a gravel bottom, in ten fathoms water, at Bay Fine, near Port Erin, Isle of Man. The species has not been previously recorded from this coast. Most of the scales fell off so soon as the animal was removed from the Echinus^ otherwise both examples were very perfect and agreed entirely with the characters of the species as laid down by Mcintosh. t Family.— SiGALioNiD^ . Sthenelais zetlandka, Mcintosh. This form, first dredged by Gwyn Jeffreys, off Shetland, was met with near Port Erin. One specimen only, was obtained in the dredge, in twenty fathoms of water. The example from which Mcintosh described the species was a fragmentary one, the anterior region being injured and the head absent. His description of those parts which he was able to observe tallies, however, with the specimen obtained at Port Erin. The head was absent also in the Port Erin specimen, and from the length of the fragments obtained one being over 30 mm. long), after having been for some * Trans. Linn. Soc, 1883. t Vid. Notes on some of the Polychceta of the L.M.B.C. District Re-port I. 152 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. months in spirit), the complete animal appears to be of con- siderable dimensions. Pholo'e minuta, Fabricius. Pholoe inornata, Johns. Mentioned by Carrington * as having been very rarely found on the sands at Southport. It was not found by the L. M. B. C, although, it is true, comparatively little shore work was done on the expeditions. Sigalion sp. (?). Carrington (loc, cit.), describes a Sigalion as having been found at Southport (Sigalion Carriiigtonii, C. H. Brown), which does not however seem to be recognised by subsequent authors. Family. — NEPTHYiDiE. Nepthys longisetosa. Oersted. Nepthys hombergii, Aud. & M. Edw. One specimen of this form was dredged off Hilbre Island. It is a native of the Mediterranean and the North Sea, and has been found at Hilbre, and recorded by Byerley under the synonym of Nepthys hombergii. A small fragment of a worm, which was, by its spines, referred to this species, was obtained at Port Erin. Carrington records N, hombergii, from Southport Sands. Nepthys margaritacea, Sars. Recorded by Carrington from Southport. Family. — PnYLLODociDiE. Eulalia viridis, 0. F. Miiller. A small specimen of this species was obtained in the " Hysena " Expedition, off Grreat Ormes Head. The pro- boscis was very long and fully everted. The specimen * Proc. Manch. Lit. and Phil., 1865. REPORT ON THE VERMES. 153 seems to have been young, and the spines were small and in various stages of development. This is probably the Phyl- locloce viridis of Byerley's list. Phyllodoce lamelligeray Johnston. Phyllodoce vittata, Ehlers. Phyllodoce attenuata, Carrington. Phyllodoce clava^ Carrington. These species are all recorded by Carrington as having been found by him on the sands at Southport. Probably his P, clava is P. clavigera (of Aud. and Ed.). P. attenuata seems to be only a variety of P. lamelligera. None of these were however obtained by the L. M. B. C, probably for the reason already assigned, viz., that no systematic shore exploration has yet been organised. Family. — Syllid Ji: . Syllis armillariSf 0. F. Miiller. Three specimens were obtained in the dredge in eleven to thirteen fathoms north of Puffin Island, on the Anglesea coast. It is mentioned by Byerley as being rare on this coast. Syllis prolifera, Miiller. Mentioned by Carrington as " abundant in wet places, but covered by a stratum of mud, and hence, as also from its minute size, easily overlooked." Pollicita peripatiis, Johnston. Carrington says, " Several specimens were found at the base of Alcyonium digitatum brought from deep water after storms." Syllis noctilucay Savigny. This form was found by Dr. Edwards, and recorded by Byerley, from the mud at the Landing Stage, Liverpool. It 154 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. has probably been exterminated during the formation of the new stage. Myrianida fasciata, M. -Edwards. Found at Hilbre by Byerley, but not observed since. Family. — Nereids. Nereis pelagica, Linnaeus. Abundant at Hilbre and the coast generally ; also at Pufi&n Island, Anglesea, and Penmaenmawr. Some large specimens were obtained at Port St. Mary, Isle of Man. It is probably the Nereis margaritacea of Byerley's list. Nereis viridis, Linnaeus. This species was also obtained from Port St. Mary, Isle of Man. Byerley mentions it, but does not specify the locality. Both this species and N. pelagica, are recorded by Carrington from Southport. Nereis hrevimana, Johnston. Nereis margaritacea, Leach. Nereis dumerillii, Aud. and M.-Edw. Nereis hilineata, Johnston. These species are all recorded by Carrington as having been found in refuse of fishing-boats, &c., at Southport. Family. — Lumbriconereid^. Lumhriconereis fragilis, 0. F. Miiller. One specimen of this species was obtained from Port St. Mary, Isle of Man, and fragments of three or more from Puffin Island, Anglesea. It is described by Miiller as being common in the North Sea, and was found during the " Porcupine " expedition, in fifty- three fathoms, near the island of Bona. Family. — Eunicid^. Eunice sp. (?) One or two fragments of Annelides were obtained from REPORT ON THE VERMES. 155 Port St. Mary, Isle of Man, which from their general appearance and from the structure of the spines were obviously to be referred to the genus Eunice, but the species could not be made out with certainty. Family. — Goniadid^ . Goniada macidata, Johns. This species is recorded by Carrington from Southport, but neither that, nor the following one, was collected by the L. M.B.C. Goniada alcockiama, Carrington. This species has not been included by more recent writers on the Annelida. If identical with a previously-named species, I have not been able to discover its synonym. Family. — Glycerid^ . Glycera alba, Miiller. Mentioned by Carrington {loc. cit.), as having been found by him ''among the tufts of Antennularia antennina.'' Section B — SEDENTARIA. Family. — Opheliad^. Ophelia coarctata, M.-Edw. Recorded by Carrington from Southport. Family. — M^ ad^ . Mcea mirabilis, Johnston. A rare Annelid, first described by Johnston, and found by Carrington at Southport. Family. — Ch^topterid^. Spiochcetopterus typicus, Sars. A large example of this species was found at low water at Beaumaris. The specimen inhabited a pergamentaceous tube 156 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. which was buried in shingly sand. The specimens obtained in the '* Porcupine " Expedition, were dredged from five hundred fathoms. Mcintosh however, remarks that the species found by the " Challenger," were all shallow water forms. Family. — Spionid^. No members of this family were found by the L. M. B. C, but the following species are recorded by Dr. Carrington, from Southport : — Spio seticornis, Fabricius. Probably this is the Spio crenaticornis of Montagu. Spio quadricornis, Lamarck. Nerine vulgaris^ Johnston (doubtfully). Nerine coniocephala, Johnston. Family. — Telethusid^ . Arenicola piscatorum, Lamarck. Everywhere abundant, and used for bait along the coast, from the Dee estuary northwards. Family. — Cirratulid^. Cirratulus horealis, Lamarck. Very abundant on the Cheshire coast. A large number of species were obtained also at various places on the coast, near Port St. Mary and Port Erin, Isle of Man, under stones, in mud, and amongst decaying Algae. Cirratulus cirratus, 0. F. Miiller. One specimen was dredged off Port St. Mary, Isle of Man, but was in a rather mutilated condition. It has not been recorded before from this locality. Family. — Hermellid-^. Sahellaria alveolata, Savigny. Sahellaria anglica, Grube. The tubes of this species form great encrusting masses REPORT ON THE VERMES. 157 at Hilbre and other places on the coast. Tubes were also dredged in Hilbre Swash, and trawled in eight fathoms water off the Great Ormes Head. Very large beds are also to be found near the Lighthouse, at Fleetwood. Its geological significance has been referred to by Herdman.* It is recorded by Byerley as being very abundant at New Brighton, Caldy Blacks, and Hilbre. Carrington also mentions it under the synonym of S. anglica, as being parasitic on the whelk and other shells. Sabellaria crassissimciy Lamarck. "Rare" (Carrington). Sabella unispira, Savigny (?). The worm recorded as Sabellaria unispira by Byerley, is probably Sahella unispira of Savigny, and as such is marked " a doubtful species " in the Brit. Assoc. List, 1860, and does not appear in subsequent lists. Family.— Amphictenid^. Pectinaria helgica, Pallas. Recorded by Carrington. This species was dredged in six to seven fathoms on a sandy bottom from the west end of Constable Bank, Llan- dudno ; from a gravel bottom in twenty fathoms at Port Erin, Isle of Man ; and at low water, in great abundance, on Waterloo shore. Pectinaria auricoma, 0. F. Muller. This is the Amphitrite auricoma of Byerley's list. These two forms seem to be in want of re-description in order to decide whether there are any real points of distinction. t Many empty tubes were obtained which might have belonged to this species, but no live forms were obtained in the collection of the L. M. B. C. • Froc. Geol. Soc. Liverpool, Sess. 1884-5. t See separate Paper on this subject further on in this volume. 158 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Ops, spp. (?). Carrington describes two new species of a genus Ops. I am in some doubt as to the name as the genus does not seem to be recognised by more recent investigators. Amphitrite ventilahrum, Kiss. Mentioned by Byerley as often confounded with A, {Pectinaria) auricoma. No example was dredged by the L. M. B. C. Sabella ventilahrum of Carrington's list is probably the same form. Family. — Chlor^mid-si Siphonostomwn gelatinosum, Dr. Herdman informs me that he found and identified an example of this species at Hilbre, on July 11th, 1885. The worm was unfortunately not preserved. Family. — Terebellid^. Terehella conchilega, Pallas. This common form was obtained plentifully at Hilbre. It is recorded by Byerley and by Carrington as having been found generally about the shore. A number of specimens were also obtained from Port Erin, Isle of Man. Terehella crysodon, Montagu. Terehella constrictor, Montagu. These forms are mentioned by Carrington, but were not found by the L. M. B. C. Terehella nehulosa, Grube. Found abundantly in the dredge off Port Erin, Isle of Man, its muddy tubes coiled in the interior of large lamelli- branch shells, &c. Recorded from Hilbre by Byerley. Thelepus circinatus, Fabricius. One specimen of this form was obtained from Penmaen- REPORT ON THE VERMES, 159 mawr. The species was dredged by the *' Knight Errant " off the north coast of Scotland in 1880. It does not appear in Byerley's list. Family. — SABELLiDiE. Sabella penicilhis, Linnaeus. Sabella pavonia, Savigny. One very large specimen and a few smaller ones were obtained, the former in the dredge off the Great Ormes Head, the latter at Hilbre. It is not recorded by Byerley. Dasychone lucidlana, Delle Chiaje. Two specimens of the animal were obtained, but no tubes. They were dredged off Puffin Island, on the Anglesea coast, from a depth of twelve fathoms. It does not occur in Byerley's list. Family. — Serpulid^e. Serpula vermicularis, Linnaeus. This species, the common Serpula, is found abundantly over rocks and shells on the coast. Specimens were obtained from Hilbre, and plentifully at the Isle. of Man. It occurs in Byerley's list. Serpula triquetra, Linnaeus. This form was obtained at Penmaenmawr, and is recorded by Carrington, and by Byerley, under the synonym of Vermilia triquetra. Spirorbis borealis, Davidson. Spirorbis communis, Fleming. This Serpulid is very abundant on the seaweed, stones, &c. on the shore. Some very fine specimens were found encrusting CoralUna officinalis, at Fleshwick Bay, Isle of Man. Mentioned by Carrington under the synomyn S. com- munis. 160 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Spirorbis lucidus, Montagu. Spirorbis minutus, Montagu. Both mentioned by Carrington. S, lucidus is recorded by Byerley. Byerley also mentions S. nautiloides and S, rugosa. I have not been able to discover for what these names are synonyms ; neither specific name occurs in any list of Spirorbes that I am acquainted with. Filograna implexa, Berkeley. This species was obtained at low water, between Port St. Mary and Spanish Head, Isle of Man, attached to the roots of Laminaria. It is not recorded by Byerley. Protula protensa, Grube. A number of tubes of this form were dredged between Port St. Mary and Spanish Head, Isle of Man, depth, twenty fathoms. No animals were found however, in the tubes, and they have been referred to this species doubtfully. It has not been recorded by Byerley, but was dredged during the " Porcupine " expedition, in five to thirty fathoms, north of ^ the Island of Bona. (?). Certain tubes of small size forming an irregular mass were dredged at Port Erin, Isle of Man. No inhabitants were found in the tubes. They are leathery, and resemble some Annelid tubes. Dr. Mcintosh, F.K.S., to whom I referred the matter, gives it as his opinion that they are the tubes of a Crustacean, probably a species of Cerapus, but thinks it unsafe to dogmatise. Family. — Tomopterid-^. Tomopteris onisciformis, Eschscholtz. Young specimens of this form were found in the tow-net off Port Erin, Isle of Man, on August 7th, 1885. This is the common Tomopteris of the British seas, and does not call for more detailed notice. It is not recorded by Byerley. 161 REPORT on the POLYZOA of the L. M. B. C. DISTRICT. By Joseph Lomas, ASSOCIATE OF THE NORMAL SCHOOL OF SCIENCE. Introduction. In the autumn of 1751, a collection of Sea-plants and Coral- lines, gathered from the shores of Anglesey and Ireland, was sent to a London merchant named Ellis. He disposed of this material *' on thin boards covered with clean white paper, in such a manner as to form a kind of landscape, making use of two or three sorts of Ulva marina or Sea-Liverwort, of different colours, in designing a variety of hills, dales, and rocks, which made proper ground- work and keeping for the little trees, which the expanded Sea-plants and Corallines not unaptly represented." * Her Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales was pleased to accept some of these landscapes from Mr. Ellis, and, in order to get a greater variety, he collected specimens from other localities. While examining and arranging this material by means of a microscope '* in order to distinguish their proper characters with the greater accuracy," he soon discovered " that they differed not less from each other, in respect to their form, than they did in regard to their texture ; and that, in many of them, this texture was such, as seemed to indicate their being more of an animal than vegetable nature." t Peysonnel, a French physician, had made this discovery * Ellis, CoralL, Introd., p. v. ilbid. p. vi. L 162 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. some time before, but he was discredited, and the leading naturalists of the day stoutly opposed his views. In 1755, Ellis published an Essay towards a Natural History of the Corallines, in which he described and figured the forms he believed to be animals. Considering the means of observation at his command, the illustrations strike us with wonder on account of their marvellous accuracy. Among the Corallines, he described a considerable num- ber of Polyzoa, so I think we can fairly claim that Ellis was the first one to work at this group of animals in our neighbourhood. Since that time other eminent naturalists have been attracted to this field of labour. Notable amongst these I may mention Prof. E. Forbes, F.R.S., and the Eev. Thos. Hincks, B.A., F.K.S., whose invaluable work on the British Marine Polyzoa has furnished a great portion of the material for this report. The whole of our district, however, has not been thoroughly examined, for while the Isle of Man, the coast of North Wales, and the neighbourhood of Hilbre Island have been the favourite resorts of collectors, the coast of Lanca- shire, particularly the part extending from Liverpool to Blackpool, seems to have been almost untouched. Up to the present I have been able to record ninety-eight species occurring in our area, divided among the four great groups as follows : — Cheilostomatous forms 66. Cyclostomatous forms 13. Ctenostomatous forms 17. Entoproctous forms 2. One species I insert with considerable hesitancy — viz., Memhranipora flemingii. In the British Marine Polyzoa it is described as " common, and generally distributed on our coasts," but no special localities are given. But as we could REPORT ON THE POLYZOA. 163 not expect to get all the common forms even, as the result of one season's labour, we may hope for additions to our lists as the results of further search. I have followed mainly the classification of Mr. Hincks, as laid down in the British Marine Polyzoa, with a few alterations rendered necessary by the researches of Prof. Lankester.* In conclusion, I must express my gratitude to the Eev. Thos. Hincks, B.A., F.R.S., whose valuable help in deter- mining species, about which I was in doubt, has always been very willingly given ; to Mr. Quelch, B.Sc, of the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, for kindly placing the National Collection at my disposal for reference, and also for kindly advice and help in naming the specimens ; and to Professor Herdman, D.Sc, whose valuable assistance, amid pressing avocations, has always been most readily accorded me. Class.