47 52 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Distribution. — Dublin Bay ; St. Andrews ; Port Erin ; Puffin Island ; 

 Colwyn Bay ; Torquay. 



Harmothoe imbricata (L.). 



1900. Harmothoe imbricata. Mcintosh, p. 314. 



This species is probably the most abundant Polychaete in the littoral and 

 shallow-water regions. It is found everywhere except in sand, and seems to 

 have greater powers of dispersal and adaptation than any other species. 



Mature specimens, with masses of eggs and sperm under the elytra, were 

 found in March. 



Habitat. — Blacksod Bay — Found on the shore on 27 occasions. Dredged 

 on 11 occasions, in 1-8 fms. Clew Bay — East shore of Clare 

 Island. Dredged on 5 occasions in 2-17 fms. Ballynakill 

 Harboue — Found 3 times on the shore. Dredged on 5 

 occasions in 1-8 fms. Cleggas Bay — Dredged in 5-10 fms. 

 Distribution — Shores of North Atlantic; Arctic; Japan; Adriatic. 



Harmothoe spinifera (Ehlers). 



1900. Harmothoe spinifera. Mcintosh, p. 327. 

 Found under stones and in Laminaria roots. 



Habitat. — Blacksod Bay — Found on the shore on 7 occasions. Clew 

 Bay — Dredged on 3 occasions in the bay, in 9-19 fms. In 

 Killary Harbour on mud, in 17| fms. 

 Distribution. — British Isles ; France ; Spain ; Madeira ; Azores ; Mediter- 

 ranean. 



Harmothoe zetlandica Mcintosh. 



1900. Harmothoe zetlandica. Mcintosh, p. 330. 



In a large specimen, 15 mm. long, the elytra do not cover the whole of the 

 dorsal surface. They are faintly mottled and very tenacious. 

 Habitat. — Clew Bay — Dredged on 4 occasions in 11-24 fms. 

 Distribution. — Shetlands. 



Harmothoe lunulata (Delle Chiaje). 



1900. Harmothoe lunulata. Mcintosh, p. 342. 1912. H I. Cuenot, 



p. 102. 1900. ? Malmgrenia andreapolis. Mcintosh, p. 382. 



A number of specimens belonging to this species were found living in sand 

 in Blacksod Bay. They are very darkly pigmented, with the characteristic 

 pattern on the elytra. It is probable that these specimens were commensual 

 with Synapta inhaerens, which was also common in the same sand. Cuenot 



