DuERDEN — On the Hydroida of the S.W. Coast of Ireland. 141 



regards it as closely related to P. vestitus, the body of the polypite 

 being enclosed in a delicate continuation of the polypary, and the 

 stems are much roughened by adherent particles of sand. It differs, 

 however, from this form in its mode of growth, being much branched, 

 while P. vestittis has simple or slightly branched stems. The specific 

 limitations of the various rare forms of the genus are not well defined, 

 and the many forms dredged by the Academy will be submitted to 

 more comparative examination. The simple P. repens, with the stem 

 terminating above in the well-defined cup-shaped expansion has, how- 

 ever, been obtained from Berehaven, growing on Sertularia ahietina. 

 It has been recorded from several localities in- England and Scotland^ 

 but this is the first occasion from Ireland. 



3. Perigonimus (?) linearis, Alder. 



This is easily distinguised, when fully grown, from P. repens.,. 

 which it much resembles in the young state. The stem is much 

 longer and smoother than that of its ally. It is a little undulating 

 and slightly wrinkled on the lower part, where it springs from the 

 creeping stolon. Specimens were dredged from Log 72, 1 1 miles south 

 of Glandore Harbour, at a depth of 54 fathoms. It has only been 

 previously recorded once from British waters, by Prof. AUman from 

 Cullercoats, where it was found growing on shells from deep water. 

 The examples obtained by the Academy do not show the gonophores. 

 The reproduction requires further study before the exact generic 

 position of the species can be definitely settled. 



4. Bicoryne conferta, Alder. 



This is a rather rare species and has not previously been recorded 

 from Ireland. It appears, however, to be pretty abundant on the 

 west coast. Specimens with fertile polypites on the stem and on the 

 creeping stolon have been obtained from many localities, growing 

 mostly on old shells. Fine colonies were dredged from Bantry Bay, 

 and from Berehaven, coating an old shell of Littorina inhabited by a 

 hermit crab. Also two loose colonies amongst the material from 

 Log 73, at a depth of 50 fathoms. It is very difficult to distinguish 

 this form from Heterocordyle conyhearei, recorded by Allman from the 

 Harbour of Glengariff, Co. Cork. Bicoryne conferta has only previously 

 been noticed from Cullercoats, Orkney, and Shetland, so that in this, 

 as in many other foz'ms, the west of Ireland agrees in its fauna with 

 that of the north-west of Scotland. 



