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On the Teredo navalis and Limnoria terebrans, as at present 

 existing in certain localities on the Coasts of the British 

 Islands* By William Thompson', Esq. Vice-President 

 of the Natural History Society of Belfast. Communicated 

 by the Author. 



The most recent notice which I have seen of the Teredo na- 

 valis, is in a paper " on burrowing and boring marine animals,"" 

 published in the " Philosophical Transactions" for the year 

 1826, wherein the author, Mr Osier, remarks, " as a British 

 animal I believe the teredo to be nearly and probably quite ex- 

 tinct. In the harbours of Falmouth and Plymouth, where some 

 years ago it was so abundant, it is no longer to be found. In 

 the royal dockyard at Devonport, I was shown two specimens 

 which had been taken out of a pile many years before, but they 

 were treasured as a curiosity ; and I was assured by Mr Church- 

 hill, the master shipwright, that at present they are never met 

 with. The shipping of Swansea trade to every part of the king- 

 dom, and we have nearly four thousand arrivals in the year, 

 chiefly from coasting voyages ; but, though very few of the ves- 

 sels are coppered, Ave never see the Teredo." 



All parts of the kingdom have not, however, since the period 

 of Mr Oslei-'s communication, been exempted from the ravages 

 of the Teredo, as four or five years ago it was observed that 

 some of the piles used in the formation of the pier at Portpatrick 

 on the coast of Ayrshire, had been materially injured, and some 

 of them indeed destroyed by its perforations. Since that time, 

 the evil has most materially extended, as has been evinced by 

 pieces of limber a very few years under water, being, at various 

 times, but more especially during the late gales, cast ashore, 

 having previously been rendered useless by this destructive ani- 

 mal. 



For specimens of the Teredo, and pieces of wood containing 

 its shell and perforations, I am indebted to the kindness of Cap- 

 tain Fayrcr, II. N. (of H. M. steampacket Spitfire) who is ever 

 forward to communicate whatever is within his reach, that can 

 in any way tend to advance the knowledge of natural history. 



" Jlead betore Ihc Royal Society of London, 15tli June 1834. 



