278 MOLLVSCA. 



E. Drummondi, 



The first specimen of this Eolis that I am aware of being taken on the 

 Irish coast, occurred to myself at Newcastle, County Down, in August, 

 1836, but, besides its careful preservation in spirits, no attention was be- 

 stowed upon it. In June last a considerable number of individuals of 

 this species were taken in the dredge near Bangor (County Down) by 

 Dr. J. L. Drummond, Avho, being unacquainted with them, at once drew 

 up a very minute and excellent descrijition from the living animals, illus- 

 trating it at the same time with several sketches. Under the head of 

 " general observations," it is remarked in Dr. Drummond's journal :— 

 " Animal either very active and coursing repeatedly round the basin, or 

 hanging by its disk applied to the surface of the water. Touch very 

 acute, the tentacula and cirri shrinking at the slightest application of a 

 foreign body. On killing a specimen by keeping it some time in freslv 

 water, the cirri every one dropped off on the slightest touch."* Some of 

 these specimens (from spirits) are of large size, several being 9^ and 10 

 lines in length. In the disposition and length of the branchial filaments 

 there is great diversity ; in one individual these filaments are as long as 

 its entire body, or 7 lines in length ; in another of equal size they are 

 half the length of its body ; in some they are conspicuously in fasciculi ; 

 in others they appear to be in a continuous row ; none, however, exhibit 

 filaments of a clavate form like those of the Doris pedata of Montagu (see 

 Johnston in Annals above-cited) ; they are generally pointed. f 



To the kindness of Edmund Getty, Esq., I owe the results of a day's 

 dredging in Belfast Bay, among which was a mollusc of this species. 



Genus Proctonotus. 

 P. 7nucroni ferns, Aid. and Hanc. 

 On a sponge in shallow M'ater, at Malahide. 

 Genus Alderia. 

 A. amphibia, All. 

 In salt marshes, Skibbereen, County Cork ; Professor Allman. 

 Genus Idalia. 

 /. aspersa, Aid. and Hanc. 

 One of this species, hitherto only known from a single individual pro- 

 cured on the coast of Xorthumberland by the authors referred to, was 

 dredged in about seven fathoms Avater, ofi" Bray Head (County of Wicklow), 

 by Dr. Ball. "When living it is said to have been somewhat of a dull 

 rosy hue. The specimen is now (probably being contracted in spirits) 

 five lines in length ; it was submitted to Mr. Alder's inspection. 



* Mr. R. Patterson, who accompanied Dr. Drummond on the occasion, fa- 

 vours me with the following note : "To avoid this, I took a number of living 

 specimens, and, by the successive addition of some table salt, converted the sea- 

 water into pretty strong brine. Wliile doing so, the motions of the animal became 

 gradually more feeble, and then ceased. The branchite did not appear detached, 

 and the specimens were placed in a bottle along with the brine in which they 

 had been killed. The result was, however, the same ; they separated as much 

 as if the shock from fresh-water had still been sustained, and the liquid became 

 so foetid and discoloured (perhaps from the presence of too much animal mat- 

 ter) that the entire contents of the bottle were throAvn away." 



t Nevertheless I cannot but think that D. pedata is identical with the species 

 xmder consideration. 



