ASCIDIAlfS COLLECTED BY THE YACHT ' GLIMPSE,' 1881. 529 



months ; but it is just possible that some might be three months 

 old, and some only one." 



About a dozen specimens of moderate size were preserved. 

 They are of rather elongated form, perhaps on account of the 

 unusual conditions in which they grew ; and the test is thin and 

 transparent. The genital glands are well developed, and the spe- 

 cimens seem sexually mature. "When living, some of them had a 

 slight orange tint, while the specimens from Poole and Portland 

 were quite pale. 



AsciDLA PLEBEiA, Alder. 



A single specimen was dredged off Brightlingsea, Sept. 27th, 

 just west of the beacons outside the harbour, in 2 fathoms. The 

 species was not met with elsewhere ; and this locality was only 

 dredged for a few hours. The specimen obtained is of fair size. 

 The test is translucent, and of a light-brownish hue in place of 

 the usual dull green. It is a good deal covered with Hydroids 

 and Polyzoa. 



AsciDiA ASPEESA, 0. F. Mullev. 



This common species was found at a number of localities, the 

 depths ranging from 2 to 6 fathoms. The specimens from Poole 

 and Portland are a rather elongated variety, with the test thin and 

 smooth on the outer surface. These, when living, measured up to 



2 inches in length. They were larger and less pigmented round 

 the apertures than the ordinary rugose forms. 



ASCIDIA VIRGINEA, 0. F. Muller. 



This species was common in the Orwell at Pin Mill in the 

 middle of September, at a depth of 2 or 3 fathoms. When alive 

 the colour varies from orange to green of variable intensity. 



AsciDiA MAMiLLATA, Cuviev. (Plate X. figs. 1-5.) 



Three specimens of this fine species, one very large and one 

 small, were obtained at Portland inside the breakwater during 

 August, in 3 or 4 fathoms. The small specimen, which is remark- 

 ably mamillated, was dredged on August 16th from 3 fathoms of 

 water. The largest specimen, when alive, was 4| inches long, 



3 inches broad, and 2 inches thick. It was of a dull greyish- 

 white colour. 



This is a common Mediterranean species ; but, so far as we 

 know, it has not previously been found in our seas *. Probably it 



* Since the above was written Mr. S. O. Ridley has informed us that there 

 are in the British Museum two specimens of a large Ascidia collected at Wey- 

 mouth by Dr. Bowerbank, and which are probably A. mamillata. We have 

 not yet had an opportunity of examining these specimens. 



39* 



