Browne — Fauna and Flora of Valencia Harhour, Ireland. 677 



SiPHONOPHOEA. 



Velella spirans (Forskal). 



This beautiful Siphonopliore occasionally drifts into the 

 harbour, and has been taken by the Misses Delap in the 

 following months : — 



1895. June. Two specimens. 



1896. (JNTone seen). 



1897. July to September. Common in July. 



1898. June, July, October, and jSTovember. A few specimens 



taken in each month. 



The smallest specimen measured 23 mm. in length, and the 

 largest 40 mm. 



The margin of the disc is nearly smooth and not deeply 

 notched. The tentacles are usually in a single row, but in 

 places two rows are present. A few specimens taken with 

 Medusa-buds upon the gonostyles. 



Velella has been frequently recorded from the west coast of 

 Ireland, and is often found stranded on sandy beaches after 

 westerly gales. 



It is very rare on the south coast of England ; Cocks (1849), 

 however, recorded a shoal at Falmouth in 1848, when hundreds 

 were found on the beach after a south-westerly gale. 



Mugg-isea atlantica, Cunningham. 



Muggma atlantica^ Cunningham, 1892, Joui^n. Mar. Biol. Assoc, 

 vol. ii., p. 212. 



Although this species has but recently received a name, it is 

 by no means a recent addition to the British Fauna. It was 

 first briefly described by Peach in 1849 from specimens found 

 in Fowey Harbour, Cornwall. It has also been confused with 

 M. KocMi^ which is very much like it in general appearance. 



At Yalencia this little Siphonophore occiu's during the 

 summer and autumn. 



1896. From July to T^ovember 13th, Usually a few speci- 

 mens taken on each occasion the tow-net was used. 

 Some of the specimens were infested with a minute 

 Cercaria, which lived in the mesogloea of the necto- 

 calyx. 



