40 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



tlie base of the volcano, and were especially noticed by the 

 inhabitants of the various villages, whose houses experienced 

 their topical effects, chiefly on the north side of the moun- 

 tain. 



III. — Zoological Notes. By Professor Duns. 



(1.) On Aphrodite hystrix. — The specimen shown was 

 dredged in Oban Bay, August 1874, at a depth of four 

 fathoms. The attention of the Society was specially called 

 to the fact that, when touched, the animal threw out several 

 of its sharp spines, which stuck firmly in the hand, causing 

 pain and slight inflammation. Dr Duns had been stung by 

 Aphrodite acioleata, bu.t this species did not shoot its spines 

 free from the body. When removed from its sheath the spine 

 of A. hystrix presents the appearance of an exquisitely shaped 

 spear, sharp at the point and armed at the side with five, not 

 four, as often stated, barbs — one straight, four recurved, the 

 one farthest from the point being the largest and most bent. 

 The barbs are placed on small cushions in a groove imme- 

 diately below the upper edge. MM. Audouin and Milne 

 Edwards in their work on the " Shores of France," regard 

 these barbed spines as weapons of offence. Mr Gosse, remark- 

 ing on this opinion, says he " thinks they are in error, misled 

 by the resemblance which they bear to weapons of human 

 construction." But the experience in the instance now noticed 

 leaves no doubt as to their being formidable weapons of offence. 



(2.) On Phyllodice laminosa. — The magnificent specimen of 

 this beautiful annelid, exhibited by Dr Duns, was taken in 

 the Firth of Forth, and sent to the N'ew College Museum by 

 the Eev. Walter Wood, Elie, Fife. It is 2 feet 4 inches in 

 length. Its girth, a few inches from the head, exclusive of 

 its lateral appendages, is 2 inches. The flattened styles of 

 the tail — the homotypes of the leaf paddles — are awanting, 

 and the end of the posterior part of the body has a truncated 

 appearance, a considerable portion having been broken off. 

 At three different places the rings are imperfect and un- 

 symmetrical, as if at these truncation and subsequent re- 

 newal had occurred. The number of segments is about two 

 hundred — the first, or neck, bein^ twice the breadth of tlic 



