i44^ Miscellaneous. 



the author submits that it is by no means a proper expression for 

 the phaenomena presented by the Salpm, According to the author's 

 view, the two forms of Salpa are not two generations of distinct in- 

 dividuals, but are, properly speaking, organs, and only when taken 

 together, equivalent to an individual, in the sense in which that 

 term is used among the higher animalL 



For these pseudo-individuals, in this and all analogous cases, the 

 author proposes the name of " zooids^' simply for the purpose of 

 avoiding the apparent paradox of calling these highly-organized in- 

 dependent forms " organs," though such, in the author's opinion, 

 they really are. — Phit, Trans. Part 2. 1851. 



LARTJS GLAUCUS. 



Tq the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. 



Weymouth, February 16, 1852. 



Gentlemen, — On the 26th of January in this year, a specimen of 

 the Glaucous Gull {Larus glaucus) was caught on the Chesil Beach, 

 between the village of Fleet and Abbotsbury. This was a young bird, 

 but very large ; from the carpal joint to the end of the longest quill- 

 feather measures 1 9 inches. The upper tail-coverts are spotted with 

 'very faint pale brown, the tail-feathers barred with very narrow 

 streaks of very faint brown scarcely perceptible. Bill very pale brown. 

 I^egs and feet the same. In all other respects it has the plumage of 

 the adult bird. 



This bird was taken in a noose set for gulls, which are caught solely 

 for their feathers, and many are captured annually for this purpose. 



A heap of sea-weed is put together, and two sticks driven in oppo- 

 site each other on the weed and at about a foot apart ; to these sticks 

 is firmly attached a wire noose (like those used by poachers) which 

 is supported by the sticks. Under this noose a fish is placed on the 

 'heap of weed ; this attracts the gulls, and in making a swoop to seize 

 the fish they dash into the noose and are thus secured. 



I am. Gentlemen, yours obediently, 



William Thompson. 



Algce tahen in Cork Harbour or along the coast during the Summers 

 of 1 850 andlSbl. By J. Carroll. 



' Sporochnus pedunculatuSi Ag. Cork Harbour, 18.50: washed up. 



Myrionema punctiformey Haiy. Tide- pools, 1850: on Ceramium 

 Deslongchampsii. » 



Ectocarpus Hiucksice, Harv. 



Rytiphlcea thuyoideSy Harv. Rocks at either side of Cork Har- 

 bour, but rare. 



Polysiphoma obscura, J. Ag. Sand-covered rocks below Queens- 

 town, Sept. 1851. Our Irish specimens are much finer than those 

 from the South of England. 



Polysiphonia simulans, Harv. Mud-covered rocks. Rat Island, at 

 low-water mark, June 1850. 



Stenogramme interriipta, Mont. Dredged in Cork Harbour, Sept. 

 .3851, growing on small stones in 5 to 6 fathoms water. Plants in 

 loth states of fructif cation were prociued. 



