Report on the Crustacea Schkopoda of Ireland. 237 



Leptomysis lingvura, G. 0. Sars. 



Leptomysis Martoni, P. Gourret, "Eevision d. Crust, podophthalm. Golfe de Marseille."— Auii. Miis. 

 Hist. Nat. Marseille, in., 1889, Mem. v., p. 185 ; pi. xviii., figs. 8-14. 



/S'«n'f^.— Station 118. Ballinskelligs Bay, 32 to 28 fathoms, soft mud. 

 21st August, 1890. 



Miisetim, Dublin. — No. 195, 1895. Rounclstone. 



Previous Irish Records. — Lough Kay, Valentia ; Dingle Bay (A. O. W.*). 



Distribution. — Firth of Forth (T. S.): Loch Fyne ; Northumberland; Durham; 

 Starcross (A. M. N.*): Irish Sea, Port Erin and Colwyn Bay (A. 0. W.): Plymouth. 



Norway; Boulomiais; Mediterranean; Black Sea (A. M. N.*) : N.-W. France 

 (Pruvot. L. Marioni.). 



While Leptomysis sardica (G. 0. Sars) is considered by Norman to be merely a 

 small race of L. lingvura, it would appear, from the remarks of the same observer, 

 that typical examples of the latter occur in the Mediterranean (Adriatic), as well 

 as in the Atlantic. We see no reason to doubt the accuracy of Norman's views 

 as to the identity of the two species. 



We further believe that L. Marioni, of Gourret, is not to be distinguished from 

 L. lingvura by any characters of specific moment. It docs not appear that the 

 author was acquainted with Sars' Norwegian monograph, nor is it certain that 

 the distinctions which are drawn between L. sardica and L. 3Iarioni are based 

 on the examination of a series of the latter sufficiently numerous to eliminate 

 the probability of the occurrence of intermediate varieties, L. sardica appears to 

 have been known to Gourret only from the figures of Sars, and in the case of an 

 appendage not figured for L. sardica, comparison has been somewhat futilely 

 instituted with L. mediterranea. The mandible is figured and comj^ared with 

 that of L. mediterranea, as figured by Sars. The difference would be the more 

 remarkable if Gourret's drawing were not obviously taken from a specimen 

 distorted in manipulation. In the position in which they are shown the anterior 

 denticulations of the cutting edge have no very obvious function. We have 

 examined the mandibles of L. lingvura, and consider it possible that Gourret's 

 figure 8, pi. xviii., may have been based on a distorted appendage of similar 

 structure. The anterior denticulations, though very different in position, are 

 not widely dissimilar from those of L. Marioni (as figured). The distinctive 

 characters of the outer process of the antennule in L. Marioni do not appear to us 

 of much importance, and, in so far as concerns the length of the first joint of the 

 process, Gourret's species would seem to resemble L. lingvura. 



We suppose that a comparison of the first maxilla3 of L. 3farioni and L. 

 sardica contains a clerical error, whereby the latter species has been substituted 



TKiMS. EOr. DUB. SOC, N.S. VOL. Til., PART VII. 2 L 



