668 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



In the spring of 1895, Mr. W. I. Beaumont, Mr. F. W. Gamble, 

 and I agreed to form a party for investigating those groups of animals 

 in which we were particularly interested, and it so happened that 

 these groups — Medusae, Turhellaria, Nemertea, and JSTudihranchiata — 

 had received very little attention from previous workers on the west 

 coast. 



On the strong recommendation of Prof. A. C. Haddon we decided 

 to make Valencia Harbour our headquarters, as that locality appeared 

 to be the most suitable for our requirements — a well sheltered harbour 

 with dredging grounds and a good tide from the ocean. We arrived 

 there at the beginning of April, and were so fortunate as to obtain the 

 use of an empty house close to the shore. This we converted into a 

 temporary laboratory for two months. 



The successful results of this visit led us to organize another 

 expedition to the same place for the summer of 1896. The Eoyal 

 Society gave us a grant for the hire of a trawler for exploring the 

 ground outside the harbour ; and the trustees of the Fishermen's Hall 

 at Valencia kindly allowed us the use of the building. This large hall 

 was most suitable for our requirements, possessing many windows and 

 an ample supply of large tables. Two anterooms were also available, 

 one we used for sortiag over and keeping in dishes the material col- 

 lected, and the other for photographic purposes. 



On this occasion the party consisted of six natui'alists, the new 

 members being Prof. F. E. Weiss, Mr. A. 0. Walker, and Mr. M. D. 

 Hill. It was necessary to organize more definitely our work and 

 duties. Mr. Gamble took charge of the dredging operations, and his 

 colleagues were Mr. Beaumont and Mr. Hill. Prof. Weiss devoted his 

 attention to the collecting of marine algae, and Mr. Walker dredged 

 specially for Crustacea. The whole of the tow-netting, as on the first 

 visit, fell to my share. 



Diu'ing our visits we enjoyed the kind hospitality of the Ejiight of 

 Kerry and Lady Fitz Gerald. 



The Rev. A. Delap and Mrs. Delap gave us all a hearty welcome, 

 and a great part of our success is due to their advice and kindness. 

 The Misses Delap, who had for some years taken a great interest in 

 the marine fauna of the harbour, gave us invaluable assistance, and 

 their work is recorded in most of the reports. 



To all who so kindly received us and made oui' visits so pleasant, 

 and to those who helped us in our work, we desire to express our 

 sincere thanks. — E. T. Browne. 



