AMPHIPODA AND ISOPODA OF THE FIRTH OF CLYDE. 35 



Genus Iphi media, Rathke. 

 iphimedia obesa, Rathke. 



Iphimedia obesa, Rathke, Acta Acad. Leopold., t. 

 xx. (1843), p. 85, pi. i., f. 1. 



Microcheles armata, Kroyer, Nat. Tidsskr., 2 R 2 B. 

 (1846), p. m. 



Habitat. — Dredged near the Tan Buoy, Cumbrae, 

 in 7 to 10 fathoms, bottom nullipore. It has also 

 been taken in 15 fathoms off the Garroch-head, 

 Bute, bottom hard ; and in Lochranza, Arran, 

 4 to 5 fathoms, mud. 



This species is very variable in colour and colour- 

 markings. On the fronds of Lamiuaria saccharina, 

 where it is frequently met with, I have always 

 found it marked across the back with black dotted 

 bars ; while among the roots of the same plant a 

 few were found white, with small patches of 

 reddish brown irregularly covering over the body. 

 At other times its colour varies to red and reddish 

 purple. One taken in the dredge off Garnock 

 Beacon, in 5 h fathoms, was closely covered over 

 the whole body with small black dots. 



Iphimedia obesa generally lies folded up, allowing 

 itself to be lifted without effort to escape. When 

 it does move, it darts off to the opposite side of 

 the vessel, where it again folds itself up, making 

 no continuous effort to swim. 



The species has also been taken at Tenby, where 

 it was dredged by Mr. Welsh; in the Moray Firth 

 by Mr. Gregor; in Shetland and Loch Fyne by Mr. 

 Barlee ; dredged in 20 fathoms, in Belfast Bay, by 

 Mr. Thompson ; and off the north side of Drake's 

 Island, in Plymouth Sound. 



Genus Otus, Spence Bate. 



otus carinatus, Spence Bate. 



Otus carinatus, Spence Bate, Cat. of Amphip. in 

 Brit. Mus. (1862), p. 126, pi. xxiii., f. 2. 



