176 Dr. J. Seouler on some rare Animals found in Ireland. 
XXVI.—Notes on some rare species of Animals found on the 
Coasts of Ireland. By Joun Scoutzr, M.D. 
Tha polita. 
Tuis rare and interesting crustacean was figured and described 
by Dr. Leach in the ‘ Zoological Miscellany,’ vol. ii. pl. 103, and 
since the time of that eminent naturalist I am not aware that it 
has been found on our shores by any British naturalist. In his 
account of the Thia polita, Dr. Leach does not give us any infor- 
mation as to the locality where it was found, which was however 
probably somewhere on the English coast, especially as Milne 
Edwards mentions that it is to be found on the opposite shores 
of France. : 
For the discovery of this species, which may be considered as 
an acquisition to the British as well as the Irish fauna, we are 
indebted to that acute and indefatigable observer Mr. William 
M’Calla, who has enriched the natural history of Ireland by the 
discovery of many species both of Algze and Invertebrate animals. 
Among other rare Crustacea which we owe to him, I may men- 
tion the Pisa tetraodon, of which the Dublin Museum contains 
a fine series, and also the true Portunus marmoreus. 
The Thia polita as well as the other species mentioned was 
found at Roundstone in Connemara, in a sandy bay at extreme low 
water, and as Mr. M’Calla remarks, it is similar in its habits to 
the Corystes Cassivelaunus. 
Za o 
Halichondria hispida. 
Spongia hispida, Montagu, Wernerian Memoirs, vol. u. pl. 5. 
fig. 1, 2. 
I am not aware that any one has found this sponge since it 
was discovered by Montagu. About a year ago some very fine 
specimens were dredged from deep water at Roundstone by Mr. 
M’Calla, who took the precaution to preserve them in spirits, so 
that the character of the species can be satisfactorily ascertained. 
Both the figure and description of Montagu are very good, and 
leave little to be added: when moist it is very soft and gelatinous, 
and shrivels up a good deal in drying. The spiculz are very 
long, and many of them projecting from the surface of the 
branches gives them the appearance expressed by the brevial name. 
Tethya carnosa, 
Halichondria carnosa, Johnston, Brit. Sponges, p..146. pl. 13. 
fig. 7, 8. 
This sponge has been excellently described by Dr. Johnston 
from specimens collected in Connemara by its discoverer Mr. 
