234 Rev. Mr. Landsboroucii's List of Zoophytee* 



to its native element, the ,^ca. It seems to be rare in the west. The 

 fisherman said he had got it only once before ; but fishermen, in general, 

 see only what will bring them money in the market. Even when they 

 have the promise of good pay for curiosities, few of them can be at the 

 trouble to preserve what they class under the generic term of " Vermin." 

 It does not appear that it has been found in Ireland. 



13. Virgularia. Lamarck. 

 1. Virgularia mirabilis. This takes its name from virga, a rod. It is 

 called in some places the sea-rush, and it is thought that it stands erect 

 with one end in the mud. I have never dredged it, but it has been 

 dredged by Mr. Smith of Jordanhill, in Gareloch and in the Kyles of 

 Bute. 



14. Pavonaria. Cuvier. 



1. Pavonaria quadrangularis. This remarkable species was discovered 

 by Mr. M 'Andrew, who dredged it near Oban. It lives erect, its lower 

 extremity being sunk in the mud, like Virgularia ; and, like Virgularia, 

 it is phosphorescent. One specimen got was forty-eight inches in length. 

 It has been got only in one locality, but in that locality it is probably 

 not rare, as a friend of mine dredged it there without any guidance, ex- 

 cept verbal instructions. 



Family. — Ahyonidce. 



15. Alcyonium. LinnaBus. 



1. Alcyonium digitatum. The name is from Alcyon, the King's-fisher; 

 the word itself signifying sea foam, of which the Halcyons were thought 

 to build their nests. Dr. Johnston says — " This is one of the most 

 common marine productions." I wondered at this, because it was long 

 before I ever saw a specimen of it. When I began to dredge, however, 

 I got many. At the same time, it does not seem to be so common here 

 as in the east country. At Leith, I got abundance of it, driven out by 

 an eastern breeze. I have very seldom found it on the shore in the west. 



2. A. glomeratum. I have got this only once. It was sent to me by 

 a fisherman, who had got it on his long lines in the deep sea near Salt- 

 coats. The colour being fine vermilion red, I did not know what it was, 

 as I had not at that time heard of this species. On plunging it in sea- 

 water, it soon sent forth its tentacula, showing me that it was an Alcyo- 

 nium, and when I afterwards read the description of this species, I saw 

 what it was. 



16. Sarcodictyon. Forbes. 



1 . Sarcodictyon catenata. I had a specimen of this dredged off Cum- 

 braes. It was on a stone from deep water. There were inequalities on 

 the surface of the stone, and it had wound itself in a meandering way 

 around it, selecting the hollow places that it might be safer in them 

 The name is from actios, jksh, and oiktvov, a net. 



