358 Mr. N. Coloran on Looomolion and the 



paper gummed vertically along the outside of the glass and 

 divided to eighths of an inch by heavy black lines clearly 

 visible through the water, the white strip throwing out into 

 relief tlie animal hanging suspended in front. The scale thus 

 served to measure the rate of ascension of the animal, whether 

 along its suspensory thread or in the more usual mode of 

 locomotion along the glass wall of the tube. 



With these few words on the method adopted, details will 

 now be given as to the behaviour of the species observed to 

 climb by their suspensory threads. 



Runcina hancocki, Forbes. — Several specimens were 

 collected at low water on the shore near Bullock Harbour on 

 the 16th May last. One of the largest of these, nearly \ inch 

 long when in motion, was transferred to a graduated glass 

 tube, and while floating on the water surface was caused by 

 a gentle tapping of the tube to sink to a depth of half an inch 

 and hang tiiere by its mucous thread. In two minutes it had 

 regained the water surface, the fiout end of the foot being 

 again and again brought into contact with the thread, so as 

 apparently to grip it. 



Liinapontia nigra, Johnston. — One of seveial specimens 

 coll':?ctt d at low tide near Bullock on the 2nd May last was 

 obf-erved on the 4th to mount a short way by a suspensory 

 thread, but failed to reach the surface. Further particulars 

 of this abortive attempt will be found farther ou in the 

 paragraph dealing with Bissoa cingillus. 



Doto coronata, Gmelin. — A specimen of this rather 

 common species dredged at Malahide on the 16th June last 

 was observed on the same day to ascend by its thread from a 

 depih of 1 inch in two minutes, the front of the foot during 

 the operation being curled up and applied to the thread. 



Eolis farrani, Aid. & Hanc. — Two specimens of this 

 interesting species, which has its locus classicus at Malahide, 

 Co. Dtiblin, where it was first discovered by Alder in 18-14, 

 v\ ere captured on Zostera-hcdii at Shennick's Island, Skerries, 

 last year, 'one on the 1st and the other on the 18th July. 

 The tirst specimen was seen to mount by its suspensory thread 

 to the surface\of the water from a depth of 1 inch in the 

 space of One min.ute ; the second specimen mounted by its 

 thread in two minutes from a depth of 1 inch and a half. 

 During the ascension the fore end of the foot was from time 

 to time brought into contact with the thread, while the ten- 

 taoks and papillae kepi up a vigorous motion. 



