i9o9' Pi ocecdings of bis h Societies. 45 



from Courtrai in Belgium (Sacc. Syll. iii., p. 411), lu both these 

 instances the willow on w-hich it was growing was Salix hahylonica. 



\V. F. GuNX exhibited a myxomycetous fungus found on dead pine 

 twigs at Cruagh woods, Co. Dublin. It belonged to the genus Didymium, 

 but the species was not determined. Though resembling D. farinacciiin 

 in most characteristics it differed from that species in having smooth 

 spores, and in the capillitium threads being flexuose. 



Prof. G. H. Carpenter showed Oxyuropoda ligioides, a new genus and 

 species of fossil isopod from the Devonian sandstone of Kiltorcau, Co. 

 Kilkenny. The fossil was discovered by I. Swain, who in collaboration 

 with the exhibitor has recently described and figured it {Proc. R. I. Acad., 

 vol. xxvii., B., No. 3 The crustacean is 66 mm. in length, and shows 

 striking superficial likeness to such a "slater" as Ligia. 



F. W. Moore showed a section through the peculiar cavities at the 

 base of the leaf of Tococa formicaria. This plant is a native of Brazil, and 

 belongs to the interesting group of plants of various natural orders, 

 in which certain ants take up their abode, living in various specialised 

 parts of the plants, and in return for shelter affording protection to the 

 host plant. In Tococa formicaria the ants find their abode in peculiar 

 hollow chambers at the very base of the leaf, These chambers appear 

 to be formed by the infolding of the leaf-blade, the edges adhering to 

 the midrib. The ants gain access by miniite apertures betw'een the 

 i:)rominent veins of the leaf 



R. Southern exhibited the small Polychset worm Exogone genuiiifei-a, 

 Pagenstecher, belonging to the family Syllidse. Numerous examples of 

 this species were dredged in two fathoms, in Malahide Inlet, Co. Dublin. 

 This species is remarkable for the fact that the developing embryos are 

 attached near the parapodia of the female till they have reached a 

 high state of development. Several specimens showing this feature 

 were obtained. This species has not previously been recorded from 

 Ireland. 



N. C01.GAN exhibited a male and a female specimen of a parastic Isopod 

 dredged in lo fathoms off Skerries on the 23rd July last during one of 

 the dredging trips of the Dublin Marine Biological Committee. The 

 parasites, together with a numerous progeny of upwards of 150 minute 

 yet well developed young, w'ere found lodged in the branchial cavity 

 of a small Galathea, the carapace of the host being swollen into a 

 hemispherical protuberance at the point of lodgment. The parasite is 

 probably Pleurocrypta mici obranchiaia, G. O. vSars, as the male agrees 

 perfectly and the female very closely with the description and figures of 

 that species in "Account of the Crustacea of Norway," vol. ii., 1899. 

 The Galathea which served as host measured 16 mm. in length. It was 

 too much injured to admit of certain identification, but so far as can be 

 made out agrees fairly with G. intermedia, Lilljeborg. The female 

 parasite was 4.5 mm. long with a maximum breadth of 3 mm. ; the male, 

 1.5 mm. long with a maximum breadth of .5 mm. Further examination 

 will, it is hoped, lead to a positive identification of this interesting 

 Isopod, which is probably new to Ireland. 



