Clare Island Survey — Archiannelida and Poly chaeta. 47 119 



be an intermediate form, with greater leanings towards Stage A, as might be 

 expected from the relative sizes of the three stages. The differences between 

 Stages A and C may be regarded as due to the different ages of the specimens ; 

 and the dates of capture indicate that C is a year older than Stage A ; whilst 

 Stage B is intermediate in age. In view of the close resemblance in certain 

 characters between the three forms, it seems safer to accept this conclusion 

 for the present than to regard Stages A and C as separate species. The 

 discovery of other intermediate stages will be necessary for conclusive 

 proof. 



In any case, it is evident that the species represented by Stage A has 

 adopted the free-swimming habit as part of its normal existence, and not 

 merely as an aid to reproduction. 



Habitat. — Blacksod Bay — Found on 2 occasions in clean sand. Bally - 

 nakill Haeboue — Taken on 10 occasions in the surface 

 tow-net at night, in Fahy Bay. 



Distribution. — Dredged in 100 fathoms in St. Magnus Bay, Shetland. 



Chaetozone setosa Malmgren. 



1867. Chaetozone setosa. Malmgren, p. 96. 



Several specimens of this species were taken in the tow-net, usually at 

 night. None of them were mature. 



Habitat. — Blacksod Bay — Surface tow-net at night. Clew Bay— Many 



specimens taken in tow-net attached to dredge, in 14-17 fms. 



Ballynakill Haeboue — One specimen taken in surface 



tow-net at night. 



Distribution. — Scotland (Firth of Clyde) ; Arctic ; Siberia ; Scandinavia ; 



North Sea ; eastern North America. 



Dodecaceria concharum Oersted. 



1898. Dodecaceria concharum. Caullery and Mesnil, p. 11. 



This species is common throughout the district, especially in a calcareous 

 habitat. It is found in Lithothamnion, in the roots of Corallines, in certain 

 sponges, boring in shells and limestone, and between layers of schist. 



An epitokous male was dredged in Blacksod Bay in March. 



Habitat. — Blacksod Bay — Found on the shore on 9 occasions ; dredged in 

 4 fathoms. Clew Bay — Common on the shores of Clare 

 Island ; dredged in 16 fms., in limestone. 



Distribution.— British Isles ; west coast of Europe ; Mediterranean ; 

 Madeira ; eastern North America. 