— POLYZOA. J. V. Thompson. Syn. Bryozoa. Ehrenberg, &c. Tentaculihranchia. E. Ray Lankester. Section.— Eupolyzoa. E. R. Lankester. Sub- Class.— Ectoprocta. Nitsche. Order.— GYM NOLCEM ATA. Allman. Syn. Polyzoa infundihulata Busk, B. M. Cat. Sub-order. I.— CHEILOSTOMATA. Busk. Syn. Celleporina. Ehrenberg. Family I. — Aeteid-e. Genus Aetea, Lamouroux. Only three species of Aetea have been found m British Seas, and they are all represented in our area. * Ency. Brit., 9th edit. ; article ♦' Poljrzoa." 164 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Aetea anguina^ Linnaeus. Anguinaria spatulata, Lamk., A7i. s. Vert. (ed. 2) ii, 196. Busk, Trans. Micr Soc. for 1849, 123, pi. i, figs. 7, 8. Johnston, B. Z., (ed 2), 290, pi. i. figs. 7, 8. Found in great abundance on Hydrozoans cast up on shore at West Kirby (Lomas) ; also occurs at Ramsay, Isle of Man, and Llandudno (Hincks). Holyhead (Higgins). Aetea recta, Hincks. Hippothoa sica, Johnston, B. Z. (ed. 2) 292. Smitt {(Efvers K. Vel-akadf Forhandl, 1867), regards this as a variety of A, anguina. Occurs in the Isle of Man (Hincks). Dredged in con- siderable abundance by Professor Herdman, off Port Erin, (ten to fifteen fathoms). Aetea tru7icata, Landsborough. Anguinaria truncata, Landsb. (Bop. Hist. Brit. Zoojyh., 288). Common in the Isle of Man, on oyster-shells (Hincks). Erect and composite forms near Port Erin (ten to fifteen fathoms), on sea-weed. Family II. — Eucratiid^. Genus Eucratea, Lamouroux. Syn. Sertularia (part). Linn. Scruparia, Busk. Only two species have been described belonging to this genus, E. ambigua, D'Orb., a native of South America, and E, chelata, abundant in Australia and Europe. Eucratea chelata, Linn. Scruparia ehelata, Busk, B. M. Cat, i, 29. In the British Marine Polyzoa Mr. Hincks describes two varieties of this species : — Var. «. repens. Zooecia decumbent and adnate ; aper- REPORT ON THE POLYZOA. 165 ture scarcely marginate, branches given off from the sides of the cells (B. M. P., plate v, fig. 3). Var. (3. gracilis. Zooecia very slender and elongate, tubular below and enlarged above. While examining the material dredged by Professor Herdman last summer about the south-west coa^t of the Isle of Man, I came across some forms of this species which were very much more elongated than the forms described and figured in the B. M. P. This character held for a great number of specimens, and it may be well to class them as a distinct variety, (y) elongata, of which I give a figure. (See Plate III, fig. 1.) Var. a. repens was dredged by Mr. Hincks off the Maughold Head, near Ramsey, "where it is common, and spreads in rather large dendritic patches over oysters and other shells." Bangor, Rhyl (Shrubsole). Beaumaris (Walker). Holy- head (Higgin). Genus Gemellaria, Savigny. Syn. Crisia (sp.) Lamx., Lamk. This genus only includes one British species. Gemellaria loricata, Linn. Gemellaria loricata, Johnston, B. Z. ; Alder. Cellaria loriculata, Ellis & Sol. ; Lamk. Found in great abundance on the Lancashire coast at Lytham, &c. Llandudno (Hincks). Rhyl (Shrubsole). Puffin Island (Walker). Hilbre I. (Lomas). Dredged in the '' Merry Andrew" Expedition (May 9th), (ten to eleven fathoms), at Hilbre Swash. Family III. — Cellulariid^e. Syn. Cellularidte. (part). Johnst., Brit. Zooph. Cellulariada, Busk, B. M. Gat. CabereaxlcB, id. ibid. Cellulariea (part), Smitt. 166 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Genus. Cellularia, Pallas. Only one British member of this genus. Cellularia peachii, Busk. Cellularia neritina, var., Johnston. Given as occurring near Liverpool, by Byerley. Genus. Scrupocellaria, Van Beneden. Syn. Cellularia, Pall., Johnst., Smitt. Canda, Busk. This genus forms a large group, and is widely distribu- ted. About twenty species are known. Found sparingly in northern latitudes, but more common in southern seas. Five British species. Scrupocellaria scruposa, Linn. Cellularia scruposa, Pall., Flem., Johnst., Smitt. Generally distributed around our coasts (Hincks). Isle of Man. Penmaenmawr (Lomas). Hilbre Island (Rev. H. H. Higgins). Colwyn Bay (Shrubsole, Walker). Holy- head (Higgin). Scrupocellaria scrupea. Busk. Found on shore at West Kirby (Lomas), and dredged off Port Erin (five to ten fathoms), by Professor Herdman ; and in the " Merry Andrew " Expedition, at Hilbre Swash (ten to eleven fathoms). North Wales (Shrubsole). Not previously recorded in this district. Scrupocellaria reptans, Linn. Cellularia reptans, Pall, Johnston, Smitt. Canda reptans, Busk, B. M. Cat Very common. Isle of Man, on Pecten and Laminaria; Penmaenmawr, West Kirky, &c. Colwyn Bay and Beaumaris (Walker). Holyhead (Higgin). Family IV. — Bicellariid-^. Syn. Bicellariece. Smitt. REPORT ON THE POLYZOA. 167 Genus Bicellaricif Blainville. Syn. Cellularia. Pallas (part), Flem., Jolinst. Crisia fpart) Lam,, Van Ben. Confined to Australian Seas, except two British forms, B. ciliata and B. alderi (N. Scotland). BiceMaria ciliata, Linn. Cellularia ciliata. Pall., Flem., Johnst. Crisia ciliata, Lam., Van Ben. Fleetwood, on a buoy ; Menai Straits (Hincks). West Kirby, on Algae, abundant. Hilbre (Lomas). Bangor and Southport (Pennington). Ehyl (Shrubsole). New Brighton (Marrat). Bootle (Tudor). Colwyn Bay (Walker). Holyhead (Higgin). Genus Bugula, Oken. Syn. Cellularia, Pall., Johnst. Bugulina, Gray. Avicularia, J. V. Thompson, Gray. Very widely distributed. Eight British species are known. Bugula turhinata, Alder. Dredged off Gt. Orme's Head ; Isle of Man (Hincks) ; Menai Straits (Alder) ; Hilbre Island, in great abundance (Lomas). Colwyn Bay (Shrubsole). Bugula flahellata, J. V. Thompson. Flustra avicularis, J. Sowerby, Flem., Johnst. Bugula avicularia, Smitt. On Flustra, Isle of Man (Lomas) ; Bootle (Tudor) ; Llandudno, N.W. (Hincks) ; West Kirby (Lomas) ; Menai Straits (Pennington) ; Seacombe (Marrat). Colwyn Bay (Shrubsole). Dredged during the " Hyaena '* Expedition. 168 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Bugula aviciilaria, Linn. Sertularia avicularia, Linn. Cellularia avicularia^ Landsb., &c. Blackpool (Pennington) ; Hilbre Island (Byerley) ; Colwyn Bay (Shrubsole). Holyhead (Higgin). Bugula pkimosa, Pallas. Grisia plumosa, Lamx. Crisularia plumosa, Gray, B.M. Cat., Rad. iii. Cellularia plumosa, Pallas, Couch. Found at Fleetwood on a buoy (Hincks.) Very beautiful specimens have been dredged during the summer off Penmaenmawr by Mr. Thompson, and off Port Erin by Prof. Herdman ; Menai Straits (Pennington), Bootle Shore and Hilbre (Marrat). Bugula imrpurotincta, Norman. Cellularia plumosa, Johnst., B.Z., Sars. Bugula fastigiata, Alder, Cat. Zooph., North and Durham, 59. Bugula avicularia forma fastigiata, Smitt. Menai Straits (Hincks). This is a northern form, and Menai Straits is the most southern locality yet noted. Genus Beania, Johnst. Only one British representative. Beania mirabiliSf Johnston. Found on weed. Isle of Man (Hincks). Dredged by Prof. Herdman off Port Erin (five to ten fathoms). Family V. — Notamiid^. With single representative Notamia hursaria, Linn., not found in our area. Family VI.— Cellariid^. Syn. JEscharida (part), Johnst. Salicornaridoi, Busk. CellariecD, Smitt. REPORT ON THE POLYZOA. 169 Genus Cellaria, Lamouroux (part). Salicornaria, Cuvier, Johnst., Busk. Farcimia, Fleming. This genus ranges from New Zealand and Tasmania to Spitzbergen, and geologically as far back as the Cretaceous epoch. It was obtained during the " Challenger " expedition at depths from 2,000 to 3,000 fathoms. Three British species. Cellaria Jistulosay Linn. Salicornaria salicornia, Cuvier. Farcimia Jistulosaf Flem. Salicornaria far ciminoides, Johnst., Busk, Reuss. Hincks {Brit, Mar, Poly., 106) gives no less than twenty-four synonyms which have been applied to this species. Generally distributed. Dredged in large quantities in the Isle of Man by Prof. Herdman off Spanish Head (twenty fathoms). Colwyn Bay (Shrubsole). Isle of Man (twenty- five fathoms) (Forbes). Holyhead (Higgin). This species is met with at great depths, being found on the Falmouth and Lisbon Cable at 89 to 205 fathoms (Sir James Anderson). Family VII.— Flt] stride. Syn. Escharidce (part), Johnst., Pall. FlustradcB (part), Busk. Genus Flustra, Linn. Syn. Eschara (part), Pallas, Linn. Flustra sp., Linn., Lamk., Johnst., Busk, Smitt. Carbasea, Gray, Busk. Universally distributed. Most abundant in northern latitudes. Five British species. 170 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Flustra foliacea, Linn. Eschara foliacea, Linn, Ell. and Sol., Lamk., Van Ben, Found everywhere. Very abundant at Hilbre Island, West Kirby, New Brighton, Holyhead, Isle of Man, &c., at low-water mark. Flustra papyracea, Ellis and Sol. Flustra chartacea, Couch, Johnst. Hilbre, very scarce (Byerley). Flustra carbasea, Ellis and Solander. Carbasea papyracea, Gray, Bt. M. Cat. Carbasea Papyrea, Busk, B.M. Cat., Alder. Bootle, rare (Tudor). Flustra securifrons, Pallas. Narrow-leaved hornwracTc, Ellis. Eschara securifrons, Pallas. Flustra truncata, Linn., Lamk., Flem., Johnst., Busk. Chiefly a northern form. Rhyl (Shrubsole). Not pre- viously recorded. Family VIII. — Membranipgrid.^. Syn. CelUporidcB, Johnst. Genus Membranipora, Blainville. Syn. Flustra (part), Linn, Lamk., Flem., Lam. Has a wide range both in space and time, ranging to the Cretaceous epoch. 23 British species. Membranipora lacroixii, Audouin. Bijlustra lacroixii^ Smitt., Flor., Bryoz. Membranipora membranacea, Johnst. Flustra lacroixii, Savigny. Ramsey, Isle of Man, on stones in tide-pools (Hincks). Altcar and New Brighton on Buccinum (Lomas). Colwyn Bay (Shrubsole). REPORT ON THE POLYZOA. 171 Memhranipora monostachySy Busk. Memhranipora pilosa forma Monostachys, Smitt. Dredged on a stone in Liverpool Bay, by Professor Herd- man. Not previously recorded in this district. Memhranipora catemdaria, Jameson. Hippothoa catenularia, Flem., Johnst., Busk. Isle of Man, dredged by Prof. Herdman. Not previously recorded in our district. Memhranipora pilosa, Linnaeus. Flustra pilosa, Liun, Lamk., Flem. Annulipora dentata, Gray. This species is found everywhere, and is the most abundant form met with in our seas. The masses of sea-weed left by the tide at high-water mark are frequently found covered with it. On Sertularians, it usually has the appearance of a brown hairy covering, but when found on Laminaria, or red Algae, it forms a beautiful silvery crust. Memhranipora memhranacea, Linn. Flustra membranacea, Linn., Ellis and Sol., Johnst., &c. Found mostly on Fuci, and is very generally distributed. (Byerley). North Wales (Shrubsole). Hilbre (Marrat). It is remarkable that this species, which is regarded as a very common one, was not once met with among the specimens collected during the present season. Memhranipora hexagona, Busk. Flustra coriacea, Johnst. Found on shells and stones. Only a few localities have been recorded where this species occurs, viz. : — Isle of Man on Pecten opercularis (E. Forbes), and on the coast of Devon (Miss Cutler), Peterhead (Peach). 172 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Membranipora lineata, Linnaeus. Flustra lineata, Linn., Johnst. Callopora lineata, Gray. Common in the Isle of Man. Forms rounded patches on Laminaria, Memhranipora craticulay Alder. Flustra lineata. Couch. Membranipora lineata forma craticula, Smitt. Very abundant on shells dredged off Maughold Head, Isle of Man (Hincks). Membranipora spinifera, Johnston. Flustra lineata (part), Johnston. Isle of Man, between tide marks (Hincks). Membranipora flemingiij Busk. Membranipora membranacea (part), Johnst. Common, and widely distributed (Hincks). Membranipora dumerilii, Audouin. Membranipora membranacea (part), Johnst. Membranipora Jlemingii, Busk, B M. Cat. Membranipora pouilletii, Alder, Busk, Crag Polyzoa. Isle of Man (Hincks). Membranipora rosselii, Audouin. Flustra rosselii, Aud., Savigny. Off Maughold Head, Isle of Man (Hincks). Membranipora aurita, Hincks. Found on a piece of wood near Spanish Head, Isle of Man. Not previously found in our area, and the only other localities are Devon and Cornwall (Hincks), Antrim (Hynd- man), Northumberland (Alder), and Brighton on flints (Lomas). Family IX. — Microporid-s:. MembraniporidcB (part), Busk. REPORT ON THE POLYZOA. 173 Genus Microporay Gray. Syn. Discopord (part), Lamarck. Memhranipora (part), Busk Two British species. Micropora coriacea, Esper. Flustra coriacea, Esper. Memhranipora coriacea, Busk, B.M Cat. ii. Isle of Man (Forbes). Family X. — Cribrilinid^. Syn. EscharidcB (part), Johnston. Memhraniporiclce (part). Busk. EschariporidcB (part), Smitt. Genus Cribrilina, Gray. Syn. Lepralia (part), Jolinst., Busk. Escharipora, Smitt. Five British species. Cribrilina radiatay Moll. Lepralia innominata, Couch., Johnst., Busk., &c. A Mediterranean form, abundant on south and south-west coasts of England, ranging to Isle of Man (Hincks). Cribrilina punctata^ Hassall. Lepralia punctata, Has., Johnst., Busk Isle of Man (Hincks). Found on wood near Spanish Head, Isle of Man. The punctures are very large, and arranged regularly, forming a beautiful network over the front of the cell. Cribrilina annulata, Fabricius. Lepralia annulata, Johnst., Busk. Isle of Man, rare (Hincks). 174 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Genus Memhraniporella (part), Smitt. Syn. Lepralia (part), Johnst. and Gray, Busk , &c. Memhranipora (part), Smitt. Berenicea (part), Fleming. Two British species. M. melolontha has not been observed in our area. It is found on shells, oysters mostly, at the mouths of rivers, as the Thames, Orwell, etc. Memhrani'porella nitida, Johnston. Lepralia nitida, Johnst., Couch , Busk, Hincks, Smitt. Escharoides nitida, M. Edw. Isle of Man (E. Forbes) ; on Pecten, off Spanish Head, Isle of Man (twenty fathoms), dredged by Prof. Herdman. Family XI. — Microporellid^. Syn. Celleporida (part), Johnst. MemhraniporidcB (part), Busk. Porinidce (part), d'Orbigny. EschariporidcB (part), Smitt Genus Microporella, Hincks. Syn. Po7'ina, Smitt Escharina (part), Gray, M. Edwards. All the four British species are found in our area. Microporella ciliata, Pallas. Lepralia personata, Busk. Lepralia ciliata, Johnst , Busk. Porina ciliata, Smitt. Isle of Man (Hincks). Microporella malusii, Audouin. Herentia biforis, Gray. Lepralia malusii, Busk, &c. Porina malusii, Smitt. Isle of Man (Hincks). Dredged off Spanish Head (Isle of Man), on Pecten (twenty fathoms), by Prof. Herdman. REPORT ON THE POLYZOA. 175 Microporella impressa, Audouin. Fhistra impressa , Aud., Sav Lepralia granifera, Jolinst., Busk. Isle of Man (Hincks). Microporella violacea, Johnston. Lepralia violaaea, Johnst , Busk, &c. Porina violacea, Smitt. Isle of Man (E. Forbes). Genus Chorizopora, Hincks. Syn. Flustra (sp.), Audouin. Lepralia (sp.), Jolinst , Busk. Only one British representative. Chorizopora hrongniartii, Audouin. Lepralia hrongniartii, Busk. Isle of Man (Hincks). Family XII. — Porinidae. Not found in Liverpool Bay. Family XIII. — Myriozoid^. Syn. CelleporidcB (part), Johnst. Memhraniporidce, Busk. Genus SchizoporeUa, Hincks. Syn. Lepralia (part), Johnston, Busk, &c. This genus has eighteen British species. SchizoporeUa spinifera, Johnst. Lepralia ciliata, Hass. and Couch. Lepralia spinifera, Johnst., Busk (in part). Llandudno (Hincks), and Isle of Man, off Port Erin, dredged by Prof. Herdman (ten to fifteen fathoms). 176 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Schizoporella auriculatay Hassall. Lepralia auriculata, Hass., Johnst , Busk. Escharella auriculata, Smitt. Isle of Man (Hincks). Schizoporella hyalina, Linnaeus. Cellepora hyalina, Linn., Fabr. Lepralia hyalina, W. Tliomp., Johnst , Busk MoUia hyalina, Smitt. Found in considerable abundance in the Isle of Man on Laminaria (Hincks). Also on the telson of Homarus vulgaris brought into Liverpool market (Lomas). Schizoporella linearis, Hassall. Lepralia linearis^ Hass., Johnst., Busk, Norman, &c. Lepralia hastata, Hincks, Dev. and Corn. Cat Herentia linearis. Gray. Escharella linearis, Smitt. Very abundant and generally distributed (Hincks). Colwyn Bay (Shrubsole). Genus Hippothoa, Lamouroux. Syn. Catenicella (part), Blainville. Mollia (part), Smitt. Contains three British species and one doubtful one, H. cassiterides, Couch. Hippothoa distans, MacGillivray. Hippothoa jiagellum, Manzoni, Hincks. Isle of Man. In Hincks' British Marine Polyzoa (1880), this is described as H, flagellum ; but in A. M. N. H. for July, 1881, the name is withdrawn in favour of the above. Hippothoa divaricata, Lamouroux. Mollia hyalina forma divaricata, Smitt. Generally distributed (Hincks). Colwyn Bay (Shrubsole). REPORT ON THE POLYZOA. 177 Family XIV.