312 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



wings was 10 in., and the weight was 15£ oz. I have been particular 

 about the measurements, because it is not unlikely that at some time a 

 confusion may arise between this species of Ray and the Eagle Ray. 

 I see that some of the authorities explain the name of " Fire Flaire," applied 

 to this fish as due to the extraordinary redness of its flesh. I carefully 

 cut this specimen to pieces, and found its flesh not more ruddy than that 

 of any ordinary Ray not properly crimped on capture. — Thos. Cornish 

 (Penzance). 



The Whip-Ray in Co. Cork.— On July 9th a female specimen of the 

 Whip-Ray (Myliobatis aquila, L.) was sent to the Science and Art Museum, 

 Dublin, from Timoleague, Co. Cork. It was caught off the S.W. coast of 

 Ireland. I should like to draw particular attention to the fact that this is 

 the first authenticated record for Ireland of this remarkable fish. I myself 

 was absent when the specimen was brought to the Museum, but Prof. Ball 

 had a cast taken of it, and noted the colours. The upper surface of the 

 body was of a dark greenish hue, being somewhat darker about the head 

 and the extremity of the pectoral fins. The length of the body from the 

 tip of the snout to the base of the tail was 21 inches, the width at the widest 

 part of the body being 32f inches. The whole body, inclusive of the tail, 

 measured 3 feet 11£ inches in length. — Robert F. Scharff (Science and 

 Art Museum, Dublin). 



CRUSTACEA. 



Dromia vulgaris in Cornwall. — With reference to the note of 

 Mr. Tregelles (p. 272), recording the capture of two specimens of this 

 curious crustacean off the Cornish coast, it is — as the Editor suggests in 

 his addendum — not so rare as is usually considered. This fact, however, is 

 only of recent growth, for although Bell refers to its having occurred on the 

 coasts of Kent and Sussex, he quotes Sicily as a locality whence he obtained 

 several in an immature condition ; and, as the species was described in his 

 appendix only, it was in all probability rare in his day as a British form. 

 From observations that I have made with regard to the occurrence in the 

 English Channel of Mediterranean species, not only of Crustaceans but of 

 Echiuoderms, I am strongly of opinion that, from some cause or other, 

 there is taking place an extension of the geographical range of certain 

 forms. Dromia vulgaris is a case in point ; my first specimens were from 

 the Channel Islands, and were found by fishermen to whom this crab was a 

 perfect stranger, nor could I find any who knew the species at all. My 

 next specimens, about twenty in number, were from the Channel, dredged 

 in deep water, and they had been put aside as something " out o' the 

 common." Since then, however, it has occurred on many parts of our 

 south coast, but I do not know of any having been recorded from the 

 Scilly Islands. If my opinion be correct as regards the extension of the 



