50 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



described and figured in the Annals and Mag. of Natural History 

 for Dec, 1868, by Eev. A. M. Norman, as Helleria coalita, from 

 specimens recently obtained by himself in Shetland, and by Mr 

 Robertson in Cumbrae — in both cases with the towing net, as I 

 believe mine to have been taken. 



Passing on to the aberrant group, Proto pedata and Frotella 

 phasma are those most usually occurring on the Zoophytes, also 

 Capo'ella linearis, while C. acantliifera is very abundant on sea- 

 weeds at low water as well as on the Pluimdaria. The females, 

 both of this and P. Phasma, are frequently seen with the young- 

 clustered on the antennae, to which they cling by their hind legs, 

 and wave about their antennae just as their parents do on the 

 Zoophyte. In such a case the antennas look like brushes. 



In pools near high water mark I may add that Tanais vittaius 

 is frequentl}^ found in the tufts of Cladophm^a rupestrls. In the 

 same situation the little nests of a minute annelid Otiionia Fahricii 

 (Johnston) is found. It is distinguished by what appear to be 

 two eyes on its tail — a very useful arrangement in a house open 

 at both ends, where there is hardly room for turning, but a gift 

 not conceded to most annelids which occupy a similar position. 

 Idotea tricuspidata occurs both on shore and in deep water. 



A still more curious Isopod, A7xturus longicornis, was brought up 

 from the hard ground off Huntly Place. Placed in a glass of sea 

 water, it swims with a series of dancing movements. Standing 

 on what are its hind legs, it springs up and rises swimming with 

 the fore legs; the latter are fringed, and used also to clean and 

 brush the long inferior antennae, which are strong and stiff, mth 

 a sharp point at the extremity. Sometimes the creature threw 

 itself on its back, and lay stretched out stiff and rigid, supj^orted 

 on the tip of its tail and the j^oints of the long antennae in a sort 

 of tetanic spasm, or rather in a cataleptic state. Whether this is 

 done to feign death on a surprise, or is a part of its gymnastic 

 performances, it does not seem to have any injurious effects, as 

 the animal speedily resumes its more lively movements. 



III. — Echinoderms. 



We pass now to the Echinodermata. In a former communication 

 I stated that I had not then obtained Comatula rosacea (Link) in 

 this Bay, and referred to what may be termed its erratic habits, 

 its numbers varying much in different localities in our Frith, 

 sometimes occurring almost like a shoal, and then disappearing, 



