ASI'IDIA RUBICUNDA. 83 



4. Ascidia rubicunda Hancock. 

 (PI. IV, figs. 1 and 2 ; PI. XVII, fig. 2 ; PI. XX, fig. 4.) 



[Ascidia rubicunda HANCOCK in Ann. Nat. Hist (4) VI (1870), 

 p. 357.] 



Bodi/ much elongated, irregularly oval, depressed, 

 coarse, of an obscure flesh-colour, adhering by the 

 whole side, with imperfect marginal expansions. 

 Apertures only a little produced ; the branchial one 

 almost sessile, terminal ; the anal turned backwards 

 from a bulging at the side, more than half way down ; 

 ocelli crimson, small at both orifices. Text thick, 

 coarse, wrinkled, cartilaginous, semitransparent, of a 

 flesh-colour, most rosy towards the orifices, occasionally 

 overgrown with zoophytes. Mantle of a brilliant rose- 

 colour, much intensified at the tubes, the alimentary 

 tube of a greenish hue, evidently from the nature of 

 the contents. Tentacular filaments short and delicate, 

 varying in size. Branchial xac minutely plicated, with 

 large conical papillae, the intermediate ones nearly as 

 large as those at the intersections of the meshes. Oral 

 lamina ribbed transversely and finely pectinated from 

 end to end, and of equal breadth throughout. 



Length upwards of four and a half inches. 



Hub. [Between tide-marks and at extreme low 

 tides, sometimes on the stems and roots of Halidrys 

 siliquosa.] 



SCOTLAND. Hebrides (Norman). [Tobermorey, Isle 

 of Mull, 1866 (Norman).] 



IRELAND. -[Portaferry, Strangford Lough, Down 

 (Norman). Birterbuy Bay, Connemara, Gralway 

 (More).] 



First record. Hancock, 1870; coll. Norman, 1866. 



The test (PL IV, fig. 1) is semitransparent, and of 

 a yellowish flesh colour which is usually heightened to 

 a full rosy hue at the respiratory tubes ; it is firm, 

 thick, and cartilaginous. The vascular channels are 



