including species new to that of Britain. 387 



Notes. 

 Portunus holsatus, Fabr., Bell, British Crustacea, part 3. p. 109 



(1844). 



Professor Bell remarks at p. Ill of the excellent work just re- 

 ferred to, in reference to this species : — " In Ireland, according to 

 Mr. W. Thompson's statement, it has occurred repeatedly ; but as it 

 appears to me that faded specimens of P. marmoreus might be easily 

 mistaken for this species, it is always desirable that they should be 

 compared with those well-distinguished specimens which exist in the 

 British Museum." If the figures in any work will suffice, so as not 

 to render necessary an examination of actual specimens, that work 

 is in my opinion Leach's ■ Malacostraca Podophthalmata Britannise.' 

 Several years ago I compared a number of the figures in it with the 

 specimens in the British Museum from which they were drawn by 

 Sowerby, and found them to be represented with such extraordinary 

 accuracy, that I considered a reference to the work itself all-sufficient 

 from that time forward. 



The suggestion of my friend Professor Bell commands my entire 

 acquiescence as a general rule, but the comparison was in the pre- 

 sent case unnecessary, as the Portuni in question from the several lo- 

 calities which I named, were, as stated by me, the P. lividus of Leach's 

 work (P. holsatus, Fabr.) as contradistinguished from his P. mar- 

 moreus. Of this fact, I had the pleasure of affording Prof. Bell ocular 

 demonstration on my next visit to London after the publication of 

 the preceding extract. But whether or not these Portuni are really 

 distinct species — judging from series of specimens obtained by the 

 author of the ' History of British Crustacea ' since the publication of 

 part 3 — is for him, and not for me to state. It may be added, that 

 colour alone, unaccompanied by structural differences, was never in 

 the case of any species regarded by me of the least specific value. 



Pagurus Cuanensis, Thomp., Bell, Brit. Crust, part 4. p. 178. 



June 22, 1846. — A specimen of this Pagurus was dredged in 

 Strangford Lough — in fifteen to twenty fathoms water — by Mr. 

 Hyndman and myself. It was alive and inhabiting a Trochus magus. 

 A conspicuous character was presented in its beautifully ringed an- 

 tennae. These were of a bright red hue alternating with pure white 

 or yellowish horn-colour, the rings of each colour very unequal in 

 extent. The portion of the body exposed to view when this Pagurus 

 is in situ, is prettily mottled over with reddish brown and white. 



Annelida. 



Nemertes melanocephala, Johnst. Mag. Zool. and Bot. vol. i. 



p. 535. pi. 17. fig. 5. 



Under stones resting on a rich ooz)^ sand between tide-marks at 

 Gull Island, Strangford Lough, two of this species were obtained in 

 June last by Mr. Hyndman and myself. Both were of a pale yellow 

 colour ; the one half an inch, the other an inch in length : they agreed 

 in every respect with the description and figures cited. 