— Escharid^. Syn. Celleporidoi (part). Johnst. EscharidcB (part), Busk. Memhraniporidce (part), Busk. Genus Lejjralia, Johnston (part). Syn. Eschar a (part), Auctt. Contains eight British species. Lepralia pallasiancit Moll. Cellepora jJcillasiana, Lamx. Lepralia pediostoma, Johnst. Llandudno; Isle of Man, common (Hincks). Lepralia foliacea y Ellis and Solander. Eschara retiformis, Ray, d'Orb. Stony foliaceoxis coralline, Ellis. Millepora foliacea, Ellis and Sol. Isle of Man (Dr. Brown) ; Holyhead (Higgin). Lepralia pertusa, Esper. Cellepora pertusa, Esper. Cellepora perlacea, W. Thomp. Escharella pertusa, Smitt. Isle of Man (E. Forbes). Genus Umhonula, Hincks. Syn Lepralia (part), Johnst, Discopora (part), Gray. Eschara (part), Smitt. Only one British species. Umhonula verrucosa^ Esper. Cellepora verrucosa, Esp. Lepralia verrucosa, W. Thomp , Johnst , Busk, &c. Dredged by Prof. Herdman off Port St. Mary (Isle of jM 178 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Man), also found on wood near Spanish Head. Not previously recorded in this locality. Genus Porella, Gray. Syn. Cellepora (part), Fleming. Eschara (part), Sars., Busk, Alder, Smitt, &c. Hemeschara (part), Norman, &c. Contains five British species. Porella concinna, Busk. Lepralia concinna, Busk, Hincks. Porella Icevis, Smitt. Lepralia belli, Dawson. Isle of Man (Hincks). Porella compressa, Sowerby. Milleptora compressa, Sow. Cellepora cervicornis, Flem., Johnst., Couch, Busk, Alder. Eschara cervicornis, Busk, Hincks, Smitt, &c. Dredged off Spanish Head, 20 fathoms, by Professor Herdman. Very fine specimen, not previously recorded. Genus Smittia, Hincks. Syn. Eschara (part), Auctt. Lepralia (part), Jolinst., Busk, &c. Seven British species. Smittia landsborovii, Johnston. Lepralia Landsborovii, Johnst., Busk, Hincks. Eschara Landsborovii, Alder. Lepralia crystallina, Norman. Found off the Great Orme's Head (erect form) (Hincks), and on a piece of wood from the Isle of Man. Smittia reticulata, Macgillivray. Lepralia 7'eticula, Macgill., Johnst., Busk, &c. Dredged by Prof. Herdman off Spanish Head, Isle of Man (twenty fathoms), on Pecten. Not previously recorded in this district. REPORT ON THE POLYZOA. 179 Smittia trispinosa, Johnston. Discopora trispinosa, Johnst. Lepralia trispinosa, Jolmst., Busk, Hincks, Escharella jacotini, Smitt. Isle of Man (Hincks). Genus Phylactella, Hincks. Syn. Lepralia (part), auctt. Alysidota (sp.), Busk. Three British species. Phylactella collaris, Norman. Lepralia collaris, Norman. Isle of Man (Hincks. Genus Mucronella, Hincks. Syn. Lepralia (part), Johnst,, Busk, &c. Escharella, Gray. Discopora, Smitt. Eight British species. Mucronella peachii, Johnston. Lepralia peacldi, Johnst , Gray, Busk. Escharella immersa. Gray. Dredged oflF Spanish Head (Isle of Man), on Pccten, by Prof. Herdman. Not previously recorded in this district. Mucronella variolosa, Johnston. Lepralia variolosa, Johnst., Couch, Busk. Found encrusting Mytilus cdulis at Kamsey, Isle of Man. Not previously recorded. Mucronella coccinea, Abildgaard. Cellejjora coccinea, Abildgaard. Lepralia coccinea, Johnst., Busk. Lepralia mamillata, Searles Wood, Busk, Manzoni. Dredged by Prof. Herdman off Spanish Head, on Pecten, and off Port St. Mary, on Laminaria roots. Also found on Anomia (five fathoms). Very common in the Isle of Man. 180 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Family XV. — Celleporid^. Syn. Escharida (part), d'Orb. Myriozoidcs (part), Smitt. Genus Cellei^ora (part), Fabricius. Syn. Tubipora (part), Linn. Millejjora, Ellis and Sol. Madrepora (part), Esper. Seven British species. Cellepora pumicosa, Linnaeus. Porous Eschara, Ellis. Common ; very large and beautiful specimens are found encrusting shells, sea-weeds, &c., in the Isle of Man, Eamsey, West Kirby, Hilbre (Lomas) ; Holyhead (Higgin). Welshman's Gut, " Spindrift " Expedition. Cellepora costazii, Audouin. Cellepora bimucronata, Hass. Cellepora hassallii, Busk, Manzoni. Celleporaria hassallii^ Smitt. Isle of Man, Kamsey, and Point of Ayr (Hincks). Dredged in the deep hole off the Point of Ayr (N. Wales), in the " Spindrift " Expedition. Sub-order II.— CYCLOSTOMATA, Busk. Syn. Tubuliporina. Milne-Edwards, Johnston. Group a.— IRaDtcellata, d'Orbigny. Syn. Articulata s. radicata, Busk (1859), Crag Polyzoa. Family I. — Crisiid^. Genus Crisia (part), Lamouroux. Syn. Sertularia (part). Linn. Three British species, all found in our area. REPORT ON THE POLYZOA. 181 Crisia cornutaj Linn, Crisidia cornuta, M. Ed., Johnst., Busk. Found almost e7ei7where in our area. Llandudno, Isle of Man (Hincks) ; West Kirby, var. geniculata (Lomas) ; Menai Straits (Pennington) ; Holyhead (Higgin). Crisia ehurnea^ Linn. Crista aculeata, Hassall, Johnst. Isle of Man. Dredged on Pecten off Spanish Head (ten to fifteen fathoms) by Prof. Herdman ; Blackpool, Menai Straits (Pennington). Found in a deep hole off the Point of Ayr in the *' Spindrift" Expedition. Colwyn Bay (Shrubsole) ; Holyhead (Higgin). Crisia denticulata, Lamarck. Gellaria denticulata, Lamk. Crisia luxata, Flem,, Sec. Very generally distributed (Hincks). Isle of Man (Lomas) ; Leasowe (Higgins). Group h. 3-ncrustata, d'Orbigny. Syn. Inarticulata, Busk. Family II. — Tubuliporid^. Genus Stomatopora, Contains twelve British species. Stomatopora expansa, Hincks. Found on dead shells in the Isle of Man (Hincks). Not recorded in any other locality. Stomatopora major, Johnston. Alecto repens, Wood, Busk. Alecto major, Johnst., Busk. Isle of Man, in deep water (Hincks). Genus Tiibtdipora, Lamarck. Three British species. 182 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Tuhulifora lohulata, Hassall. * Extremely abundant off Maughold Head, Isle of Man (Hincks). Ramsey Bay, on Mytilus (Lomas). Tuhulipora flabellaris, Fabricius. Tubipora Jlabellaris, Fabr. Tuhulipora phalangea, Couch, Johnst., Hincks, Busk. Colwyn Bay (Shrubsole). Not previously recorded in our district. Genus Idmonea, Lamouroux. Syn. Tuhulipora, Lamk Tuhulipora, subgenus Idmonea, Smitt. Two British species. Idmonea serpens ^ Linn. Tuhij)ora serpens, Linn., &c. Millepora tuhuhsa, EUis and Sol. Tuhulipora serpens, Flem., Johnst., Busk, &c Generally distributed. Extremely abundant on the shore at West Kirby, on Hydrallmania falcata (Lomas). The specimens vrere collected from among the masses of sea weed left by the tide at high water mark, and they differ con- siderably from those forms which are found on shells and stones, &c. This species affords a good example of the changes which a form may undergo when placed under varying influences. The same form also dredged in the Welshman's Gut (seven fathoms), and Hilbre Swash, "Merry Andrew" expedition (ten to eleven fathoms). Sea- combe (Byerley). Colwyn Bay (Walker) ; Holyhead (Higgin). Genus Diastopora, Lamouroux. Syn. Tuhulipora (sp.) Johnst., &c. Patinella (sp.) Busk, Hincks. Four British species. REPORT ON THE POLYZOA. 183 Diastopora patina, Lamarck. Tuhulipora patina, Lamk., Johnst. Patlnella patina. Busk. Found on Pecten dredged by Prof. Herdman off Spanish Head, Isle of Man (twenty fathoms). Holyhead (Higgin). Also found by Mrs. Beever. Diastopora suhorhicidaris. Diastopora simplex, Busk, Cra(j Pol. ; Smitt. Diastopora obelia, Johnst. Found in Isle of Man (Hincks). Diastopora ohelia, Johnst. Tubulipora ohelia, Johnst. Generally distributed on our coasts (Hincks). Rhyl (Shrubsole). Anglesea, fourteen fathoms (Forbes). Family III. — Hornerid.e. Not represented in our area. Family IV. — Lichenoporid^. Genus Lichenopora, Defrance. , Syn. Discoporella. Gray, Busk, Smitt. Tuhulipora (part), Johnst. Heteroporella (sp.) Hincks. Four British species. Lichenopora hispida, Fleming. Tubulipora hispida, Johnst. Discoporella hispida, Gray, Busk, Smitt, Sars., Alder, &c. Found in the Isle of Man (Hincks). Dredged by Prof. Herdman off Spanish Head (twenty fathoms) on Pecten. Lichenopora verrucaria, Fabricius. Madrepora verrucaria, Fabr., Linn. Discoporella verrucaria, Smitt., Busk Rhyl (Shrubsole). This is a northern form, and it has not been recorded so far south before. 184 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Sub-order III.— CTENOSTOMATA, Busk. Syn. Halcyonellea and Vesicularina, Jolmston. Group a. l)alCBonellea, Ehrenberg. Syn. Alcyonidulce, Johnst., Brit. Zooph., edit. 1. Polyzoa carnosat Gray. Family I. — Alcyonidiid^. Syn. AlcyonidulcB, Couch. Halcyonellece, Smitt. Genus Alcyonidiuyn, Lamouroux. Syn. Alcyonium (part), Linn, Pallas, &c. Cycloum, (sp.), Hassall. Nine British species. Alcyonidium gelatinosum, Linnaeus. Sea ragged staff, Ellis. Alcyonium gelatinosum, Linn., Pallas, Ellis and Sol., Lamx., &c. This species is very abundant in our district, and grows to an enormous size. Isle of Man and Llandudno (Hincks). Dredged in the '* Hyena " Expedition in the Menai Straits opposite Bangor, and in a deep hole off the Point of Air in the " Spindrift " Expedition. Hilbre (Marrat). Alcyonidium hirsutum, Fleming. Alcyonium hirsutum, Flem. Cycloum papillosum^ Hassall, Johnst., Byerley, &c. Isle of Man, Llandudno, Menai Straits (Hincks). Dredged off Port Erin (ten to fifteen fathoms) by Prof. Herdman, and by Mr. Thompson off Penmaenmawr. Alcyonidium mytili, Daly ell. Syn. Alcyonidium hexagonum, Hincks, Alder Alcyonidium parasiticum, Smitt. Llandudno. Isle of Man, common. Menai Straits (Hincks). REPORT ON THE POLYZOA. 185 Alcyonidiiim parasiticuvif Fleming. Alcijonium parasiticum, Flem., Blainv. Menai Straits (Hincks). Liverpool Bay (Higgins). North Wales (Shrubsole). Family II. — Flustrellid^. Syn. Halcyonellea (part), Smitt. Genus Flustrella, Gray. Syn. Flustra (part) , Flem., Blainv., Johnst., Couch., Hincks, &c. Alcyonidium (part), Smitt. Only one British species. Flustrella hispiday Fabricius. Flustra Tiispida, Fabr., Flem., &c. Alcyonidium MspiduTn, Johnst., Smitt, &c. Cycloum hispidu7n, W. Thomp. Common and widely distributed. Dredged in the summer by Mr. Thompson off Penmaen- mawr. Colwyn Bay (Shrubsole) ; Hilbre, Isle of Man, &c. Family III. — Arachnidiid^. Syn. AlcyonidiadfB (part), Hincks, 1862 ; Alder. Genus Arachnidium, Hincks. Syn. Arachnidia, Hincks, Alder. This Genus contains three British forms. Arachnidium hippothooides, Hincks. Arachnidia hipjyothooides, Hincks. On a Cyprlna, dredged off the Isle of Man (Hincks). Only one other locality, Torbay, is known where this form occurs. Group b. Stolonitcra, Ehlers. Syn. Vesicular ina. Johnst. 186 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Section I. — Orthonemida, Hincks. Family IV. — Vesiculariid^. Genus Vesicularia (part). J. V. Thompson. Syn. Sertularia, Linn , Pallas, &c Valkeria, Flem., &c. Only contains one British species. Vesicularia spinosa, Linnaeus. Silk coralline, Ellis. Sertularia spinosa, Linn., Ellis and Sol., Lamk. This species is very common in our area. Menai Straits, Llandudno, Lytham, Isle of Man (Hincks). Liverpool (Landsborough). Blackpool (Pennington). Hilbre and New Brighton (Marrat). Colwyn Bay (Walker). Dredged in large quantities in fourteen fathoms about six miles from Great Orme's Head, in the " Hyaena " expedition. Genus Amathia, Lamouroux. Syn Sertularia (part), Lint), &c. Serialaria, Lamk. (1816), Flem., Johnst., &c. Only one British species. Amathia lendigera, Linnaeus. Nit coralline, Ellis. Sertularia lendigera, Linn., Pall., &c. Serialaria lendigera, Lamk., Johnst, Couch, Landsb., Alder, &c. Very common. Llandudno, Menai Straits, Isle of Man (Hincks) ; Pen- maenmawr, dredged by Mr. Thompson ; Blackpool (Pen- nington) ; West Kirby, on shore (Lomas) ; Puffin Island and Hilbre Island (Marrat) ; Beaumaris (Walker) ; Anglesea (Forbes) ; Holyhead (Higgin). Dredged in Hilbre Swash, "Merry Andrew " Expedition (ten to eleven fathoms), and in the hole off Point of Air, " Spindrift" Expedition. REPORT ON THE POLYZOA. 187 Genus Boiuerbankia, Farre. Syn. Valheria (part), Jolmst., Hassall, Couch. Contains five British species. Boiverbankia imhricata, Adams. Sertularia imhricata, Adams, Thomp. Valkeria imhricata, Johnst , Couch. Very common. Dredged off Port Erin, by Professor Herdman (ten to fifteen fathoms). Hilbre Island (Lomas). Menai Straits (Pennington). Boiverbankia pustulosa, Ellis and Sol. Dichotomous tubular coralline.. Ell. Sertularia pustulos a, Ellis and Sol. Vesicularia pustulosa, J. V. Thomps. Valkeria pustulosa, Johnst. Menai Straits. Llandudno (Hincks). Isle of Man, dredged by Professor Herdman. Genus Farrella, Ehrenberg. Syn. Lagenella, Farre, W. Thompson, Hassall. Laguncula, Van Ben. Only has one British representative. Farrella repejis, Farre. Lagenella repens, Farre, W. Thomp. Bouerhankia repens, Johnst. Farrella producta, Hincks. There are two varieties of this species, repens and elongata. In the British Marine Polyzoa, p. 530, Hincks says : — *' As to the distribution of the species, it is somewhat peculiar that the elongata form, which is too remarkable readily to escape observation, has only been noticed on certain portions of the Lancashire coast, where it occurs in amazing profusion, investing all kinds of marine substances." 188 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Form elongata. Fleetwood, on a buoy; Lytham, extremely abundant (Hincks). Family V.— Buskiid^. Syn. Vesicularidce Alder. Genus Buskia, Alder. Only one British species. Buskia nitenSy Alder. Llandudno (Hincks). Family VI. — Cylindr(eciid^. Syn. Vesicula7'iada part), Busk, Alder, Hincks. Genus Cylindrceciumf Hincks. Syn. Farrella (part), Busk. Gosse, Hincks. Avenella, Alder, Hincks, Gosse. Contains three British species. C ylindroecmm dilatatum, Hincks. Farrella dilatata, Hincks. Farrella fusca, Busk. Llandudno ; Isle of Man (Hincks). Dredged off Port Erin (ten to fifteen fathoms) by Prof. Herdman. Genus A7igumella, Van Beneden. Only one British species. Anguinella palmata, Van Beneden. Hilbre Island (Herdman). Family VII. — Triticellid.^:. Not yet found in our district. r». REPORT ON THE POLYZOA. 189 Section II. — Campylonemidaf Hincks. Family VIII. — Valkeriid^. Syn. VesiculariadcB (part), Johnst., Alder. Genus Valkeria (part), Fleming. Syn. Sertularia (part), Linn., Pallas, &c. Vesicularia (part), J. V. Thompson, Smitt. Campylonema, Hincks. Contains two British species. Valkeria uva, Linnaeus. Eepent form. Grape Coraline. Ellis. Sertularia uva, Linn., Ellis and Sol. Erect form. Climbing dodder-like Coralline, Ellis. Sertularia cuscuta, Linn., Pall., Lamx, &c. Form uva. Menai Straits, on larger Fiici, in immense quantity (Hincks). Form cuscuta, Landudno. Menai Straits, on larger Fuci (Hincks). Isle of Man, dredged by Professor Herdman. Valkeria tremida, Hincks. Campylonema tremulum, Hincks. Dredged oflf the Isle of Man (Hincks). Family IX. — Mimosellid^. Genus Mimosellay Hincks. Only one British representative. Mimosella gracilis, Hincks. Valkeria cuscuta, Couch. Dredged by Prof. Herdman off the Isle of Man, between Port Erin and the Calf (ten to fifteen fathoms). Not pre- viously recorded. Family X. — Victorellid^, Saville Kent. Not found in our area. This family only contams one species, Victorella pavicla, a brackish and fresh water form, which has been found in the Victoria Docks, London, and 190 LTVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. recently in the Regent's Canal by Mr. Bousfield. Probably a good search in our estuary and docks might lead to its discovery. Sub-class II.— Entoprocta, Nitsche. Order.-PEDICELLINEA. The only order. Family I. — Pedicellinid^. Syn. Pedicellince, Johnston. Genus Pedicellina, Sars. Syn. Hydra (part), Bosc, Blainville. Contains three British representatives. Pedicellina cernua, Pallas. " Fleshy Polypes of a red colour and a particular kind." Ellis. Pedicellina echinata, Sars., Hassall, Smitt, &c. Pedicellina helgica, Gosse, Hincks. Both the smooth and spinose varieties of this species are common in the Isle of Man (Lomas). Pedicellina gracilis ^ Sars. Isle of Man; Fleetwood, on a buoy; Llandudno (Hincks). Dredged by Prof. Herdman between Port Erin and the Calf (ten to fifteen fathoms). Var. nodosa, nov. (PI. Ill, fig. 2). Among the material dredged in the Isle of Man, I found the form which Hincks describes as having the stem " very much elongated, and consists of several sections separated by knots or swellings^ which are also muscular in character." At first I thought it was P. helgica. Van Beneden, which is characterised by a swelling in the stem, but on separating the stolon from the sea weed on which it was growing, I discovered that on the same stolon there was the ordinary form without the medial swelling. The swelling in P. helgica, moreover, is gradual, while in this form it is abrupt and sharply defined from the rest of the stem. REPORT ON THE POLYZOA. 191 The stems are arranged alternately, with great regularity on opposite sides of the stolon. There is a swelling at the junction of the stolon with the stem-basal cylinder of Hincks, which, in this case, is wider than in the one figured in B. M. P., and the muscular substance is continued for a little distance on each side into the stolon. Then about the middle of the stem is another swelling, and just under the head a third, which is constricted so as to have the appear- ance of two swellings, both muscular, and the lower one rather less than the upper one. It is easy to see that these swellings would be of great use to the creature in giving it a variety of movements in order to search for food and to retreat in face of danger. It is possible that the individual without the medial swelling may be an imperfectly developed form so far as the stem is concerned. How the median swelling has been formed I do not know, but it is quite possible that the head swelling may be converted into the median one by an elonga- tion of the stem above it. I am the more inclined to this view since, in some individuals, there is a short stem between the uppermost swelling and the head, and the part of the stem above the median swelling varies much in size, while the part between the base and middle swelling is pretty constant (PI. Ill, fig 2). There is little doubt, I think, that it should be referred to P. gracilis, yet the characters mentioned above show it to be a well marked and very aberrent variety, for which I propose the name, var. nodosa. Family II. — Loxosomid^. Not recorded in our area. Explanation of Plate III. Fig. i. Eucratea chelata, var. elongata, nov. Fig. 2. Pedicellina gracilis , var. nodosa, nov. 192 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. c3 aj 43 o o M 5 Oho "I' o fl 'S CO ^J 43 01 o 3 0> § ^S c3 P4 02 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + < < o I- co O -I v.