in the West of Ireland. 355 



Loxoconcha elliptica, a species heretofore met with only in 

 estuarine situations or in pools of brackish water near high- 

 water mark. In Ballinahinch Lough, Porcellidium Jimbriatum 

 was taken in considerable numbers — a capture the more remark- 

 able as the family to which it belongs was not previously 

 known to number amongst its members any freshwater repre- 

 sentative. Several Copepoda were also taken ; but of these 

 we are not yet in a position to speak with accuracy. In 

 .Lough Moher, which lies further north, about five miles south 

 of Westport, a new and very fine species of Limnicythere (L. 

 Sancti-Patricii) was taken, and in the same place a few 

 stunted specimens of Foraminifera belonging to two species, 

 Polystomella striato-punctata. and Nonionina asterizans. In the 

 £ase of the Porcellidium it is barely possible that the specimens 

 may have got accidental admission into the freshwater gather- 

 ing, as the same species was taken in Birterbuy Bay on the 

 day previous to its supposed capture in Ballinahinch Lough ; 

 but the number of specimens found and the fact of no other 

 marine species occurring with it, would seem to negative this 

 conclusion. Moreover the undoubted occurrence of other 

 marine species in neighbouring lakes renders the matter more 

 intelligible. 



Setting aside the Ostracoda, to which we have devoted a 

 separate section of this paper, the most interesting results of 

 our dredging are as follows. In Birterbuy Bay a single frag- 

 ment of a ray of a starfish hitherto unknown in Britain 

 ( Ophianoplus annulosus, Sars) was discovered ; but, although 

 this was recognized in the dredge as belonging to a species 

 with which Ave were unacquainted, we were unsuccessful in 

 finding any further portions of the animal. This fragment is 

 here figured of the natural size (PI. XXII. fig. 1). The 

 species was originally described by M. Sars from a single 

 specimen taken at Naples ; and as our fragment, though large 

 enough and well-enough preserved to admit of no doubt as to 

 its specific identity, does not form a sufficient basis for a full 

 description, we here transcribe Sars's account (Middelhavets 

 Littoral-Fauna, pp. 79-83). 



" Genus Ophianoplus. 



" Bimse genitales interbrachiae binse. Fissurae orales ad partem 

 aboralem papillis duris instructs : acervus papillarum dentalium 

 sub columnis dentium. Discus omnino nudus et cute molli 

 tectus, absque scutis radialibus. Brachia scutata, absque omni 

 molliore integumento, spinis latcralibus laavibus. Papilla) spini- 

 formcs ad poros teutaculares. 



