296 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. 



Clavelinidae as a whole, are nearer to Simple than to Com- 

 pound Ascidians. 



Two members of this family have been found in the 

 district. 



Clavelina lepadiformis, 0. F. Miiller. 



Several colonies of this species were obtained at Hilbre 

 Island, on July llth, 1885, attached to the under surface 

 of a large stone, just beyond low-water mark. It had not 

 been previously found in this locality. 



Forbes recorded it in the Malacologia Monensis as being 

 rare at the Isle of Man. OjBf the south end of the Island, 

 however, it is abundant. It was brought up constantly in the 

 dredge, off the Halfway Rock, and Bay Fine, near Port Erin, 

 and off Spanish Head and Port St. Mary, from depths of ten 

 to twenty-five fathoms. The Ascidiozooids were large and 

 well-formed, the colonies in many cases being very fine. 

 They were generally attached to stones and dead shells. 



Several varieties occurred amongst the specimens dredged 

 off Port Erin. The form with two distinct yellow bands 

 around the anterior end of the thorax (Giards' variety 

 bicincta), was found. The pigmented bands on the thorax 

 differed greatly in colour. In some specimens they were 

 white (Giards' sub-variety rissoana = Clavelina rissoana 

 of Milne Edwards ?) ; in others, pale lemon yellow (the typical 

 form) ; in others, golden (Giards' sub-variety auronitens) ; 

 and in some, of a rich cinnamon tint. This last form has 

 apparently not been previously noticed ; it might be called 

 variety cinnamomea. Some specimens have these bands 

 much wider and more distinct than others. 



Most of the colonies dredged in August between Port 

 Erin and the Calf were budding profusely, the young buds 

 showing as opaque white knobs of various sizes, upon the 

 transparent creeping stolons. These stolons were in many 

 cases very long and very abundant, and the small gravel 