- O ^ «_. <^ ^ fl 02 fl w o I C/3 2? ^ •+0 O l-H H O a 03 i-i l-H P3 »:] P c3 - § |3J GQ •^ ^lif-5 hH o ft s ^fH . + +++++++++ + + + ^ o 1— 1 o2-Sft -g-g CO + + 1— 1 ^ rr. >> o c3.^n-> CO s fl c3 rt ® + CZ2 1 o rt . ^^^•-►^ 2 s^ ^ ;3 § >,s 5 + + + • tf ft '3 ft .2 s XJl CD i3 CO o 1— 1 1 WING ffi f-H 1— 1 1— 1 > O .2 S 1 >< l-H o >^ S •gii 11 ll-ltll ^- g a •l-H 1-4 pS ^ ^ pq 1 ^ S S-S,^^;^ l3 §^^ g e g 1^ o OOrHT-ll-ICMrH(M©q<1 a 2 '^ e r** a o .2 ^ == -^ S .IS Q i-i P5 O O h- 1 . ^ ^ "^ :2 Ph •»i ^ o 'S a =^"^ r- OS ^ S^ g «c ja -o g^ !:>. 00 o • I— I K QQ XI ^-M 00 r^ hrl !=5 O l-H fl H5 x^ a a ^.^^ S ^ 2 ^ srn ?s CO CO CO CO CC '"f "^ t- t^ t- b- b- t^ tJI Tf "Tjl lO O lO O C^ t- t^ t>- t- t* t' 196 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. H Q H M H O ffl O O P ii5 o M o • r-l a >< a 03 1—1 Johns. . Lam Hass. 00 • i-H a o 1, • OO O O 02 03 1 • 1 • rH a Stomatopor expansa. major. Tubulipora lobulata. o O O O o o o rH l-H rH l-H 1-1 l-H 1-1 i-trHcqcq(M(Mcqcococo 00 (30 CO CO 00 00 00 00 00 00 GO 00 000000000000000000000000 iH iH »H iH iH tH r-i tH l-H r-i tH l-H iH tH tH tH rH 1—1 198 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. o H Q H C/2 I— I Q Ph GQ ^. M H Ph O o p I— I H CZ2 o K p:) ^w2 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + P4 CO l-H P3 O CM O W o 03 > a g a' -« ^ 00 QOooooooooooaoaoooGO GO 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 M > a .^ OQ o g 5^ ^ o o Oi Oi C^ Gi o^ o^ 00 00 00 00 00 'JO 200 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Si o H O I— I P5 GQ I— I P m m »— I Q PM O O H p H l-H ft J— I O K uq PQ <1 H OS ' 4 131 Nl + J^o.^; P=(^ ►:? -. t^ •^ QQ m Mena Strait and ngles( < - o fl ^4:?-^ 5 M ^00 rate + O .^4= 2^3 ^ fH -j- •pooMijaat^j puB loodiio-Bia iJ 1 ;h f-t Q h h ^ t-i •!jjodti!^nos puB ^qraio^i h^ o o o ft 1 + fH ^ o o •lOOdJOAiri h:5 1 + 03 c3 Q + + rH •iC'Ba jj-B^Mpaa: }0 q^JOii h^ + + + + + + + P + -f- + + o o 4- ?H + + + ?H •XM.'Btuna'Bniu8 }~t f-t + O fH 4- + + + « 4- •^-\- + ^ + + o h ^ u u ;h I I I t I I I I I I I I I I ■ I • I I I I I I I • ■ < I .A • ^•iitiiiiiiii'.iiif .•••f3 1^ HJ "i e- ^ f^ 2 . ^ « S d I '^ cc* . -^ s "^ CO «^ ff» ^- tj ^ \o -r -» 'b io 250 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Glacial Drift. + + O ;^ pool. + 42 + + ^ 0 U'BH JO 81SI ^ 1 + + + + + + Q ■(q!jnos) UBH JO 9ISI h^J fl pooMfjaai^g; pu-B xoodJioBia J « i •i^jodqf^nos pu'B jSquijo^ h^l »-l Q u •l-t •l-H •l-H o •[OOdjaATrj ^ 1 •r-< o h Q o i o •jC'Ba jj'BqMpaa; 'pa-Bxsi upjnj: JO ll!^aoM ^ 1 + + Q + + + o •jAi.'Buiaa'Binuaj ^ 1 o ^ 'S^^TBJIJg I'Bl IBM Q ;h o I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I £3 cc 1*^ • rw pa I— I ?^-^^ ^ 1^ <% CO CC rO 5^ O - o ^ ^ ^ ^ o OH -to CO ;e ^ ^ « O -kS ^ ^ ^ REPORT ON THE TESTACEOUS MOLLUSCA. 251 + + :+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ;h u 0 0 rH U + u 0 0 g8 0 0 08 u y-i Sh Jh •r-* 0 ?H 03 0 0 03 '^ 03 0 c3 0 0 05 !h ^ • i-H 7h 0 '^ c3 0 0 0 + + + + + =3 + o3 o3 o3 0 + + u u ^H 03 + + ^ + ++ + 03 f-i f-t Ph ^ rH '^ c3 •i-l 0 OS %4 U ?H r-t 03 .^ <0 fH U c8 0 0 I I I fciO t-^ ^ I 5 .^ 1-^ 33 .Pi CO o 1^ Ph -w >o ^ ■«i ^ ot^ s c , -*± 03 0 c3 P • i-i S • a fl * a C. ron. • > ■*-> ■^/ data in a. 0 •+2 |2 "? 5(5 5C -o ^ ^-i .5 ^ =C '^ .5^ ^ •0 — . cc ^ S a C ?! •5 5 'O CO C rO -^ t>^ SX^ ^ ^ 0 ?5i « 05 0 c ^ ::e ^ S •\ •v ^ r\ " -^ '^ s; « ^ »^ ^ .s 252 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. o o o3 O + + + + + + + + + + + •(miON) UBH JO aisi + + + + + + + •{q!^nos) u'BH JO aisi l^we loodiio'Bxa: Ph o3 O »H •!jaodq!}.nog pa's ifquijo^g: >-i 03 O !^ C3 O •XOodaaAifi c8' O >-t o o C3 O ;h O JO q:^JON + + + 03 + o + + c3 •jM'Buraa'Brauad; o!j saSpiig O Jh O 03 o 0 ^ o 03 ^ ^ ^ei Q W I— I >^ H 1-^ PM to o .r-t ^ Q 03 P •% ^ ^ h (^ t-i •+-5 o «* -J o cc O o i § ^ ^ ^ §H ^ -^ ^ '^ ^^ REPORT ON THE TESTACEOUS MOLLUSOA. 253 + + + + + -f- + + + + + + + + + + + + + + • l-l o o H "^ ;-i U i-t .r^ • pH i;p Jh C3 5-1 Jh o 5h O >H o > 2 hA f»^ •eS* !:i W • O ^ S ^ CO ^ "^ o y^^ ?5i' ?i ^ SS ^ ?5i CO O O ^ ^ « ? o ^ § ^ ^ ■*^ CO CO (D o o 5^ •'-' iH «-|^ o ^, ■^ SS a^'-^h *> . ft;) ^ ^ e ^ O CO >■ '^ W Sj o ^ 254 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Glacial Drift. Liver- pool and Wirral. + + + + cS o 3^ j Moel Try- faeu. + hi Q weM JO 9ISI Hi + Q 1 + •dnnos) ^^ !-i Q 1 •p00A\.?83X^ 1^ o pnB podJioiBia; « •(^jodq'^nos pu'B j£qnxio J J ^ « c« • 1— 1 ?-4 i-t loodjaAjT; ^ ! 03 03 p 1 • r-l t-l JO ^:^J0N ^ 1 ft r-4 + t^ •jAiT3raii8'Branad: O rH 'siji'Ba^jS i-Bu an O f-* J-l I I I I I I I I I I I CO <5J . I. ►-^ .^^ g t— I 1-3 S2 « be CD 03 . . an H ^ S . OS CO . o a 2 ^^ -J 1^^ ? ^ ?» T- ^ CC O »^ •^ !:^ ? ^ to __ r-O O- .^i, ^ 5" ^ ^^ ~* !>N t-e ^ ^ ?2 ir< <^- « ej H ■^ ^i P o o W m ^ -^ ^ (O •*0 !S ^ .V ^ coO REPORT ON THE TESTACEOUS MOLLUSCA. 255 + + + ++ >+++ + + + !-t O '^ ^ 03 O o ?-4 f-l o 1—1 • rH ?H o o o Qi + o ^ O ti ;-i u c3 o >H • rH I I I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I • I I I I I I o P2 .'i j~ o 1^ c» 5tt t-5 Ch ^ J^ pH 1^ =C Pi •- :: 5u ;^ O Cc a rO ->-=> — 1 . ►^ r-i . "^ O ?:; «c s :=: S O H .^ o . ^ ^ ^ . CC f!=H eo «c •^S' • •♦^ r* J^ ^S , • <«» ,-«l — '•^ ^ ~ g ^^ ?^ ec t* ^•'^ «:. eo ^ )KJ 'O ^ C 'S^ t^ O ^ «J J i « § P " *" s O Q ^ .vA o Q 03 ft c3 CO J '? s O i! -:? •-; 2 f^ aH^^ r^ ^ '^ '^ ^ «N ^ O ^ -S fe ■^ i C "^ ^ ^ ^ r* ^ <^ '-^ t^ ^ ^ C sS J>i O «c ^ _ _ , CO ^ ^ ^ »v ^ °fs§ n3 "^ i«. % ■^ *--i 8 "^ ^ -to n3 d ft S^ •T3 S ^ ^ "^ >i ^ O ^ 3: r* SS rs R 258 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. e3 o tfEH JO 9ISI + + + + ■(q^nos) •pooM.:}8a^jg: h5 1 pui8 ioodi[0'Bxg Q 1 •i^jodq^^nog h5 ^ gws ^qinio J ft 1 ^^ ;h 03 •XOodiaATi •pn^isi utgnj JO ^'\lOil + •jAi'Braua'Binuaj; I I I . ffl 1 ' o o H O o CO OS 0^ 2 -^ 5tl • ^-5 n3 O ^ S 's s: ^ <:a ^ ^ ^ ^ .^ 5S ;:* (^ «0 S^H ^ ?!-'^ CO o 5Si ^^ ^ ^^ • 00 s: • 5^ ^: v< Cr ^ .<^ r~»j I' •^ ^ §< i=l O ti^ e; OD 5g : s CO O so 5ri ^ »» .o t§ REPORT ON THE TESTACEOUS MOLLUSC.V. 259 H- + + 4- O !^ ^ O &H O o &. a ^ 5;^ ^ r - .<3 ,■>> -^j ■— ' 13 . CD ^ ^ e o o -^ O o 5d o 33 a o d o 1 f«o l-S , , ?^ I-? 1?- ^ ec !:i « , t~i «l^ • 5j ^~> «-> ^ o 5^ C ■♦^ ^ r- ^ic; rO r««i K o- I^ 1^ f>o 'H ^ r^uS <1 ^ H5 1o 52 i^a 5i^-5-» "^ 260 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. o o d o ^ I TVBw JO aisi + •(mnos) WBfi JO aisi hi P •pooAVi^aai^g: pnB xoodJiOBia ^1 •(jaodmnos •IooaiaATT[ •pmsisi u^n< 10 i Sr* ■o P-^ 5^ ^ • . '^ ^ ^ r-o ^S" -^ V r '^ ^ ?l( «o 05 O S3 ^ O .^ ' ^ • C8 . *^ p ^ '5 ;^^ O REPORT ON THE TESTACEOUS MOLLUSCA. 261 + + + + + +++ + + + + + + %* t-i O f-t O f-t 03 ^ u f-i }-l + + o o 't-l h 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ■ ■ ■III 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 I III! 1 1 1 i .^ a 03 r-i o «0 ^ ^ CO to ^ Q ' C3 o . ^ to ^ 1-5 to «;> ■o ?- • -to -C ^ :: j^ ?j ^ I: ** to •» •» to ^l^u e5 T ^ O 262 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. 1 Liver- Black- 1 pool pool. ' aud Winal. + + + + + + + + + + + Moel Try- faen. + + + + + + + uuH JO oisi + + + + + + + •(qijnos) U'BH JO 8X81 o u + + ^ P00M!J99X^ pu-B xoodj[0'8xa: %^ O fi " 'rH O ^ o "loodjaAir]; (S o JO qi^JON + « + + + ^ -^ 1 0© !S ?: ^ ^ ^ -^ ^ ^ ** ^ •^ ** " •» " .^ S 5S eo ft. § 1 264 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. 30 > O (3 S o o 03 O 1^ 1 ft •(qfjiOK) UBH JO aisi J ^ Q •(q^nos) ^ 1 U'Bpi JO a[si P •pooAi^aaij h^ pu'B {oodJiOBig P •!jJOdq!jnog pu'B ^qraio J 03 'l00diaAir[ c8 *pui3isi nggnj JO q^JON ^ 1 + P 1 '^ •aM'Btnua'Buinad: 0!j saSpug Hi P ;-! >^ jh I I I I ■ I I I I I I I I I I I •-Oh 0 . g -^ '^ e ^ •o* 1 "^ '^ • 0 ^ s S CLi -i ,< 0 -^ .'^ •> p? ?5 ;^ ' H » ?Si 200 g Q «• § 2 52 V 5S Pw S . . « (% O I S '^^ i ■§ CO 5tt "S CD J3 t-5 H ^^ CO •PQ if ^ o t-s 5^ fO •\ •S •N »V •X '^ sc r— I •^ . 2 2 -S -^ jv, e S ^ -Si O "to ?3 Si REPORT ON THE TESTACEOUS MOLLUSCA. 265 + H- f-t o o a m I to o Pi o etj O COQQ « ?5 e js e o 50 t>» ~ S IS Ol «^ ?ii S LS •^ »v - ft. ^ 09 ^ ^ ^ v.^ ^> g^ ~ '^ <«~ m Q o ^;^' o ^ §; ^ ^ 'SJ •Ks 'O ;;^ Eh ^;:^ s ■^s g •^ ^ CD I— I is "^ • - '^ s < o O H < O o o < .^ 6 266 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. go > o fl J3 o o c3 O 3» o fH a> + + + + -^z — = — ^^ 1 ;-l ni8H JO aisi P ;:h •(q^nos) h^ n-Bpi JO axsi Q 1 1 •pOOAi!;88I^J h3 puB loodsio'Bia: P •!jiodq:^tios k:i • i-i T^WB £.qmzo^ Q • rH •I-H ■pOG[j9Air[ ^ 1 ;h <^ ^ ^ Q 1 ^ 'pu'Bisi u^nj JO q^jJON h3 fi 0!> saSpiig h^ Sh O ^ Q I It I I • I i Q o Ph o <1 W o ■^ v • ^ 'S i^ rO <^ C ?: <- 5^ o e .^'S? i»S <% o o ** ^^0^ . 03 o '^ ■to O o ft . *~> CO '^ It roliferum„ Leptoclinuin maculosum, Leptoclinum asperum. Diplosoma gelatinosum. Some projecting masses of hard clay which occur on one part of this shore, are penetrated in all directions by the burrows of Pholas crispata, and those of a small Annelid. Under the stones in the more muddy parts, Cirratulus boi'ealis is common ; while in the cleaner regions and in the rock-pools. Nereis pelagica and Harmothoe imbricata are found. Amongst the other species obtained on this shore, were : — Halisarca duj(trdmii, Leucandra nivea, Amorphina panicea^ Anemonia sulcata^ Bunodes gemmaceus, Polyno'e jioccosa, and Galathea squamifera. The most prolific dredging ground in the neighbourhood of Port Erin was found to be in front of Bay Fine and the Halfway rock, between the breakwater and the Calf. Here, NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF THE ISLE OP MAN. 323 at a short distance from the shore, on a bottom composed of stones and sea- weed and dead shells, the following animals were found to be abundant : — Antennularia ramosa, Plumu- laria pinnata, Antedon rosaceuSy Echinocyamus pusillus, Pectinaria belgica, Terehella nebulosa, Galathea intermedia y Stenorhynchus rostratuSj Pectuncidus glycimeris, Velutina Icevigata, Trochus magus, Aplysia punctata^ MorcheUlum argus, Clavelina lepadiformisj Ciona intestinalis, Corella parallelogramma, Styela grossulai'ia, Eugyra glutinans, and Molgula occulta. The following rarer forms were obtained once or twice in the same locality : — Halisarca dujardinii, Halcampa chry- santhellum, Thyone papillosa, Cucumaria hyndmanni, Her- madion assimile (on the peristome of Echinus esculentus), Hermione hystrix, Carinella lineata, Amathia lendigera, Crangon scidptus, Ebalia cranchii and E. tuherosa, Inachus dorsettensis, Trivia europcea, Doto fragilis, Eolis picta, Eolis amoena, Eolis lineata, Polycyclus savignii, Polycarpa monensisy n.sp. The tow-net was used on most days, generally in the neighbourhood of Port Erin. On some few days, when it was too rough to dredge, it was possible to work the tow-net in the more sheltered parts of Port Erin Bay. Whenever the tow-net gathering was at all good, or seemed to shew any peculiar organisms, it was preserved in the following manner for future examination : — The tow-net on being brought on board was turned inside out into a wide-mouthed gallon jar of sea water, in which the organisms could be roughly examined with a pocket lens. A few grains of solid picric acid was then added, so as to kill and precipitate the organisms. A great difference was noticed in the amount of picric acid which the different kinds of animals were able to withstand. All the larvae, the Medusoid Gonophores, and the Sagittse die first, while the Crustacea are still quite lively 324 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. and active ; then, on the addition of more picric acid, the Copepoda stop swimming and fall to the bottom, leaving Evadne and any higher Crustaceans, such as Amphipoda and Isopoda, still alive and able to swim about in the picric solution. After all the organisms have been killed and have fallen to the bottom, the superjacent fluid may be poured off so as to reduce its amount, and what remains along with the organisms may then be transferred to a small (1 or 2-oz.) bottle. Then, after settling for a few minutes the greater part of the picric acid solution may be again poured off, and the bottle filled up with alcohol. This process gave fairly good results. The animals were thoroughly preserved, and in most cases had not suffered from excessive or irregular contraction. The previous hardening in picric acid appears to prevent them from being shrivelled by the alcohol. The natural colour, however, is in all cases entirely obliterated as everything is stained opaque yellow by the picric acid. The following lists have been drawn up* from the tow- net gatherings which were preserved. They shew that, although a slight difference was present in the surface fauna on different days, and at different times, still no definite relation can be established between the time of day, the state of the sea, or the meteorological conditions on the one hand, and the abundance or nature of the surface life on the other : — I. — July 30th, Port Erin, mid-day. Peridinium tripos, few. Thaumantias, many. Pleurohrachia pileus, few. * I have to acknowledge the help of Mr. J. A. Clubb, the assistant in the Zoological Laboratory of University College, Liverpool, in making these lists. Mr. Clubb went carefully through the whole of the material, picked out and mounted the species, and identified many of them. — Ed. NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF THE ISLE OF MAN. 325 Plutei (both Echinid and Ophiurid), many. Annelid larvae {Polynoe ?), many. Sagitta bipunctata. Copepoda, numerous (Dias longiremis, Calanus Jin- mar chicus, and Oithona spinifrons), Nauplei, few. ZoeaB, and other Crustacean larval forms. Evadne nordmanni, numerous. Oikopleura flahelluiiit very few. II. — July 30th, Port Erin, evening, sea calm. Peridinium tripos^ few. Annelid larvae, several kinds. Sagitta bipunctata, few. Polyzoon larvae ? (cf. Mitraria). Copepoda, very numerous (Calanusjinmarchicus, Metridia armata, Dias longiremis, etc.) Nauplei. Zoeae, numerous. Evadne nordmanni, many. Gastropod larvae, few. Oikopleura flabellum, very few. III. — Aug. 1st, Port Erin, mid-day. Peridinium tripos, and P. furca. Diatoms, various species. Thaumantias thompsoni, many ; and T. lucida. Bougainvillia britannica. Pleurobrachia pileus, few. Echinopaedia, few. Tomopteris onisciformiSf one. Sagitta bipunctata. Nauplei. Zoeae. 326 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Copepoda, numerous (Calanus Jinmarchicus, Metridia armata, Diets longiremiSf Temora longicornis, etc.). Evadne nordmanni, numerous. Amphipod, one. Oikopleura flahellum, IV. — Aug. 7th, Port Erin, mid-day. Peridinium tripos, a few. Medusoid gonophorea, numerous ; several species. Sagitta hipunctata. Copepoda, numerous (Calanus Jinmarchicus, Metridia armata, etc.). Evadne nordmanni, few. Nauplei. Zoese. Amphipoda, several species. Oikopleura flahellum, few. V. — Aug. 18th, inside the breakwater. Port Erin, noon. Peridinium tripos. Medusoid gonophores, several species of Thaumantias. Sagitta hipunctata. Copepoda, few. Evadne nordmanni. Oikopleura flahellum, few. VI. — Aug. 19th, inside the breakwater, Port Erin, noon. Medusoid gonophores, numerous (Thaumantias thomp- soni, and Thaumantias octona). Plutei. Sagitta hipunctata. Copepoda, fairly numerous (Calanus flnmarehicus, Pseu- docalanus elongatus, Temora longicornis, Centropages hama- tus, etc.). Zoeae. NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF THE ISLE OF MAN. 327 Evadne nordmanni, a few. Oikopleura jiabellum. Ascidian larvae. VII. — Aug. 21st, inside breakwater, Port Erin. Peridiniwm tripos , very few. Medusoid gonophores, very many {Thaumantias hemi- spherica, T. octona, T. thompsoni, and Bougainv'dlia hrit- annica). Echinopaedia, a few. Annelid larvae. Sagitta bipunctata. Copepoda, fairly numerous (Calamis Jinmarchicus, Dias lofigiremis, Temora longicorniSf Centropages hamatus, etc.). Evadne nordmanniy few. Isopoda, several. Zoeae and other larval Crustaceans. Oikopleura Jiahellum, very numerous. VIII.— Aug. 22nd, Port Erin, noon ; stiff breeze. Peridinium tripos, few. Medusoid gonophores, numerous (Thaumantias hemi- spherica, T. thompsoni, T. octona, and BougainviUia hrit- annica). Plutei, few. Sagitta bipunctata, numerous, and of very large size, up to 16 mm. in length. Copepoda, fairly numerous {Calanus fimnarchicus, Dias longiremis, Centropages hamatus, etc.). Nauplei and Zoeae. Evadne nordm,anni, few. Isopoda, several species. Oikopleura jiabellum, fairly numerous. IX. -Aug. 22nd, Port Erin, after sunset; windy. Medusoid gonophores. 