I9I7- ScHARFF — Adiances in Irish Marine Zoology. 113 



'' hydroid," which is a relation of the well-known jelly- 

 fish. The same species of hydroid was known from the 

 Arctic and sub-Arctic regions where it also spends its 

 youthful existence in a similar manner. 



Sponges. — Very few kinds of Irish sponges are of 

 economic interest and none of them seem to be useful 

 to mankind. Yet it is quite possible that some of them 

 may prove to be of commercial value at some future time. 

 Miss Stephens^ deals with several sections of sponges, 

 most of which were obtained in deep water. Among the 

 most interesting records are the cup-shaped Hyalonema 

 injundibuliim and the sponge like a bird's nest, Pheronema 

 Grayi. Both of them had only been p)reviously known 

 from the great depths of the Bay of Biscay and the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Azores. Several species are described 

 as new to science. 



National Museum, Dublin. 



OBITUARY. 



ROBERT DONOUGH O'BRIEN. 



By the death of R. D. O'Brien, which occurred on April 9th, Irish 

 natural history has lost one of the keenest and most helpful supporters. 

 During a long life he was a close observer of nature, and had a wide if 

 not technical knowledge of the fauna and flora of the district which lay 

 around his home at Limerick. To botanists his name is familiar as the 

 discoverer of the rare Scirpns triqiieter in Ireland, and the collector of 

 strong evidence in favour of the contention that Leucojum aestivum is truly 

 native in its home in the Shannon marshes. He was interested in zoology 

 also, and supphed useful data regarding such problems as that of the 

 Wild Cat in Ireland, and the Irish Wolf-hound. Mr. O'Brien was one 

 of the most helpful, as he was one of the most modest, of men, and the 

 extent to which he benefited Irish natural science extends far beyond 

 the few contributions to the subject which appeared over his own name. 

 He left all workers who visited his district under a deep debt of gratitude 

 to him for valuable advice and assistance. 



R. Ll. p. 



1 Stephens, Jane. — Sponges of the Coasts of Ireland. I. — The 

 Triaxonida and part of the Tetraxonida. Fisheries, Ireland, Set. Invest. 

 1914, iv. [1915]- 



