BOTANICAL NOTES AND NEWS 119 



specimen of this Nemertian was captured in the vicinity of Largo 

 Bay, Firth of Forth. When alive, it measured about 14 inches in 

 length by about three-quarters of an inch in breadth, but as it was 

 continually changing its form, these measurements are only approxi- 

 mate. It was of a slate -blue colour, but the under surface was 

 scarcely so dark in colour as the dorsal surface. Cerebratulus has 

 a short horizontal slit on each side along the lateral edge and close 

 to the anterior extremity, in addition to the longitudinal oral aperture 

 which is situated in the middle of the ventral surface and also near 

 the anterior end : the edges of the oral slit are incurved in our 

 example. The specimen unfortunately broke into three portions 

 ere it could be preserved. When alive it had somewhat the appear- 

 ance of a Hag-fish (]\fyxinc glntinosa) at first sight. I can find no 

 previous record of the occurrence within the Forth area of this 

 Nemertian ; but in the " Monograph of the British Annelida," by 

 Professor Macintosh, part i. p. 195 (1874), the author states that 

 it occurs "generally in deep water throughout the British coasts." 

 H. D. S. Goodsir published in the "Annals and Magazine of 

 Natural History," vol. xv. p. 377, Plate XX. figs. T, 2 (1845), a 

 description of what appears to be this species, under the name of 

 Serpentaria. Reference is made to his having received three speci- 

 mens, the longest portion of the three being about a yard in length 

 by about seven-eighths of an inch in breadth, but the locality where 

 they were obtained is not stated. Sir John Dalzell in his fine work, 

 "The PowersoftheCreator,"vol.ii. p. 55, Plates VI., VII., VIII. (1853), 

 describes the species under the name of Gordius fragilis^ but he also 

 does not give the locality from whence his specimens were obtained. 

 ' A fine specimen " was sent to Professor Macintosh from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Montrose Bay by Dr. Howden (" Marine Fauna of St. 

 Andrews," p. 105) (1875). For further details of this curious 

 Annelid see the works of the authors referred to. THOMAS SCOTT, 

 Leith. 



BOTANICAL NOTES AND NEWS. 



Gentians. Herr Svante Murbeck, in a paper entitled " Studien 

 liber Gentianen aus der Gruppe Endotricha Froel." (Stockholm, 

 1892), describes six forms, most of which are found in Britain. 

 Mr. Beeby has drawn attention to his conclusions in the " Journal 

 of Botany " for January of this year, and to it we must refer our 

 readers for full information on the distribution of the several 

 forms in Britain, and also for a discussion by Mr. Beeby of the 

 synonymy of the forms. It is desirable that the Gentians of this 

 group in Scotland should be revised ; and to promote this we give 

 a summary of the forms and of their distinguishing characters, after 

 Herr Murbeck. 