328 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Sagitta bipunctata. Tomopteris onisciformis. Copepoda, various (including Pleuromma abdominale, one specimen). Evadne nordmanni. Isopoda. Oikopleura flabellum. The following is the list of species in the collection made on the Southern shores of the Isle of Man, from Fleshwick Bay* to near Castletown, by shore-collecting, dredging, and tow-netting, during five weeks in July and August, 1885. PORIFERA. Halisarca dujardinii, ofi" Port St. Mary ; also shore. Port Erin, Bay-ny-Carrickey, &c. Chalina limbata, shore. Port Erin. Dictyocylindrus stuposus, ofi" Port Erin. Amorphina panicea, shore. Port Erin, &c. Amorphina carunculay shore pools, Kitterland. Isodictya elegans, in shore-pool, Port Erin. Isodictya densa, Port Erin. Halichondria incrustans, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey. Cliona celata, off Port Erin, and off Spanish Head. Hymeniacidon sanguinea, shore pools. Port Erin. Ascetta coriacea^ shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey and Port Erin. Sycandra compressa, shore, Fleshwick Bay, Port Erin, etc. Sycandra ciliata, shore. Port Erin. Sycandra aspera, n.sp., off Port Erin. Leiicandra nivea, off Spanish Head, twelve to twenty fathoms. Leucandra fistulosa, shore. Port Erin. * See Chart PI. XII. ;S. NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF THE ISLE OF MAN. 329 Leucandra johnstonii, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey and Port Erin. Leucandra gossei, off Port St. Mary, &c. CCELENTERATA. Hydromedus^. Clava multicornis, on Corallina officinalis, Port Erin. Coryne sp., on wood of old breakwater, Port Erin. Garveia nutans, off Spanish Head, fifteen fathoms. Tubularia indivisa, dead, off Spanish Head and Port Erin. Tubularia simplex (?) off Spanish Head, fifteen fathoms. Eudendrium ramosum, off Port Erin, ten to twenty fathoms. Eudendrium capillar e (?), on Hyas coarctatus, off Port Erin. Clytia johnstoni, off Bradda Head, near Port Erin. Obelia flabellata, off Port Erin. Obelia dichocoma, off Port Erin. Obelia gelatinosa (?), Port Erin. Campanularia volubilis, off Spanish Head. Campanularia verticillata, off Port St. Mary, fifteen fathoms. Campanularia hincksii, off Spanish Head. Campanularia caliculata, off Port Erin. Campanularia angulata, off Port Erin. Campanularia Jiexuosa, off Port Erin. Campamdaria neglecta, off Port Erin. Gonothyrcea loveni, off Port Erin. Lafoea dumosa, off Spanish Head, ten to twenty fathoms. Calycella syringa, off Port Erin. Coppinia arcta, off Spanish Head ; shore. Port Erin. Halecium halecinum, off Spanish Head and Port Erin, ten to twenty fathoms. 330 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Halecium beanii, ofif Spanish Head. Sertularella polyzoniaSj off Port Erin. Diphasia rosacea, on Tubularia, off Port Erin. Sertularia ahietina, off Spanish Head. Sertularia operculata, off Spanish Head. Sertularia pumila, shore, Port Erin. Sertularia Jilicula, off Port Erin. Sertularia argentea, off Port Erin. Hydrallmania falcata, off Spanish Head. Plumularia pinnata, off Port Erin, fifteen fathoms. Antennularia ramosa, off Port Erin. Antennularia antennina, off Spanish Head. Medusoid Gonophores, Thaumantias hemispherica, surface, Port Erin. Thaumantias octona, surface, Port Erin. Thaumantias thompsoni, surface. Port Erin. Thaumantias lucida, surface. Port Erin. Bougainvillia britannica, surface. Port Erin. Ctenophora. Pleurobrachia pileus, surface. Port Erin. ACTINIARIA. Halcampa chrysanthellum (?), off Halfway Rock, Port Erin, ten fathoms. Actinoloba dianthus, shore, Port Erin, Fleshwick Bay. Heliactis venusta, shore, Kitterland, in rock pools. Adamsia palliata, off Spanish Head, ten to twenty fathoms. Actinia equina, Port Erin, Fleshwick Bay, etc. Anemonia sulcata, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey, Port Erin. Tealia crassicornis, shore. Port Erin. The varieties insignis and purpurea were also noticed. NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF THE ISLE OF MAN. 331 Bunodes gemmaceus, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey ; shore, Port Erin. Corynactis viridis, off Spanish Head and The Calf, fifteen to twenty-five fathoms. The specimens seemed to belong to the variety rhodoprasina, Gosse. Polythoa arenacea, off Spanish Head, ten to twenty fathoms. Alcyonaria. Alcyonium digitatum, off Spanish Head, ten to twenty fathoms. Sarcodictyon catenata, off Spanish Head, ten to twenty fathoms. ECHINODERMATA. Antedon rosaceus, off Port Erin, Halfway Kock ; off Spanish Head, ten to twenty fathoms. Pentacrinoid larvae on Algae in same locality. Asterias ruhens, off Port St. Mary. Crihrellci sanguinolentaf off Spanish Head and Port Erin. Solaster papposa, off Port Erin. Asterina gibbosa, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey, Port Erin, etc. Ophioglypha ciliata, off Port Erin. Ophioglypha albida, off Port Erin, Port St. Mary, etc. Amphiura squamataf Port Erin, Fleshwick Bay, etc. Ophiopholis aculeata, off Port Erin, twelve fathoms, etc. Ophiothrix pentaphyllumy off Spanish Head, common. Ophiocoma nigra, off Spanish Head, fifteen to twenty fathoms. Echinus miliaris, off Spanish Head and Port Erin. Echinus esculentus, common off Port Erin, Port St. Mary, etc. Echinocardium Jlavescens, off Bradda Head, fifteen fathoms. 332 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Echinocardium cor datum , off Port Erin. Spatangus purpureitSf one specimen, off Port Erin, fifteen fathoms. Echinocyamus pusillus, off Bradda Head, etc., Port Erin ; off Spanish Head. Thyone papillosa, off Cassells, Port Erin, fifteen fathoms. Genus brunneus, off Spanish Head, fifteen fathoms. Cucumaria hyndmanniy off Port Erin, twenty fathoms. Vermes. Leptoplana sp., off Port Erin, ten fathoms. Leptoplana sp.. Port St. Mary, five fathoms. Carinella linearis, off Port Erin. Lineus marinus, between Port St. Mary and Spanish Head, twenty fathoms ; also, Bay Fine, ten fathoms. Sagitta bipunctata, surface. Port Erin. Hermione hystrix, off Halfway Rock, Port Erin, and off Spanish Head, fifteen to twenty fathoms. Sthenelais zetlandica, Port Erin, twenty fathoms. Polynoe squamata, off Spanish Head. Polynoe floccosa, Port St. Mary, five fathoms ; Bay-ny- Carrickey. Hermadion assimile, on Echinus, off Bay Fine, ten fathoms. Harmothoe halimti, Port Erin, fifteen fathoms. Harmothoe imbricata, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey, etc. Nephthys longisetosa. Port Erin. Syllis armillaris, Port Erin. Nereis pelagica, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey, etc. Nereis viridis, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey, and off Spanish Head. Lumbriconereis fragilis, Port St. Mary. Eunice sp., Port St. Mary. Terebella conchilega, Port St. Mary, five fathoms ; etc. NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF THE ISLE OF MAN. 333 Terehella nehulosa, off Port Erin, etc., ten to twenty fathoms ; common. Dasychone lucidlana, Port Erin. Pectinaria helgica, off Port Erin, twenty fathoms. Filograna implexa, off Port St. Mary, five fathoms. Cirratulus cirratuSy off Port St. Mary. Cirratidus borealis, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey, Port Erin, etc. Serpula vermicularis, off Spanish Head, Port Erin, etc. Spirorhis borealis, Fleshwick Bay, etc. Protula protensa, off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Tomopteris onisciformis, surface. Port Erin. POLYZOA. Mtea recta, off Port Erin, ten to fifteen fathoms. Mtea truncata, on Algae, Port Erin, ten to fifteen fathoms. Eucratea chelata, var. elongata, nov., off Port Erin. Scrupocellaria scrupea. Port Erin, five to ten fathoms. Scrupocellaria scruposa. Port St. Mary, five fathoms. Scrupocellaria reptans, on Pecten, etc., off Port Erin. Bugula plinnosa, Port Erin. Beania mirabilis. Port Erin, five to ten fathoms. Cellaria fistulosa, off Spanish Head, etc., common, ten to twenty fathoms. Cribrilina punctata, on decayed wood, Spanish Head, fifteen fathoms. Membraniporella niticla, on Pecten, off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Membranipora catenularia, off Port Erin. Membranipora aurita, on decayed wood, Spanish Head, fifteen fathoms. Membranipora pilosa, off Port St. Mary, five fathoms, etc. 334 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Microporella malusiiy on Pecten, off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Schizoporella spinifera, off Port Erin, ten to fifteen fathoms. Umhonula verrucosa, off Port St. Mary, and near Spanish Head. Porella compressay off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Smittia reticulata, on Pecten, off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Mucronella peachii, on Pecten, off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Mucronella coccinea, on Pecten, off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms ; also on Laminaria roots, and on Anomia, Port St. Mary, common. Cellepora pumicosa, off Spanish Head. Crisia ehurnea, off Spanish Head, ten to twenty fathoms. Crista denticulata, off Port St. Mary. Crisia cornuta, Port St. Mary, five fathoms ; shore, Port Erin. Diastopora patina, on Pecten, off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Lichenopora hispida, on Pecten, off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Alcyonidium hirsutum, off Port Erin, ten to fifteen fathoms. Fkistrella hispida, Port Erin, etc. Amathia Undigera, off Cassells, Port Erin, twelve fathoms. Bowerbankia imbricata, on base of Amaroucium, Port Erin. Bowerbankia pustulosa, off Port Erin, ten to fifteen fathoms. Cylindroecium dilatatum. Port Erin, ten to fifteen fathoms NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF THE ISLE OF MAN. 335 Valkeria uva, var. cuscuta, Port Erin. Mimosella gracilis^ off Bay Fine, ten to fifteen fathoms. Pedicellina gracilis, and also var. nodosa, nov., off Bay Fine. Crustacea. CiRRIPEDIA. Verruca stromia, on Laminaria, Spanish Head. B alarms balanoides, off Port St. Mary, very large. Chthamalus stellatus, shore, Fleshwick Bay. Copepoda. Calanus Jinmarchicus, surface, Port Erin. Pleuromma abdominalCf surface. Port Erin. Metridia armata, surface, Port Erin. Pseudocalanus elongatus, surface. Port Erin. Candace truncata {?), surface. Port Erin. Dias longiremisy surface. Port Erin. Temora longicornis, surface, Port Erin. Centropages hamatus, surface. Port Erin. Oithona spiriifrons, surface. Port Erin. Ascidicola rosea, in Ascidian, Port Erin. Amphipoda. Iphimedia obesa. Atylus swammerdamii. Atylus gibbosus. D examine spinosa. Gammarus locusta. Gammarus marinus. Amphit^oe podoceroides. Podocerus falcatus. Podoceriis pelagicus. Podocerus pulchellus. Sunamphithod hamula. Caprella linearis, shore, Fleshwick Bay. 336 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Proto pedata. Protella phasma. Chelura terebrans, great number in wood of old break- water, Port Erin. ISOPODA. Idotea linearis, Port Erin, etc. PODOPHTH ALM AT A . Crangon sculptus, off Port Erin. Galathea intermedia, off Port Erin, ten fathoms, common. Galathea squamifera, off Spanish Head, ten to twenty fathoms ; shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey. Pagurus bernhardus, off Port Erin, etc., common. Pagurus prideauxii, off Port St. Mary. Pagurus ciianensis, off Spanish Head. Porcellana longicornis, off Port St. Mary. Pinnotheres pisum, off Spanish Head, ten to twenty fathoms. Portunus pusillus, shore, Port Erin. Ebalia cranchii, off Port Erin. Ebalia tuberosa, off Port Erin. Ebalia tumefacta, between Port St. Mary and Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Inachus dorsettensis, off Port Erin. Hyas araneus, off Port Erin. Hyas coarctatus, off Spanish Head. Stenorhynchus rostratus, off Port Erin, ten fathoms. Eurynome aspera, off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Pycnogonida. • Pallene brevirostris, off Spanish Head. Phoxichilidium femoratum. Port Erin. Pephredo hirsuta (?), off Port Erin, fifteen fathoms ; shore, Fleshwick Bay. Phoxichilus spinosus, off Port Erin, fifteen fathoms. NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF THE ISLE OF MAN. 337 MoLLUSCA. Anomia ephippium, off Spanish Head, Port St. Mary, etc. Ostrea edidis, off Port St. Mary, ten to twenty fathoms. Mytilus edulis, off Port St. Mary Mytilus modiolus, off Spanish Head. Modiolaria discors, shore, Fleshwick Bay, Port Erin. Modiolaria marmorata, off Spanish Head, ten to twenty fathoms. Lima loscombii, off Spanish Head. Lima elliptica, off Spanish Head. Pecten varius, young. Port Erin. Pecten similis, off Spanish Head. Pecten pusio, off Spanish Head. Pecten opercidaris, off Port St. Mary, etc. Pecten maximus, off Spanish Head. Pecten tigrinus, var. costata, off Spanish Head. Nucida nucleus, off Spanish Head, fifteen fathoms. Pectuncidus glycimeris, off Port Erin and Halfway Rock, off Spanish Head, etc., ten to twenty fathoms. Area tetragona, off Spanish Head. Venus fasciata, Port Erin. Venus casina, Port Erin, Port St. Mary, ten to twenty fathoms. Venus gallina, Port Erin. Venus exoleta, off Port Erin. Astarte sidcata, off Port Erin. Mactra solida, and var. elliptica, off Port Erin. Tapes virgineus, off Spanish Head. Saxicava rugosa, off Port St. Mary, Spanish Head, etc. Psainmobia telUnella, off Spanish Head. Tellina balthica, off Port Erin. Cardiam norvegicum, off Port Erin, young. Thracia prcetenuis, off Port Erin. Pholas crispata, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey. Y 338 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Chiton cancellatuSf off Port Erin. Chiton albuSy Port Erin. Chiton ci7iereus, off Spanish Head. Chiton Icevis, Port Erin. Dentalium entale, off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Patella vulgata, common everywhere. Patella vulgata^ var. athletica, Fleshwick Bay. Helcion pellucidum, var. Iceve, off Port St. Mary. Emarginula fissura, off Port Erin, ten to fifteen fathoms; off Spanish Head. Fissurella grcsca, off Port Erin, off Spanish Head, fifteen to twenty fathoms. Trochus zizyphinus, off Port Erin, fifteen fathoms. Trochus cinerarius, off Spanish Head ; shore, Bay-ny- Garrickey. Trochus magiiSy off Port Erin, ten to twenty fathoms. Trochus tumidus, off Spanish Head. Purpura lapillis, Fleshwick Bay. Lacuna divaricata, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey. Littorina ohtusata^ Fleshwick Bay. Littorina littoraliSf Port Erin, etc. Velutina Icsvigata, off Port Erin. Phasianella pullus, off Spanish Head, fifteen fathoms. Buccinum undatiim, off Spanish Head. Murex erinaceuSj off Spanish Head. Nat'ica catena, off Spanish Head. Natica alderi, off Spanish Head. Fusus gracilis, off Spanish Head. Fusus antiquus, off Spanish Head. Trophon harvicensis, off Port St. Mary. Trophon muricatus, off Port Erin. Pleurotoma 7iehila, off Port Erin. Pleurotoma turricula, off Spanish Head. Cyprcea europcEa, off Port Erin and Port St, Mary. NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF THE ISLE OF MAN. 389 Aplysia punctata, off Cassells, Halfway Rock, Bay Fine, Port Erin, etc., ten to twenty fathoms. Pleurobranchus inembranaceus, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey. Doris tuber culata, shore. Port Erin. Eolis lineata, two specimens, dredged off Port Erin, ten fathoms. Eolis picta, off Port Erin. Eolis amoendf one specimen, off Halfway Eock, Port Erin. Eolis tricolor, off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Dotofragilis, off Port Erin ; off Spanish Head. Dendronotus arborescens, off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Goniodoris castanea, off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. TUNICATA. Molgula occulta, many, dredged off Bradda Head, fifteen fathoms ; off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Eugyra glutinans, off Spanish Head, and off Half-way Rock, ten to twenty fathoms. Polycarpa monensis, n.sp., off Port Erin, fifteen fathoms. Polycarpa pomar'ia. Bay Fine, twelve fathoms. Polycarpa comata, off Halfway Rock, Port Erin. Polycarpa rustica, on Laminaria, Port St. Mary, five fathoms. Styela grossularia, off Port Erin, Port St. Mary, Spanish Head. Corella par allelo gramma, off the Cassells, Port Erin, fifteen fathoms ; off Spanish Head. Ascidia depressa, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey. Ascidia plebeia, off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Ascidia aspersa, off Port Erin, ten to fifteen fathoms. Ascidia virginea, off Port Erin, ten fathoms. Ascidia scabra, off Port Erin, ten to fifteen fathoms. 340 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Ciona intestmalis, off Port Erin, ten fathoms ; off Spanish Head. Perophora listeriy off Spanish Head, twenty fathoms. Clavelina lepadiformis, off Bay Fine and Halfway Rock, ten to twenty fathoms; and off Spanish Head, fifteen fathoms. Morchellium argus, off Bay Fine and Halfway Rock ; and off Spanish Head, ten to twenty fathoms. Morchellioides alderi, n.sp., shore pools, Port Erin. Amaroucium prolifermny off Port Erin ; shore, Bay-ny- Carrickey, etc. Amaroucium sp., Port St. Mary, five fathoms. Distoma rubrum, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey, Port Erin, etc. Distoma vitrea, shore, Port Erin. Distoma sp.. Port Erin, twenty fathoms. Botryllus violaceus, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey, Port Erin, etc. Botryllus morio, shore pool, Port Erin. Botryllus smaragdus, Port Erin. Botryllus sMosseri, shore. Port Erin, Bay-ny-Carrickey, etc. Botryllus pruinosuSy shore. Port Erin and Bay-ny- Carrickey. Polycyclus saoignii, off Halfway Rock and Bradda Head, Port Erin. Botrylloides albicans, shore, Port Erin, Bay-ny-Carrickey. Botrylloides sp.. Port Erin. Botrylloides rubrum, off Spanish Head, ten to twenty fathoms, common ; also shore, Port Erin, etc. Botrylloides leachii, Port Erin. Leptoclinum maculosum, shore, Bay-ny-Carrickey, Port Erin, Spanish Head, etc. Leptoclinum asperum, off Port Erin, and at Bay-ny- Carrickey. NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF THE ISLE OF MAN. 341 Leptoclinum durum, off breakwater, Port Erin, ten fathoms. Leptoclinum c(uididum, Port St. Mary, five fathoms, etc. D'lplosoma fjelatinosum, on Zoophytes, etc., Port Erin and Bay-ny-Carrickey. Diplosoma crystalliniun, Port St. Mary, five fathoms ; shore, Port Erin. 342 NOTES on some of the POLYCH^TA collected by the L. M.B.C. By R. J. Harvey Gibson, M.A., F.R.S.E., F.R.MS., DEMONSTRATOR OP ZOOLOGY IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LIVERPOOL. This paper deals with — . (1.) The value of the setae of the Polychseta as specific characters. (2.) The structure of the following Aphroditidae : — (a.) Malmgrenia castanea, Mcintosh. (b.) Hermadion assimile, Mcintosh. (3.) On Pectinaria auricoma, Miiller, and Pectinaria helgica, Pallas. 