including species new to that of Britain. 395 



in Strangford Lough, on the 22nd June last, by Mr. Hyndman and 

 myself, was brought home in a living state, and proved on the 

 expansion of its tentacula to be a Helianthoid Zoophyte. It was 

 then noted as — " Coming very near Zoanthus, Cuv. (Reg. Anim. 

 vol. iii. p. 293. edit. 1830), if indeed it should be generically sepa- 

 rated from it. The character of ' each individual rising from a com- 

 mon base ' does not apply to it, and the generic character must con- 

 sequently be either altered to suit the species, or this be constituted 

 a new generic form." Other observations made at the same time 

 are now unnecessary (as the sequel will show) — the preceding note 

 is given merely with reference to one on this subject at p. 252, 

 second edition ' British Zoophytes.' 



When lately on board Mr. MacAndrew's yacht at Southampton, 

 Professor E. Forbes pointed out to me living specimens of Zoanthus 

 Couchii (according to the Cornish Fauna) which had been dredged 

 off the southern coast of England, and these to my surprise proved 

 to be the same species as I had obtained. 



All the specimens named " Z. Couchii " that I had previously seen, 

 were the very different Sarcodictyon catenata, Forbes (Johnst. B. Z. 

 p. 179.* pi. 33. figs. 4-7, 2nd edit.). On referring to Couch's work, 

 I agreed with my friend about the identity of the species, which, being 

 certainly the same as that from Strangford Lough, decided, at least 

 to my mind, the question that D. ? papUlosa and Z. Couchii are not 

 distinct. Dr. Johnston, not having seen the living animal, placed 

 his D. papUlosa doubtfully among the Sponges. In doing so, he 

 judiciously remarked, that it is " nearly allied to the Alcyonium ocel- 

 latum of Ellis and Solander, Zoop. p. 180. tab. 1 . fig. 6 ; and it is pro- 

 bable that the two productions are of the same nature, whatever this 

 may be." — Brit. Spong. p. 191. 



This species was dredged by us in Strangford Lough in 1 835, as 

 noticed in the ■ Annals ' (vol. v. p. 254). It was, as on the last oc- 

 casion, found adherent to dead bivalve shells — Venus aurea, V. ovata, 

 Corbula striata. The figure referred to in the ' British Sponges ' 

 represents the species from this locality. 



Amorphozoa (Sponges). 

 Notes. 



When dredging in Strangford Lough on the 22nd of June last 

 with Mr. Hyndman, we were singularly fortunate in the number 

 of sponges obtained ; there were as many species as all our former 

 dredgings combined produced : — the depth was from fifteen to twenty 

 fathoms, the bottom soft and rather oozy. Among them were two 

 new species, which await Dr. Johnston's description : one of these 

 however, previously taken elsewhere is in that author's possession, 

 though as yet undescribed. Three others of interest, although not 

 additions to the Fauna, may be noticed. 



* Dr. Johnston has here (p. 180) correctly brought the Youghal species 

 under this — it is the Zoanthus Couchii of my Report. 



2F2 



