Mr. W. Thompson's Additions to the Fauna of Ireland. 353 



18. Botrylloides rubrum, M.-Edw. Mem. Ascid. Comp. p. 88. 



pi. 6. f. 3 j Forb. and Hani. Brit. Moll, vol. i. p. 34. 



From the middle of February last, and during spring, this hand- 

 some species was commonly thrown ashore at Cultra, Belfast bay, 

 its bright colour often rendering it quite a conspicuous object among 

 the ordinary rejectamenta of the waves. Its attachment to plants 

 which grow within a few fathoms of depth denoted its being an in- 

 habitant of comparatively shallow water. The largest mass which 

 came under my notice (brought to me by Mr. Wm. Patterson) was 

 4| inches in length, \\ inch in breadth, and ^ inch in thickness at 

 the thickest portion ; weight | of an ounce. It was adherent to se- 

 veral of the narrow leaves of Zostera marina, which are about | of an 

 inch in breadth, and to these only. The gelatinous mass was red- 

 dish brown ; the systems of animals of a brilliant orange-red. It 

 agreed in all respects with the description and figure of M. -Edwards. 

 The variety in the ramification of the systems of animals through so 

 large a mass was extremely beautiful, resembling an elegant pattern 

 done in lace-work. 



A plant of Halidrys siliquosa dredged from five fathoms in Belfast 

 ba)^ on the 3rd of April (kindly sent to me by Edmund Getty, Esq.) 

 contained several masses of Botrylloides. They were all of a very 

 pale grayish gelatinous colour ; the systems of animals in some, more 

 irregularly disposed than in B. rotifera, as figured by M. -Edwards, 

 were whitish ; others disposed like B. rotifera were buff; others again 

 disposed precisely like B. riihrum were orange. Some tadpole-like 

 larvae as figured by M. -Edwards (pi. 4) were observed. 



B. rubrum has hitherto been recorded as found on the coast of 

 Normandy (M. -Edwards) and at Falmouth (Alder) only *. 



I cannot leave the subject of Mollusca without acknowledging the 

 great kindness and liberality of Mr. MacAndrew and Mr. Barlee, who 

 have this year, as well as on former occasions, when dredging on 

 the coast of Ireland, hastened to supply me with lists of the rare 

 species obtained, together with other interesting matter on the sub- 

 ject. To Mr. Jeffreys also I am indebted for a list of the rare Irish 

 species in his unrivalled collection of British Mollusca. 



Crustacea. 

 1. Hippolyte pandaliformis, Bell. 

 On examining two specimens of an Hippolyte some months since, 

 which had been dredged in Belfast bay, I could not identify them 



* Botfylloides albicans, M.-Edw. Observ. Ascid. Compos, p. 88. t. 6. f. 2; 

 Forb. and Hani. Brit. Moll. vol. i. p. 24. t. A. f. 8. 



As in the work last quoted this species is noticed as British only from my 

 record of its being obtained on the coast of Down (on that of Normandy 

 alone it had previously attracted attention), I may here state, that in 

 the month of January last, I observed it on various species of Fuci on the 

 shore of the island of Islay, Scotland. It was remarkably fine on the broad 

 leaves of Fucus serratus, which there attain 4 inches in breadth. On these, 

 this Botrylloides formed large masses S^ inches in diameter, and was very 

 beautiful, owing to the ramifications of the series of animals of a whitish hue, 

 faintly tinged with pink, through the dull coloured gelatinous mass. 



Ann. ^- Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. iii. 23 