1. With reference to the first of the above subjects, a few remarks may appropriately be made here. Mcintosh* lays great stress on the importance of the setaB as specific characters, and insists on the accurate delineation of typical examples. In speaking of the setae, he says : — " It is impossible, for example, to describe too minutely in groups like the Polynoidse, in which the specific separation rests on so many fine characters The mere statement that a bristle is slender and serrated conveys Httle more to the mind than the assertion, in com- paring the hair of a bat with that of a sheep, that each is serrated. Even some of the most distinguished investigators of the Annelida have failed to appreciate the valuable results derived from a strict and faithful apprehension of the structure of the bristles, the other cha- racters, of course, being duly attended to. The characteristic mark- ings at the tips of the bristles of Hermadion pellucidwn and H. assimile, for instance, shew how valuable such characters will some day be in * On British Annelida, Trans. Zool. Soc, Lend., ix, 371. NOTES ON SOME OF THE POLYCH^TA. 343 classification. . , The distinctions between many of the species are nice, yet exact, and afford a good field for scientific accuracy in microscopic work." Bourne* mentions the neuropodial and notopodial setae as variable in the series of Polynoe clava examined by him, but remarks that the characters of equivalent setae were constant. After a careful examination of the Polynoidae of the L. M. B. C. collection,! I can scarcely think that the setae are such trustworthy guides in the identification of species as Prof. Mcintosh believes them to be. In the first place, in the individual the setae vary much, as Bourne observes, not only in colour, but in size, in curve, markings, and serrations. I mounted the entire series of parapodia from three examples of Harmotho'e imbricata, and was astonished to find that the amount of variation was very considerable. I was fortunately able to mount entire two or three young specimens of H, imbricata, and there also the difi'erences between the bristles of the young and those of the adult were observable. I did the same for Polynoe clava, with similar result. No doubt, in aberrant Polynoidae like Hermadion assimile (PL VIII), the spines are reliable guides, but no one would require to look at the spines to identify such a form. I agree with Bourne, that comparison of equivalent setae is useful, but with all due deference to so high an authority as Dr. Mcintosh, I would feel doubtful of resting the identi- fication of species so much on the character of the setae as he seems to be inclined to do. + I would equally doubt the advisability of trusting too much to the form of the para- podia themselves as is done by Dr. Hj. Theel, in his * Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond., ZooL, 2nd ser., vol. ii, p. 349. t See Report on the Vermes, p. 144. I Compare *' Challenger" Report ou Annelidas, by Professor Mcintosh, F.R.S. Dr. Mcintosh does not state, in many cases, from what segment of the body the bristles are taken. 344 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Annelides Polychetes des Mers de la Nouvelle-Z&nihle."' As is pointed out by Bourne {loc. cit.), the shape of the parapodia is variable in one and the same individual, and equivalent parapodia must in all cases be compared. At the same time, even then the normal shape of the parapodia may be altered by the presence of eggs in the body cavity, the amount of retraction of the acicula, and the condition of the caeca of the alimentary canal. The general appear- ance, the number of segments, and a typical transverse section require to be more attended to than they are ; the merest outline of the form, natural size, with any striking character, seems an accompaniment to a description of new or rare species very much needed. Since writing the above, I have been glad to find my opinion supported by Hansen, in his Keport on the Anne- lides of the Norwegian North Atlantic Expedition.! I quote the sentences more especially bearing on the point in ques- tion. After pointing out that Malmgren has attached espe- cial weight to the distinctive features of the pedal bristles, considering them, indeed, as of generic value, he goes on to say :— " From what is stated here, a considerable difference might be inferred to exist between the members of the family Polynoidce, and not only as concerns the structure of the bristles, but also with regard to the external anatomical features of the animals. This, however, is not the case, as will at once appear from a glance at Malmgren's own drawings. Indeed, unless carefully examined in detail, it is hardly possible to distinguish between them, so closely do the animals resemble one another. . . . The last feature to adduce as a generic character would be, if justly considered, the structure of the bristles, which are so remarkably alike in well-nigh all Polynoce that very con- siderable difficulty is frequently experienced in distinguishing between * Kongl. Svenska. Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handling ar, Bandet xvi, No. 3, 1879. f Den Norske Nordhavs-Expedition, 1876-78, Zoologi, Annelida, ved G. Armauer Hansen, 1882. NOTES ON SOME OF THE POLYCH^TA. 345 them ; and as for types of bristles, there is nothing of the kind, characters founded on such an assumption being altogether spurious. The fact of the dorsal bristles being shorter or thicker than the ventral, or vice versa, and that of the ventral bristles being cleft or not cleft at the points, cannot be regarded as typical peculiarities of structure, generic or specific. . . . And this, as I conceive, peculiar unfitness of the bristles to furnish a sure and obvious basis on which might be established a natural division of the Polynoidae into numer- ous genera, extends, I think, with equal force to specific diagnoses." 2. Among the Aphroditidse dredged by the L. M. B. C, are the rare forms, Malmgrenia castanea, McI., and Herma- dion assimile, McI. These seem to merit fuller notice than they have obtained in the general report.* (a.) Malmgrenia castanea, Mcintosh, Travis, ZooL Soc, vol. ix, p. 376. Localities (by Gwyn Jeffreys). — N. Uist, 90-96 fathoms, 1867, and in 1868. On Spatangus purpnreus (near mouth), eighty-five fathoms. Off Valentia, in eighty fathoms, and off Blasquet, in a hundred and ten fathoms, off the Channel Islands. Six miles north of Great Ormes Head, fourteen fathoms, in ambulacral groove of Astropecten irregularis (L. M. B. C). The head was not present on the specimens obtained by the L.M.B. C, but according to Mcintosh, ''the head is slightly pinkish in life, as is also the proboscidian region, two eyes are situated near the posterior border, and two laterally on the anterior prominence. The tentacle is moderately developed, and has a slight enlargement below the tapering tip. The antennae have brownish pigment a little above the base." The body is very long, there being about eighty to a hundred segments. Mcintosh states that there are fifteen pairs of scales. The scales, which are " reniform " or * See Report on Vermes, p. 144. 346 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. quadrate, and have a dark belt along their anterior margin, are attached to the dorsal surface of the body on every fourth segment (see PL VII, fig. 6). Every elytron-bearing segment possesses two protuberances, rounded or quadrate on surface (PI. VII, fig. 6, d), and each forming a low column, about tV in. high. The surface of the protuberance is attached to a depression in the under surface of the scale to the left (or right, for the right-hand scales of the middle line). The segments which bear the elytra have no dorsal cirri. The non-elytron-bearing segments have cirri (PI. VII, fig. 6, a), but they have also protuberances identical in position, but not in form, with the elytron-bearing protuberances. Both segments intervening between two elytron-bearing segments have similar protuberances (PL VII, fig. 6, b, c). Each of these is a short column, oval in section, having its long axis at right angles to the long axis of the body, and having its internal and external angles produced into horns. These horns on their ventral sufaces, and a considerable portion of the columns, are covered by ciliated epithelium (see PL VII, fig. 3), which probably fulfils a branchial function. The scales are arranged so that the left-hand scale overlies the right-hand one. Their posterior margins are inserted between the two branchial protuberances, overlying the anterior and underlying the posterior of these. The dorsal cirri, as stated by Mcintosh, are perfectly smooth (PL VII, fig. 6, a). The bristles are described and figured by Mcintosh {loc. cit.). In transverse section the attachment of muscles to the elytron -bearing protuberance is seen (PL VII, fig. 1). Two pseudhaemal vessels appear one above the alimentary canal, between the two masses of the dorsal muscles, the other beneath the alimentary canal, and lying in connection with the reproductive follicles and immediately above it. The vessels are not lined by epithelium, and are probably simply portions of the coelome cut off". The outer wall of the NOTES ON SOME OF THE POLYCH^TA. 347 ventral vessel is covered by large epithelial cells, which , on its under aspect become aggregated into a plate with lateral ridges, forming the genital gland (PI. VII, fig. 2). From these ridges the ova (or spermatozoa) are budded off into the coelome.* The alimentary canal shews very well the relationship of the intestinal caeca to the intestine itself. Prolongations of these caeca are carried up into the dorsal protuberances (PI. VII, figs. 1 and 5). Like Bourne, I have not discovered any communication between the scale cavity and the body cavity ; the epithelium cover- ing the surface of the knob is entire, even over the attach- ment of the muscle. Moreover, the epithelial cells bearing the cilia on the *' branchiae " are quite as large as anywhere else, and there are bands of muscle and connective tissue between the superficial epithelium and the wall of the caecum. The intestine is lined by columnar ciliated epithelium in one or more layers. The epithelial layer is frequently folded, but the folds do not affect the muscular wall. The folds are epithelial only ; the muscular wall is extremely thin, con- sisting of a very few fibres, arranged, the inner layer circularly, the outer longitudinal. The caeca open into the alimentary canal by funnel-shaped openings. The funnel is lined by columnar ciliated epithelium, the cilia being very long and pointing towards the cavity of the intestine (PL VII, fig. 5). The caeca are branched and send prolongations into the dorsal protuberances, as above stated. The funnel has a layer of circular muscle, slightly thicker than that forming the body wall of the intestine. The cells lining the caeca are glandular and secretory (PI. VII, fig. 5), and frequently shew clear superficial portions which often contain concretions. I can scarcely agree with Haswell in considering that intestinal respiration goes on to any great extent, at * See Haswell, *' Monograph on the Australian Aphroditida," Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W., vol. vii. 348 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. least in this form, and in those where, owing to the power of movement of the scales, the muscle layer is well developed. Further, the ova frequently become pushed up to form a distinct layer between the muscle and the wall of the caecum, so that a considerable thickness of tissue intervenes between the superficial epithelium and the intestinal wall. Finally, the acicular muscles fill up the ccelome beneath the caeca and intestine (PI. VII, fig. 1). The muscles are large, and are attached to the inner end of the aciculum only in a radiating manner. The aciculum has a knob-shaped end, which forms a basis for attachment of the muscles. The acicula are, moreover, connected to each other by muscle bands at their bases (PI. VII, fig. 4). (6.) Hermadion assimile, Mcintosh, Trans. Zool. Soc , ix, 387. Localities. — St. Andrews ; west coast of Ireland ; south of England ; ofi" the Spanish coast, in the " Porcupine " expedition ; and, by the L.M. B. C, at Bay Fine, near Port Erin, Isle of Man, in ten fathoms, from a gravelly bottom. One or two points in the anatomy of this species seem worthy of note. The alimentary canal does not present the usual branched lateral caeca which are so characteristic of the Aphroditidae. On the contrary, it presents merely a series of alternate con- stictions and bulgings, the sv/ellings corresponding to the segmental space. The entire canal is lined by granular columnar non-ciliated cells, corresponding to those found in the caeca of the ordinary tj^pe. The parapodia are very large and elongated. Mcintosh figures the spines {loc. cit.) which are tolerably numerous and more uniform throughout the series of parapodia than one usually finds them. Mcintosh mentions the presence of a median tentacle on the head ; that was, however, absent in the specimen obtained ojff the NOTES ON SOME OF THE POLYCH^TA. 349 Manx coast ; a very clearly-defined scar was, however, pre- sent, indicating probably the position of the lost tentacle (see PL VIII, fig. 1). The proboscis was long, and presented in section a quadrate lumen, owing to the arrangement of the layers of muscle. Along the ventral surface of the anterior part of the body, more especially upon the ridges formed by the longitu- dinal muscle bands, a large number of minute globular pro- jections were seen (PI. VIII, fig. 2). Each projection was ovoid or elliptical in vertical section. Each has a central core, covered by a thick cuticle, which is continuous with the cuticle over the ventral surface of the body. The cuticle over the papilla is faintly striated at right angles to the surface (PI. VIII, tig. 4). The core is granular and fibrillar, and towards the base shews larger nuclear looking bodies. The core is directly continuous with fibrillse from nerve fibres, which are abundantly distributed to the ventral sur- face of the body. The stalk of the papilla is very thin and hyaline in appearance, and contains a central core, composed of fibrillse, connecting the nerve fibres with the core of the papilla (PL VIII, fig. 3). The nervous system is very much flattened dorso ventrally, and gives off very large nerves to the sides of the body, fibres from which supply the above- mentioned papillae, which are doubtless some form of tactile sense organ not previously noticed. The specimen examined was a female, and every available space in the coelome was filled with eggs, which took on carmine staining very deeply. (c.) On the synonymy of Pectinaria helgica, Pallas, and Pectinaria aiiricoina, Miilier. Pectinaria helgica was described under the synonym of Nereis cylindraria, var. helgica by Pallas, in his "' Mis- cellanea Zoologica," 1766 ; and Pectinaria auncoma was 350 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. described under the synonym of Amphitrite auricoma by 0. F. Miiller, in his " Zoologica Danica," in 1788. Pennant, in his *' British Zoology," describes Amphitrite auricomay and mentions, as a synonym, Nereis cylindraria of Pallas, that is to say, the variety belgica above mentioned. Dalyell, in his *' Powers of the Creator," describes Amphitrite auricoma f but calls it Sabella helgica. Glaus, in his " Traite de Zoologie," acknowledges both P. auricoma of Muller, and P. belgica of Pallas. Gosse acknowledges P. belgica only {" Marine Biology "). Similarly, P. auricoma is omitted from the List of British Marine Invertebrata, drawn up by a Committee of the British Association, in 1861, and from Forbes's paper in Brit. Assoc. Keport, 1850. Mcintosh (Ency. Brit., art. "Annelides") figures P. belgica of Pallas, after Malmgren. Finally, Mobius (" Zoologische Ergebnisse ") acknowledges both P. auricoma of Miiller and P. belgica of Pallas. Apparently, two distinct species are first of all figured and described by Pallas and Muller respectively, Pallas having the precedence in time ; Pennant, Dalyell, and others mix up the two species together ; more recent authorities omit either one or other, consider them as one species, or acknowledge them to be distinct. It seems worth while to compare Pallas's and Miiller's accounts, in order to determine whether there are points of distinction between them of sufficient importance to justify their being separated from each other. Miiller (loc, cit.) gives as the specific characters of his Amphitrite auricoma the presence of two cirri on either side of the head, and two rigid yellow fans in front. On examin- ing Pallas's drawings of P. belgica, his Nereis cylindraria, var. belgica {loc. cit.), the pair of cirri are found to be present on either side of the head, just as Miiller describes them in P. auricoma ; but his figure of the stiff golden comb shews one continuous and uniform series of teeth, not two NOTES ON SOME OF THE POLYCH^TA. 351 series, as in P. auricoma. At the same time, Pallas does not distinctly state the condition of the comb in the form he describes. He compares it, however, with Nereis cylin- draria var. capensis, and says: '' Maxime insignes in eo (capite) sunt palmulse binse (figs. 1,2; 7, 8, 9, a) rotundatse, factae ex paleolis sen aciculis planis, auratis, linearis-acutis, interioribus in qualibet palmula sensim minoribus et angus- tioribus, exterioribus pariter decrescentibus, at latioribus ; omnibus versus dorsum leviter recurvatis. Hse paleolae itae carnoso capiti implantatae sunt, ut imbricatim (instar remigum in ala avis) exteriores interioribus superadcubent." All these characters are equally true of the combs of P, auricoma. Further, Pallas refers to a plate on which both var. capensis and var. helgica are figured ; figs. 1 and 2 are of the former, and there the double comb is quite distinguishable, although not very accurately drawn ; figs. 7, 8 and 9, how- ever, which are referred to at the same place (see quotation), are of var. belgica, and do not shew the binary condition at all, with the exception of fig. 9, which does shew the teeth divided into two series. Dalyell figures {loc. cit.) a form which he calls " Sabella helgica or Amphitrite auricoma,'" and in his drawing two combs (whose existence he mentions in the text) are visible. Mcintosh's figure {loc. cit.) of P. helgica shews the two combs with perfect accuracy and distinctness. Either Pallas's draughtsman * has made an error in most of the figures of P. helgica, and failed to represent the comb with sufficient accuracy, hence leading Miiller into error when comparing his form with that of Pallas, or Pallas's figures are correct (although his references in the text are wrong), and his species is distinct from that of Miiller (for the condition of the comb appears to be the only important difi'erence between the two). Looking at the inaccuracy of the drawings as com- * It is to be noted that Pallas did not draw his own plate. 