DUBLIN NATUBAL HI8T0BT SOCIETT. 1 1 



many collections supplied by him), and, therefore, evidently either very 

 rare or very local. 



Taking these latter facts into consideration, it appeared to me, when 

 starting for Valentia Island, with the determination of seeking this spe- 

 cies, that it was rather a wild-goose chase, and the chances of success 

 but small ; and my experience at Valentia Island would lead me to be- 

 lieve that either the species is everywhere scarce, or else, what is just as 

 probable, that it, in its habits, differs much from those of Xanthoflo- 

 rida, and that its scarcity in collections depends on the blundering of 

 the collectors. Although I assiduously sought for it, but one specimen 

 rewarded my labours, — that now before you, — sufficient, however, to 

 prove the existence of the species on the coast, and to stimulate a fur- 

 ther search at some future time. 



The general aspect of the shores of Valentia Island needs little de- 

 scription : every form of beach, slob, shingle, sand, and rocks, and rock 

 pools occur, and a rapid and strong current sets in round the island, so 

 that there is no lack of fitting localities for every kind of Crustacea. My 

 researches were confined to the littoral zones chiefly, and hence this 

 list includes but few of the Macroura and Anomoura. 



LIST OF SPECIES. 



Hyas araneuSy common, and a littoral species here. In Ireland it 

 has occurred all round the coast, as follows : — Carrickfergus (W. T.), 

 Dublin, Youghal, Valentia, Clew Bay (W. T.). 



Ifi/as coarctattis, apparently rare. I saw but one specimen. This 

 may arise, however, from its being a frequenter of deeper water than 

 the last ; such, at least, I find to be its habits in Dublin. This species 

 has been selected by Dana as a type of his Caledonian group, and yet it 

 is recorded as occurring on the shores of La Manches. In Ireland it 

 has occurred at Giant's Causeway (0. C), Belfast (W. T.), Dublin, Cork 

 (J. V. T.), Valentia Island, Galway Bay, 1857. In Dublin Bay it is much 

 commoner than the last, being less local, but preferring deeper water. 



Mata squinado, common, and deep sea, or, at least, laminarian; 

 taken in the lobster-pots; undoubtedly a southern species. Forbes 

 makes it one of his South British types. Information with regard to 

 the limits of its distribution is much wanted. It is recorded from Wex- 

 ford (W. T.), Cork (J. V. T.), and the west coast, as far north as Round- 

 stone Bay (W. M'C). 



Xantho floriday very common under stones between tide-marks. Two 

 distinctly marked varieties occur, the one having the wrists quite 

 smooth, the other with the wrists picked out into irregular, confluent, 

 slightly raised ridges. This is probably only a variety of the smooth- 

 wristed form, as intermediate forms are common. There is great 

 variety in colour among the specimens, some being colourless, similar 

 to the specimen recorded in Thompson from Lahinch, and which, through 

 the kindness of Dr. Robert Ball, I have had an opportunity of examin- 

 ing. 



The species appears to be southern and western in its distribution. 



