DUBLIN NATURAL HIBTOBY 80CIETT. 155 



CBUSTACEA. 



DECEMBER 8, 1854. 



Mr. Andrews said he would make a few remarks on some fine specimens of 

 Crustacea, which he presented to the Society, being the first of a series he in- 

 tended to give towards forming a complete list of the Irish Crustacea. These 

 were fine specimens of Stenorynchus phalangium taken in Dingle and Ven- 

 try Harbours, coast of Kerry ; and also large specimens taken in deep 

 water, in the trawl, in Dingle Bay, with Inachus Dorsettensis and Corys- 

 tes Cassivelaunus. He also presented several species of Paguri, or hermit 

 crabs, taken in the shells of turritella and natica, at the depth of eighty-four 

 fathoms, off the Blasket islands ; among them, P. Hyndmanni. Mr. Andrews 

 mentioned that he met with many minute species of Crustacea in that depth of 

 water, taken up in a small dredge with the pebbly and shelly soundings. Pan- 

 dalus annulicornis, and the common prawn, Palsemon serratus, were also taken 

 at that depth, and the latter was found in quantities in the stomachs of the cod- 

 fish, taken on the long lines. Mr. Andrews presented specimens of Palsemon 

 serratus thus taken. Although the specimens of Crustacea in the collection of 

 the Society were at present by no means perfect, yet he would mention that very 

 complete lists of the Irish Crustacea had been noticed and recorded in the Pro- 

 ceedings of the Society. So far back as the 3rd of January, 1845, Dr. Farran 

 read a paper, the results of an extensive series of observations of the late Mr. 

 William M'Calla, enumerating a very full list of the collections made by him on 

 the west coast of Ireland. Those lists contained the record of the discovery of 

 Thia polita, the original specimen being in the Museum of the Society. A notice 

 of it was also made by Dr. Scouler in the Annals of Natural History for March, 

 1846. 



ECHINODERMATA. 



Dr. Charles Farran being absent, the following letter was read — 



ON THE DISCOVERY OF A NEW IRISH PENTACTES. 



•♦ Clonea, Dungarvan, November 21 s^ 1852. 



••Dear Mr. Andrews, — An opportunity has at length occurred which 

 enables me to testify the high regard I entertain for you as a friend, as also to 

 the great value of your disinterested services as Secretary to the Dublin Natural 

 History Society, a situation which you have filled with credit to yourself, and 

 with such eminent advantage to the charming science of natural history. 



'• in recording the discovery of an animal unknown to the zoology of a coun- 

 try, the first wish of the discoverer is to name it after a naturalist who loves the 

 science for its own sake ; therefore, I could not select one so thoroughly entitled 

 to that distinction as yourself. I will, therefore, with your permission, give you 

 a short history of Pentactcs Andrewsii. 



•• Walking on the shore at Clonea, after a heavy gale, at the latter end of 

 January, I found what I conceived to be a portion of Alcyonium digitatum, or 

 dead man's hand, attached to the root of Laminaria. It exactly resembled an 

 angular fragment of that animal severed from the body, and assuming the form 

 of the Roman V, each limb being about one inch in length, brown and coriaceous 

 in appearance. 



•• Not suspecting that it ceuld be anvthing else, I carelessly threw it into my 

 box, and, having filled it with other marine specimens, on reaching home emptied 



