Mr. W. Thompson’s Additions to the Fauna of Ireland. 358 
18. Botrylloides rubrum, M.-Edw. Mem. Ascid. Comp. p. 88. 
pl. 6. f.3; Forb. and Hanl. Brit. Moll. vol. i. p. 24. 
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 
42 inches in length, 1} inch in breadth, and 4 inch in thickness at 
the thickest portion ; weight 3 of an ounce. It was adherent to se- 
veral of the narrow leaves of Zostera marina, which are about 4 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 
bay on the 8rd 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. rubrum were orange. Some tadpole-like 
larve as figured by M.-Edwards (pl. 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 
* Botrylloides albicans, M.-Edw. Observ. Ascid. Compos. p. 88. t. 6. f. 2; 
Forb. and Hanl. 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 3% 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 
