56 TJie Irish Naturalist. [Feb., 



ZOOLOGY. 

 Dlstrllbutlon of British IVIarine Plankton. 



Many of the organisms commonly found in the plankton of the sea 

 around the British Coast exhibit remarkable variations in their relative 

 abundance at particular localities from year to year, but little is known as 

 to the extent and causes of such variations. As a number of naturalists 

 make use of the tow-net at many places around the coast, especially 

 during the summer, much valuable information would be obtained, if in 

 all cases records were kept of the presence or absence of a limited num- 

 ber of the commoner species, and these records subsequently brought 

 together. 



In the hope that Irish naturalists may be willing to assist in obtaining 

 such information, I send ashortlistoforganisms, the presence or absence 

 of which I would ask to have recorded at any locality and as often as the 

 tow-net may be used during the year 1897. Halosphara viridis, Noctihica 

 niiliaris, Aurelia aurita ('including Ephyrcs), Agalmopsis, Ahiggma ailanticUy 

 Horniiphora pliimosa, Beroe, Tomopteris, Anomalocera Patersoni^ Doliohim, Salpa. 

 Where the generic name only is given in the above list, the specific name 

 of the specimens taken should be added. Should any doubt exist, pre- 

 served specimens should be kept. 



In making a record the following should be stated : — DaTK ; HouR; 

 LoCAiviTY. (With as much accuracy as possible). Depth, (depth of water 



and maximum depth at which net has been worked) ; Quantity 



(o. Absent; i. Few only ; 2. Moderately plentiful; 3. Exceptionally 

 abundant.) Observations on the temperature of the sea, and notes on 

 wind, tide, &c., will also be of value. Records should be sent in before 

 January 31st, 1898, or forwarded from time to time to me at the Marine 

 Biological Association, Plymouth. 



F). J. Ai^i^EN. 



INSECTS, 



Entomologrical Notes. 



Coi^EoPTERA. — In the canal between Poyntzpass and Scarva I met with 

 Coela??ibiis v.-lineatuSy Noterus clavicornis 2iXidi Ilybiiis fidiginosiis. A young 

 friend brought me some beetles which he had captured at Portrush in 

 August last, among these were Amara ftilva, A. bifrons and A. ovata ; 

 Anchomenus dorsalzs, Calathus inicroptertis, Bembiditim rufescejis, B. saxatihy 

 Cercyon litloralis, Ocypus jnorio, O. cuprensy Xantholinus glabratus, X. distans, 

 Necrodes littoralis (a small form), Geotrupes vernalis and Otiorr/iynchzis atroap- 

 terus. The specimens had all been picked up on the sand-hills. Mrs. 

 Johnson brought me a few beetles from the sand-hills at Newcastle, Co. 

 Down. Her opportunities for collecting were unfortunately limited and 

 she got but few ; the following were her captures : — Broscus ccphalotes, 

 Calathus fuscus, Betnbiduim littorale^ Coccinella xi. -ptmciaia, Aphodius scybalarius 

 and Otiorrhynchns nusconvn. 