352 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. pared with var. capeiisis in Pallas's work, and taking into account the indistinctly double series of teeth shewn in figs. 5, 8 and 9 of var. belgica, I think that probably the former view is the most likely to be the correct one. In that case P. auricoma of Miiller disappears, and becomes P. belgica of Pallas. Dalyell, then, is right in considering them as one form, and Malmgren is right in figuring as P. belgica a form with a comb in all respects identical with that described by Miiller as peculiar to P. auricoma. Other writers have pro- bably not compared the original authorities, and so have simply taken for granted the existence of two distinct species. I have reproduced in Plate VIII (figs. 5-7) the original figures of Miiller and Pallas in order that they might be compared with that of Malmgren (fig. 8). Explanation of the Plates. Plate VII. Malmgrenia castariea, Mcintosh. Fig. 1. Transverse section of the body, magnified 50 dia- meters. Fig. 2. Transverse section of the sub-intestinal pseud- haemal vessel, magnified 300 diameters. Fig. 3. Transverse section of the elytron-bearing protuber- ance, magnified 300 diameters. Fig. 4. The bases of the acicula, shewing the mode of attachment of the muscles, magnified 300 diame- ters. Fig. 5. Transverse section of the alimentary canal and its caeca, magnified 300 diameters. Fig. 6. The dorsal surface of four segments from the middle of the body, magnified 50 diameters. NOTES ON SOME OF THE POLYCHiETA. 353 Plate VIII. Figs. 1-4. Hermadion assimile^ Mcintosh. Figs. 5-9. Pectinaria helgica, Pallas. Fig. 1. Head and part of the everted pharynx of H, assimile, x 10 diameters. Fig. 2. Vertical section of ventral surface of i3. assimiie, x 50 diameters, h. Nervous system. Figs. 3 and 4. Ventral papillae of H, assimile, x 300 diame- ters. ' Figs. 5 and 6. P. helgica, after Pallas enlarged ; a. Comb. Fig. 7. P. helgica, after Miiller (his P. aitricoma); enlarged. Fig. 8. P. helgica, after Malmgren ; enlarged. Fig. 9. P. helgica, from a specimen in the L. M. B. C. collection ; enlarged. 354 NOTES on VARIATION in the TUNIC AT A. By W. A. Herdman, D.Sc, F.L.S., PROFESSOR OP NATURAL HISTORY IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LIVERPOOL. It is often a matter of very great difficulty to fix upon good diagnostic characters in the Tunicata, and to distinguish between allied species, and varieties, and mere individual variations. I propose to discuss in this paper the most reliable characters for making use of in describing the species, and to give examples of some of the variations to which these and other parts of the body of an Ascidian are liable. In the first place, it is quite absurd to attempt to describe, or even, in most cases, to identify, an Ascidian, without dissection and microscopic examination. As Savigny long ago said,* ''Les Ascidies ont I'organisation variee et I'aspect uniforme. La configuration qui leur est afi'ectee ne permet pas que les differences interieures se manifestent au-dehors par des signes fort sensibles. Aussi les distinc- tions necessaires a la parfaite connaissance des especes sont- elle difficiles a tracer." In some cases the genus, and even sometimes the family, cannot be determined without dissection. For example, in many museums and other collections, all Simple Ascidians which are incrusted with sand and shell fragments are labelled " Molgulaj" but some of these speci- mens usually belong to the genus Eugyra (to distinguish which the branchial sac ought to be examined), and in * MemoireSf p. 84. 1816. NOTES ON VARIATION IN THE TUNICATA. 355 some cases they belong to Polycarpa, a member of the family Cynthiidae, and they may even be Ascidiidse {e. g,, Ascidia involuta, Heller). It is even possible that such forms might be Compound Ascidians, as Polyclinum sahu- losum and various species of Psammaplidium are incrusted with sand, and, in external appearance, mimic the Molgu- lidae. This instance is sufficient to shew how rash it is to attempt to identify a series of Ascidians without a thorough anatomical examination; and it is of the greatest importance that new species should be sufficiently described, not only in their external appearance, but in their internal structure. Most of the older descriptions of Ascidians are, on this ■ account, of little or no value. With a very few exceptions, they consist merely of more or less minute accounts of the external appearance of the animal, and frequently give no clue to even the genus to which the species belonged. Con- sequently, many of the British Ascidians, both Simple and Compound, require to be carefully re-examined and fully described before they can be referred to their proper genera, and before they can be compared with the species described from other European seas by such careful investigators as Traustedt, Lacaze-Duthiers, von Drasche, and others. One of the first matters to be determined is, which ana- tomical characters are of most importance in distinguishing allied species ; and, with the view of settling this important point, I have taken advantage of every opportunity afi'orded me during the last six years, of examining the structural details of large numbers of the commoner British species. While conducting this investigation, I have been greatly struck by the large amount of individual variation present within the limits of a species, even in the case of important organs such as the branchial sac and the tentacles. I have already discussed such individual variations in the case of 356 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. some few species in former papers,* but the specimens collected during last summer in Liverpool Bay, taken along with those formerly dredged on various parts of the west coast, have supplied me with additional examples, some of which seem worthy of being recorded. The general conclu- sion at which I have arrived is that not one of the characters usually employed in the description of species of Ascidians is constant. They are all liable to more or less variation, and, in the case of some of them, the range of variation is very great. I regard the following as the characters which should be attended to in describing a Simple Ascidian : — 1. The External Appearance. This is liable to con- siderable variation according to the surroundings. The more important points to mention are — the general shape, the position and extent of the area of attachment, the position and condition of the branchial and atrial apertures, their lobes, the condition of the surface (rough, smooth, etc.), the colour, the length (antero-posterior), the breadth (dorso- ventral), and the thickness (lateral). 2. The Test. Its consistence (leathery, gelatinous, cartilaginous, etc.), thickness, strength, transparency, colour (on surface and in section), and minute structure. Under the last head may be mentioned the presence and condition of vessels, test-cells, bladder-cells, pigment-cells, etc. 3. The Mantle. Its relative thickness, its transparency and colour, the condition of its musculature, the condition of the branchial and atrial siphons, and any peculiarities of the body as seen on removal of the test. 4. The Branchial Sac. Its relative size, its shape, relative thickness of its walls ; the presence of folds, their number, size, and direction; the arrangement of the internal longitudinal bars in relation to the folds, the presence or * See especially Journ. Linn. Soc. Lond., Zool., vol. xv, p. 329, and Proc. R. Phys. Soc. Edin., vol. vi, p. 256. 1881. NOTES ON VARIATION IN THE TUNICATA. 357 absence of minute plication in the wall, the papillae on the internal longitudinal bars, the condition of the transverse vessels, the shape of the meshes ; the shape, size, and arrangement of the stigmata. 5. The Dorsal Lamina. Its condition, a membrane or languets ; if a membrane, its relative size, and the presence and condition of transverse ribs and marginal teeth or processes ; if languets, their size and shape. 6. The Tentacles. Simple or compound ; their number, size, and arrangement. 7. The Dorsal Tubercle. Its relative size, its position, the peri-tubercular area, the shape of the tubercle, the posi- tion of its aperture, and the curving of its horns — if present. 8. To these characters may be added any noteworthy points in regard to the alimentary canal and the reproductive organs. In describing a Compound Ascidian, besides attending to the above-mentioned characters, or most of them, it is necessary to examine the shape of the body of the Ascidio- zooid, the arrangement of the Ascidiozooids in systems (or coenobii), and the arrangement of the systems in the colony (or cormus). The test is always liable to be affected by surroundings such as the object to which the Ascidian is attached, still it very frequently affords good specific characters. The number of lobes surrounding the branchial and atrial apertures is perhaps the most constant of all the external characters, and yet even it is liable to a certain amount of variation ; for example, it is the rule for the genus Ascidia to have eight branchial lobes and six atrial, but in some species (e. g., Ascidia mentula) the number of branchial lobes may be seven or nine, and the number of atrial lobes five. I have seen a specimen of Ciona intesti- 358 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. nalis with only six lobes, in place of eight, round the branchial aperture. The mantle very rarely gives definite characters which can be made use of in specification, but, in some cases, its proportions and the general appearance of its musculature afi'ord indications to those who are familiar with the species. The mantle is also of importance in distinguishing some genera {e.g., Ciona and Molgula). Probably the most important organ is the branchial sac. It gives characters which serve to distinguish families, genera, and species. Its larger features, such as the pre- sence or absence of folds, and the arrangement of the internal longitudinal bars, are of great importance in classify- ing the Simple and Compound Ascidians, and these charac- ters are constant. Other less conspicuous features, such as those derived from the transverse vessels, the meshes, and the stigmata, are useful in distinguishing species, and should always be described, but they are liable to a great deal of variation, especially towards the dorsal and ventral edges of the sac. (Figure 8 on Plate IX. shews an example of this in the case of Ascidia pleheia.) Consequently, the part of the wall selected for examination should be taken from about the middle of one side of the branchial sac. It is not uncommon in the Ascidiidae to find that, towards the edges of the sac, the internal longitudinal bars become broken up and imperfect, so as to be reduced to irregular split papillae, attached to the transverse vessels at the corners of the meshes (PI. IX, fig. 8). I figured this condition in 1880,* in the case of an Ascidia, and in 1882, t in Corella jai^onica-, since then I have met with it in a number of other species of Simple Ascidians, and * Journ. Linn. Soc, ZooL, vol. xv, pi. xvi, fig. 6. t " Challenger" Expedition Keport, Zool., No. xvii, pi. xxvi, fig. 8. NOTES ON VARIATION IN THE TUNICATA. 359 one of the new Compound Ascidians, obtained during the "Challenger" expedition, Tylohranchion speciosurn, from Kerguelen Island, has a number of branched papillae on the transverse vessels of the branchial sac, which are, I believe, simply connecting ducts with rudimentary internal longitudinal bars attached to them. Similarly, I am in- clined to regard the small papillae which project from the transverse vessels in Perophora listeri as being really connecting ducts upon the ends of which internal longi- tudinal bars might possibly have been developed. Figures 1 to 4 on Plate IX. shew a series of stages by which a complete internal longitudinal bar (fig. 1, L I) might be reduced to simple papillae, projecting from the transverse vessels at the angles of a mesh (fig. 4, c. d). All these stages may be seen as irregularities or variations in the branchial sacs of some British Ascidians. In describing the shape of the meshes and the number of stigmata they contain, it is necessary to avoid the edges of the sac, since the dorsal and ventral rows of meshes are usually very much larger than the rest, and sometimes contain twice as many stigmata. In some branchial sacs the stigmata are, as individual varieties, exceedingly irregular in their arrangement, and this appears to be especially the case where there are several orders of transverse vessels present {e.g., large, small, and medium-sized vessels, arranged alternately), some stigmata being twice or even thrice as long as their neighbours (see PI. IX, fig. 5). The small transverse vessels (or horizontal membranes) are very inconstant, and cannot be depended upon. In those species where they occur, they may be present in one mesh, dividing it horizontally into two parts, and absent in all the neighbouring meshes, or they may be present in nearly every mesh of the sac (PI. IX. figs. 5 and 6, tr"). In some cases, they interrupt the stigmata, while in others the stigmata pass 360 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. continuously behind the horizontal membranes from one transverse vessel to the next. Koule, in his important work on the Simple Ascidians of the coasts of Provence,* seems to consider that these horizontal membranes, or transverse vessels of the third order, are characteristic of Ciona intesti- nalis, and also that they are always present in the branchial sac of that species. The fact is that (1) the horizontal membranes are present in many other species of Simple Ascidians, and (2) that they are liable to variation in Ciona intestinalis just as they are in other cases. I figure here (PI. IX. fig. 6) a part of the branchial sac of a specimen of Ciona intestinalis from the Isle of Man, which shews the delicate vessels in question present in some meshes and absent in others. The endostyle is not of much value as a diagnostic feature. Its characters are very much the same in all allied species. The dorsal lamina is of importance. In the different species of the Ascidiidse it presents all intermediate con- ditions between a plain broad membrane (the true dorsal lamina) with a straight margin, and a series of long tentacle- like languets. Ascidia plebeia is particularly instructive in connection with these intermediate stages. This species has a true dorsal lamina, but the membrane is crossed by trans- verse ribs or ridges, and, at the margin, these are continued into projecting teeth or processes. In some specimens the * Annates du Musee de Marseille, Zoologie, tome ii, Memoire No. 1, 1884. I take this opportunity of correcting an erroneous statement made by M. Eoule in a footnote on page 212 of his work. In referring to wood- cut fig. 9 of the first part of my Eeport upon the " Challenger" Tunicata, he says that I have erroneously represented the viscera of Ascidia on the right side of the body in place of on the left. That is not the case. My figure represents a transverse section of the body, viewed from its anterior surface. The top is dorsal. The animal's right side is on the observer's left, and the viscera are placed on the left side of the branchial sac, as they oucht to be. NOTES ON VARIATION IN THE TUNICATA. 361 marginal teeth are slight, but in others they are long tentacle- like projections comparable with languets.