!02 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



among these are to be noticed the long brown 

 ribbon-Hke bands of the Laminaria. 



These seaweeds should be carefully examined, not 

 only for good specimens of Algre, but because cling- 

 ing to them, especially to their roots, one often finds 

 many rare creatures. 



Masses of jelly-like spawn, white, yellow, and 

 delicate green (the future progeny of many species of 

 animals), are frequently to be obtained in this way. 



Sprouting from the seaweed also, are constantly to 

 be noticed colonies of those beautiful plant-like 

 animals belonging to the orders Sertularida and 

 Campanularida. I would also mention those genera 

 of Polyzoa, Diastophora and Membranipora, colonies 

 of which are found encrusting the surface of the sea- 

 weeds, like the grey lichen the surface of the rock, 

 and often assuming a shape which may be said to 

 resemble that of the prothallus of a fern. Having 

 now examined and cleared away the seaweed, let us 

 take a look at the contents of the dredge. If the 

 haul has been a successful one, we will here find 

 quite enough employment for some time. 



On the surface of the mass of stones and sand, we 

 find quite a wriggling maze of beautifully coloured 

 brittle-stars (Ophiocoma) of many different species ; 

 and in fewer numbers the Sand-star (Ophiura) with 

 its long and more flexible arms. 



Preserving a few of these as specimens, we turn 

 out the contents of the net. Among the many 

 commoner shore crabs, here are one or two little 

 fellows with brown or white testa, in which we recog- 

 nise the nut-crab (Ebalia). 



The common hermit-crab [Pagiiriis Benihanhis), 

 which is but seldom found at low tide, we see before 

 us in considerable numbers. Of these, the larger 

 specimens are to be noticed occupying the shells of 

 the whelk (Buccinum) ; the smaller, those of the top 

 (Trochus), or Turritella, 



Beside sand-stars and brittle-stars, the class Echino- 

 dermata is here represented by many specimens of the 

 common Sea-urchin (Echinus spJiara), varying in 

 size from the smallest pea to that of a pomegranate ; 

 also the common star-fish [Uraster rubens), the 

 Aslerias aiirantiaca, the Goniaster, and Liiidia 

 J'ragilissima. 



If close enough into shore, we may obtain speci- 

 mens of the "cobbler" (Cottus), fifteen-spined 

 stickleback {Gastcrosteiis spinacMd), and sucker 

 (Lepidogaster). 



If very fortunate, a large yellow sea-lemon {Doris 

 Uiberatlatd) may be obtained. This is sometimes 

 seen at low tide clinging to the rocks, presenting 

 in this situation a no very attractive sight ; look- 

 ing like, to use a homely simile, "a half potato." 

 Put it in its native element, however, and its 

 real beauties will manifest themselves. In a iizvi 

 minutes the creature flattens itself out, protruding 

 its two fleshy tentacles. At the same time the 

 purple mark on its dorsal surface will appear 



in its true character, as a cluster of delicate feathery 

 branchiae. 



Other examples of Nudibranchiata we have here 

 in those little papose-crowned Eolis (^Eolis coronata). 



(To be cojitinned.) 



NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY 

 OF JERSEY. 



By Edward Lovett. 



IN a recent short paper in SciENCE-GossiP, I 

 described a little experience in dredgings off the 

 coast of Jersey. I will now say a little about shore 

 collecting. During my visit I was favoured by an 

 extra good spring tide, nearly forty feet ; and, 

 knowing the value of such a tide for shore work, I 

 was anxious to get a fine day. In this, too, I was 

 fortunate, and we started for La Rocque on one of 

 the most charming of May mornings. La Rocque 

 is, as its name suggests, an exceedingly favourable 

 part of the coast for the marine zoologist. The tide 

 goes out for an enormous distance (five to seven 

 miles at a tide like this one), the result being that 

 many thousands of acres of rocks, shelly or shingly 

 banks, "graps," pools, and sandy lagoons are 

 approachable and workable. 



Of course we obtained, or could have done, a large 

 quantity of common mollusca, but we also succeeded 

 in obtaining some not so common. In the big sand 

 and shingle banks we dug out Dofiax palitus, Venus 

 verrucosa, Vcmis fasciata, Cardiiim Norvegiciim ; but 

 the prize was a fine series of Liitraria ohlonga : the 

 tips of their siphons were just visible, and, upon 

 alarm, they ejected a small jet of water. By rapidly 

 "grubbing" up the firm wet shingle, we got at 

 them about nine inches above the surface. 



On the zostera, in the lower pools, we obtained 

 Trochus exiguus, and in spots where there was a kind 

 of muddy deposit, probably formed by the decom- 

 posed felspar of the syenite, tainted with decomposed 

 algte and animal matter, we observed large numbers 

 of Trochus inagniis, many of which were very fine. 



Few of these were clean ; indeed, this species seems 

 to be a very dirty feeder, and certainly those I saw 

 were alb on these muddy flats, where no other shells 

 were to be seen. 



Tapes aiirea, T. virginea, and T. pullastra were in 

 considerable numbers, and some beautiful varieties 

 were obtained. 



^Vc found a solitary but very large valve of Pholas. 

 This Avas interesting, inasmuch as I have never seen 

 this genus on these shores. The beautiful Psammobia 

 vespertina was in considerable number, and Nassa 

 reticulata were of fine size and remarkably bright and 

 clean. 



The season has been a fine one for Octopus 

 vulgaris, and this part of the coast was their favourite 



