XYLOPHAGA. 93 



Loch Fyne ; but our cabiuets have hitherto been chiefly 

 supphecl from Ireland ("• Ringsend in Dubhn Bay, Water- 

 ford, and Bantry Bay," Thompson and Humphreys) : a 

 new and prolific habitat has just been communicated by 

 Mr. Thompson, in the September number of the " Annals 

 of Natural History for 1847." 



" Early in the month of May last. Major Martin of Ar- 

 drossan, in Ayrshire — a gentleman well known as a lover of 

 natural history, and as a successful collector of objects of 

 zoological and botanical interest — sent me a piece of wood 

 perforated by the Xylophaga dorsalis, and labelled as from 

 the dock-gates, Ardrossan. Not having before heard of this 

 animal attacking i\\e fixed timber of our harbours (it has been 

 found in drift-wood, or portions of vessels cast ashore), I 

 made immediate inquiry respecting it. The piece of wood 

 sent was a portion of the dock-gates. The Xylophaga has 

 been known to be consuming them since the docks were 

 opened in March, 1844. It has been known for a very 

 considerable time along this coast, where there is no fresh 

 water. It attacks timber of all kinds : for instance, the 

 wooden pier (the supporters of which are nearly destroyed) 

 and other timbers that are under water about the quays, 

 and have been placed there without any preservative coat- 

 ing. It appears to prefer black birch to any other timber, 

 but does not like African or American oak. The only suc- 

 cessful preventive made use of for preserving the dock-gates 

 against the Teredo^ XylopTiaga^ &c., is Muntz's patent 

 yellow metal sheathing, which is put on to the height of 

 thirteen feet ; it lasts for ten or twelve years. The timber 

 that is perforated is always covered by water. The depth 

 of water in the docks is from sixteen to eighteen feet. It 

 may give some idea of the frequency of the XylopliagcCs 

 perforations in the different pieces of wood, to mention. 