* The tentacles at the base of the branchial siphon are of considerable value in characterizing species, genera, and families. In most Ascidians they are simple elongated pro- cesses, but in the Molgulidae, and in two sub-families of the CynthiidaB, they are compound and branched. In many species the tentacles are of two or more sizes, and the differ- ent orders are arranged with regularity. The smaller and more numerous tentacles are always the most liable to variations, such as suppression, reduplication, and irregu- larity in position. Sometimes, in place of all the tentacles springing from the same line, one order is inserted further forward or further back than the others. This is sometimes the case in Ascidia plebeia, f and I have recently found the same condition in a Compound AscidianI (Botryllus smaragdus). The dorsal tubercle, which is the more or less com- plicated aperture of the duct from the subneural gland, is a very variable organ, and must be used with great caution in characterizing species. I have already discussed elsewhere § the range of variation of the dorsal tubercle in some of the commoner species of British Ascidians, and, in examining the collection of Tunicata from Liverpool Bay, I have met with some marked cases of variation in this organ. In a specimen of Polycarpa pouiaria, a species in which the dorsal tubercle is usually cordate in outline, it was found to be a complete ring — a condition sometimes seen as a variation in Sti/ela grossularia. In a specimen of Molgula occulta, again, one of * See PI. VI. fig. 5, I, illustrating the Eeport upon the Tunicata of the L. M. B. C. district, in this volume. t See Journ. Linn. Soc, Zool., vol. xv, pi. xix, fig. 4. \ See PI. VI., fig. 7, illustrating the Report upon the Tunicata of the L. M. B. C. district, in this volume. § Especially in Proc. R. Fhys. Soc. Edin., vol. vi, p. 250. 1881. 362 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. the horns of the dorsal tubercle was found to bifurcate, a condition which has apparently not been previously noticed. Some Ascidians vary greatly in the amount, the position, and the colours of their pigmentation. Ascidia scabra and Ascidia virginea may be mentioned as being particularly variable in this respect. I have recently examined a large number of specimens of Ciona intestinalis, in the living con- dition, from the Isle of Man and other parts of the west coast, with the view of determining what amount of variation exists in regard to the two conspicuous red pigment spots placed in that species near the anterior end of the body, one on the dorsal and the other on the ventral edge (see PI. IX. fig. 7) of the branchial sac. The dorsal pigment spot (PI. IX. fig. 7, and fig. 9, d, p.) is a rounded mass placed on the outer {i,e. dorsal and anterior) surface of the nerve ganglion ; it must not be con- fused with the pigmented glandular mass of the same colour placed a little further back, upon the anterior extremity of the vas deferens, and which is regarded by Koule * as a renal organ. The ventral pigment spot (PL IX. fig. 7, and fig. 10, V. p.) is a mass of crescentic form which curves round the anterior extremity of the endostyle, in front of the peripharyngeal bands (PL IX. fig. 10, v,p,). After noticing these red spots in many specimens of Ciona intestinalis, it was natural to conclude that they are always present in the species, and consequently, I was rather astonished to find that amongst half a dozen specimens, living in a small aquarium, two had no pigment spots at the anterior end of the body. I then examined, in the fully expanded condition, every specimen ot Ciona intestinalis which I dredged until one hundred and fifty had been col- lected. This series shewed that the four possible variations in regard to the pigment spots — viz., with both spots present, * Eecherches sur les Ascidies Simples des Cotes de Provence, p. 170. 1884. NOTES ON VARIATION IN THE TUNICATA. 363 with both absent, with only the dorsal spot, and with only the ventral spot — were all found. The specimens examined were all of moderate size, and, consequently, immaturity could not account for the absence of the pigment in any of the cases. The following table shews the number of individuals with each particular variation in the first twenty, the next eighty, and the last fifty specimens examined : — Number of specimens examined. 20 80 50 With both pigment spots present. With, only the dorsal spot present. 150 10 28 26 With only the ventral spot present. With neither of the spotg present. 2 14 7 64 12 23 5 32 14 51 So far as these numbers go, they shew that about two- thirds of the individuals of Ciona intestinalis have the anterior end of the body pigmented, and more than half of those (about one-third of the whole) have both the pigment spots present. Of the four conditions found, that with both spots and that with neither are the most frequently met with, while specimens with the dorsal pigment spot alone are rarer than those with a ventral spot only. These spots are merely aggregations of round pigmented connective- tissue cells in the mantle. Their function, if they have any definite function, is still unknown. Explanation of Plate IX. Figs. 1-4. Variations in the internal longitudinal bars and connecting ducts of Simple Ascidians. Variations m the branchial sac of Ciona intestinalis, x 50 diameters. Figs. 5 and 6. 364 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Fig. 7. Anterior end of Ciona intestinalis, showing pigment spots, enlarged. Fig. 8. Imperfect internal longitudinal bars of Ascidia pleheia, x 50 diameters. Fig. 9. Dorsal pigment spot, &c., of Ciona intestinalis, X 300 diameters. Fig. 10. Ventral pigment spot, &c., of Ciona intestinalis, X 300 diameters. at, atrial aperture ; hr, branchial aperture ; c.d, connecting duct ; d.p, dorsal pigment spot ; d,t, dorsal tubercle ; en, endostyle ; h.jn, horizontal membrane ; i.l, internal longitu- dinal bar ; l.v, fine longitudinal vessel ; n.g, nerve ganglion ; n, nerves ; p.p\ large and small papillae ; p.p, peripharyngeal band ; sg, stigmata ; tr, tr', tr", transverse vessels ; i\p, ven- tral pigment spot. 365 On a NEW SPECIES of SYCANDRA. By R. J. Harvey Gibson, M.A., F.R.S.E. F.R.M.S., DEMONSTRATOR OF ZOOLOGY IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LIVERPOOL. In the collection of worms dredged off the south end of the Isle of Man, a specimen was found which, at first sight, seemed to be extremely like the rare and interesting genus Chcetoderma, and as such was labelled and put aside for further examination. When, however, it was sectionized and examined in detail, it was soon found to be a calcareous sponge. In shape it is fusiform, the narrower end being provided with a slight rim or fold (PL X, fig. 1). Its length is 8 mm. ; its breadth, at the narrow end, 1 mm. ; at its thickest part, 3J mm. ; and at the terminal opening 1^ mm. The entire surface of the body is studded with blunt-headed calcareous spicules, which had at first suggested the possi- bility of its being a Chcetoderma, In transverse section (PL X, fig. 2) the usual poriferal characteristics appear, namely, a central cavity communi- cating with the exterior by a series of closely placed ciliated canals or chambers. The chambers are ovoid in horizontal section, communicating with the interior and exterior by slightly-constricted openings. These were well seen on the sloughing of the superficial layer of tissue and spicules, which took place when the animal was put in gum, as a preliminary to freezing and sectionizing. In a section taken from the centre of the thickest portion of this body, twenty- eight of these chambers are seen in horizontal section. They lie in a hyaline syncytium, containing a number of 366 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. branched granular corpuscles (PL X, fig. 3, 4). The chambers themselves are lined by cubical granular nucleated endoderm, each cell having the characteristic collar and cilium (see PI. X, fig. 4). In the syncytium, externally, internally, and between the chambers, the spicules are placed. These are of four different forms. Inserted between the chambers, as a rule, are long club-shaped spicules, the pointed ends plunged into the syncytium, while the clubbed heads are free and extend for some distance beyond the surface of the body (PL X, fig. 3). In addition to these spicules, there are also a large number of the ordinary triradiate type, some large and T-shaped, others much smaller, and having their rays diverging at equal angles to each other (PL X, fig. 5). Amongst these are short needle-shaped spicules, lying irre- gularly in the syncytium ; these might, however, be the broken ends of the club-shaped forms. None of the species described by Haeckel * seems to agree with this form, nor have I been able to place it under any of the species described by more recent authors. The club- shaped spicules, which were generally in pairs, lying close together, seem to be characteristic, and it is probably new to science. The specific diagnosis is as follows : — Sycandra aspera, n. sp. (PL X, figs. 1-7). Shape. — Elongated and fusiform, attached by one end. Size. — 8 mm. long, and from 1 to 3*5 mm. in breadth. Spicules. — Four different forms — large and small tri- radiates, short straight spicules, and large club- shaped spicules, whose bent blunt ends extend outwards beyond the surface of the body. Locality. — Off the south end of the Isle of Man, depth fifteen fathoms. * Die Kalkschwdmme, 3872 ON A NEW SPECIES OF SYCANDRA. 367 Explanation of Plate X. Fig. 1. Sycandra asperay n.ap., x 8 diameters, a. Super- ficial layer sloughed, and shewing the openings of the ciliated chambers. The natural size is indicated at the side. Fig. 2. Semi-diagrammatic transverse section of the body. a. Ciliated chamber ; h. syncytium. Fig. 3. Body-wall, transverse section, x 50 diameters. a. Club-headed spicules, h. Needle-shaped spi- cules ; c. connective tissue cells ; d. triradiate spicules ; e. cavity of ciliated chamber, with epithelium wanting; /. do. do. with epithelium. Fig. 4. Part of wall of a ciliated chamber, X 300 diameters. a. Connective tissue cells ; h, epithelium. Fig. 5. Triradiate spicule, large size, x 60 diameters. Fig. 6. Club-headed spicules, x 60 diameters. Fig. 7. Triradiate spicule, small size, x 60 diameter. 368 Note on the possible Naturalization of the American Clam, VENUS MERCENARIA, on the Coasts of Lancashire and Cheshire. By Thomas J. Moore, CORE. MEMB. ZOOL. SOC, LONDON, eURATOR OF THE LIVERPOOL FREE PUBLIC MUSEUM. Various attempts having been made to naturalize the Quahaug or American Hard-Clam, Venus mercenaria^ in our local waters, Prof. Herdman has asked me to give a summary account of them. In February, 1869, Capt. John H. Mortimer, commander and part owner of the ship ** America," entrusted to my care a considerable supply of live Clams. A portion was sent to Mr. Frank Buckland, who, I believe, laid them down in his enclosure at Reculvers, but of which I have heard nothing more. The remainder were divided into lots and cast into the sea at Southport, at the Great Burbo Bank, and at Crosby. At Crosby they were carefully placed by Mr. Frank Archer, assisted by Mr. R. Paden, of the Museum staff. Mr. Archer and others kept a long and careful look-out for results, but none have been forthcoming beyond the rumoured finding of a doubtful valve. This distribution is referred to in the Proceedings of the Lit. and Phil, Soc., Liver^oolf vol. xxxiii, p. 192. In February, 1883, Mr. F. P. Marrat printed, for distri- bution among his friends and correspondents, a record (a few copies of which he still has on hand) of some valves of Venus mercenaria, found in the previous September at Hilbre, by Mr. Geo. W. Shrubsole, of Chester, and subsequently by NOTE ON VENUS MERCENARIA. 369 Mr. J. Chard, of the Museum staff. " Over a hundred single and double valves came into Mr. Shrubsole's possession." On these Mr. Marrat remarks (and I thank him for permis- sion to quote from his paper) that, " although none of the specimens contained the living animals, yet the condition of the shells found as above is that of fresh and not of dead specimens, the ligapaents being unbroken, and the interior glassy ; and many of them were so small, as not to be likely to have been worth importing for table use." There was no evidence to induce the supposition that these specimens were descended from the 1869 distribution. On the contrary, personal testimony was given by Mr. F. T. Paul, F.R.C.S., that a recent resident, Mr. H. D. Brandreth, carrying on business in Liverpool, and living on Hilbre Island, which he rented for a time, had certainly laid down Clams (as well as American oysters) in the sea near Hilbre. On the 28th of April, 1884, I communicated to the Literary and Philosophical Society {Proceedings, vol. xxxviii, p. xc), the following particulars of another distribution : — In the month of May, 1883, a barrel of living specimens of the Quahaug or American Hard-Clam, Venus mercenaria, was sent to the Museum, from New York, by Captain J. H. Mortimer, Premier Associate of the Society, through the kind offices of Capt. Hamilton Perry, K.M.S.S. "Britannic," for the purpose of laying down on the neighbouring shores with a view to naturalization. A few specimens were placed in the Museum Aquaria, and, notwithstanding the extremely limited accommodation afforded by the small glass vessels in which they were placed (only twelve inches in diameter with three inches depth of sand), several are still living, and prove that the Molluscs were in healthy and favourable condition on arrival. In reference to the planting of these Clams, Mr. F. P. Marrat kindly accompanied me, on the 19th May, to the Hoylake shore, at low water, with a view to distributing a portion there, but not thinking it suffi- ciently promising, we contented ourselves with casting a number into the stream beyond the bridge above the Great Float, or Birkenhead line of docks. AA 370 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. Subsequently I cast a larger number of Clams into the Dee, near Queen's Ferry, also at low water : and, to multiply chances, placed a few score at the disposal of Mr. Alfred 0. Walker, of Chester ; others I gave to Mr. Shrubsole ; and both gentlemen placed them in favourable parts of the Dee. Up to the present date, March 16th, 1886, no further captures of any kind have come to my knowledge. In the event of any such being made, both Mr. Marrat and myself will be pleased to hear of them. 371 The Liverpool Marine Biology Committee is indebted to the following gentlemen for assistance : — To Mr. George Holt, Mr. J. Poole, and Mr. N. RuNDELL, Junr., for the use of steam-tugs for the dredging expeditions. To Mr. R. D. Darbishire and Mr. T. J. Moore, for the use of apparatus. To the Senate of University College, for permission to use the Zoological Laboratory for Committee meet- ings, etc. SUBSCRIPTIONS RECEIVED. I. — For general purposes : £ s. d. Mr. James Smith ... ... ... ... 5 0 0 Mr. J. J. Wood .. ... ... 5 0 0 Mr. A. 0. Walker .. ... ... ... ... 2 2 0 Manchester Lit. and Phil, Soc . (Nat. Hist. Section) 5 0 0 II. — For the publication fund : £ s. d. £ s. d. Naturalists' Field Wm. Unwin 0 Club 10 0 0 B. L. Benas 0 Isaac Roberts 5 0 0 Jas. Birch all ... 0 Dr. Carter 2 2 0 Josiah Marples... 0 Professor Herdman... 2 2 0 C. W. Jones ... 0 Professor J. Campbell J. Linton Palmer 0 Brown 2 2 0 Thos. J. Moore... 0 Dr. Drysdale 2 2 0 Alfred Leicester 0 R. J. Harvey Gibson 2 2 0 David Gamble ... 0 W. B. Halhed o o 0 John Vicars 0 F.Archer 2 0 R. D. Darbishire, 0 Sir J. A. Pictou 0 Wm. Crosfield ... 1 0 0 Dr McClelland 0 Isaac Byerley .. 1 0 0 Malcolm Guthrie ... 0 Geo. Melly 1 0 0 Dr. Hay ward 0 J. J. Fitzpatrick <.. 0 10 (i Isaac C. Thompson... 0 W. R. Melly ... .. 0 10 0 ^<::) »« 372 PLATES. Plate I. illustrates Mr. Siddall's Report on the Forami- nifera (p. 42). Plate II. illustrates Prof. Herdman's Report on the Alcyo- naria (p. 120), and Dr. Ellis' Report on the Actiniaria (p. 123). Plate III. illustrates Mr. Lomas' Report on the Polyzoa (p. 161). Plate IV. illustrates Mr. Fowler's Report on the Amphipoda (p. 212), and Mr. Thompson's Report on the Copepoda (p. 201). Plates V. and VI. illustrate Prof. Herdman's Report on the Tunicata (p. 281). Plates VII. and VIII. illustrate Mr. Harvey Gibson's Notes on the Polychceta (p. 342). Plate IX. illustrates Prof. Herdman's Notes on the Tunicata (p. 364). Plate X. illustrates Mr. Harvey Gibson's Note on Sycandra (p. 365). Plate XI. Chart of Liverpool Bay (the L. M. B. C. District). Plate XII. Chart of the Southern end of the Isle of Man (see p. 318). JPRINTED BY D. MARPL.ES AND CO. LIMITED, LORD STREET, LIVERPOOL.. LM.B.C.Rep.I. PLATE I PIG. 1. ^^£M Fia. FIG. 3. J DSoc/c/et//, /}s/. a.M*RPL£S * C. '.iVC. c'/ERPOOl. FI&.I. PLACOPSILINA KINGSLEYI, o.sp.x 4.0clla. FI&.2. REOPPIAX MONILIFORME, n.sp.x 50 dia. FIG.3. MLIOLINA SPICULIFEKA, n.sp.x iOOdla. LM.E.C. Rep 1. PLATE H. PIC- i. fig: ?.. SARCODICTYON CATE]N[ATA. Forbes. Pia3. riG 4. - -t ot\e.\s. ut': :ylista undata, var, cakdiba. ncv. L.M3 C Rep.I. PL^TE ni '^ Zofntvs del ctUih. F.g.l. EUCRATEA CHELATA, var ELOKGATA, F.g.2. PEDICELLINA GRACILIS, var I^ODOSA, nov. M«'(PL£5 h I • I M" ,nov. L.M.B.C.Rep.l. PLATE 12: FIG. 3. /. C T/)ompson De/. M*WPlES i ^* IIM" lU'ERPOOL Pig.l. PROTELLA PHASMA, Dana (young) Fig.2. ANOMALOCERA PATE RSONil, Temp. Pia3. HARPACTICUS CHELIFER, Mlilt. L.MB.C Rep.I PLATE V. Fig"' /. Ffg.^. F/g'. 5. Fig. 4. Z,' V- •Ljk. Fi^r^ 5, W.A H. > -spX L?» m 'i refill 'ij'f "ii» ' 7r- 1- - - oe . ..st ■ir. m. -r ?> r/^. 8. M«rPi.l: i ; ". ^iMMIVEBPOOL POLYCARPA MONENSIS, n.sp. L.M.B.C. Rep.l PLATE m XI. •/'> ^'3 T W.A.H. 0 M«PPl£S & C • LIM». Ll^'tffPOOt Figs 1-4'. MORCHELLIOiriES ALDERI , n.sp. Pig 5. ASCIDIA PLEBEIA, Alder. Fig 6. MOLGULA OCCULTA, Kupffer. Fig 7. BOTRYLLUS SMARAGDUS, M.Edw. LM.B C.RepI PLATE VII ' W..ifS^!^lG2 k^^^^sM^. Tvx^N^^^ la b. Fig. 4. r- Dai M a.i. Fl