462 ZOOPHYTES. 



C. Allmani, Thompson. 



A species of Corynactis, differing considerably from C. viridis, Allman 

 (Ann. Nat. Hist., vol. xvii. 417, pi. 11), has been procured by dredging in 

 Belfast Bay and Strangford Lough (15 to 20 fathoms). It is somewhat 

 doubtfully on my part given as specifically distinct from C. viridis ; but 

 Professor Allman, to whom a specimen was submitted in a living state, 

 considers it to be so. 



Spec. Char. — C. with several regular concentric series of capitate ten- 

 tacula, those of the third and fourth rows being about equally regular and 

 nvimerous as those of the two outer rows ; those nearer the mouth irre- 

 gularly disposed. 



The colour — red of various shades — is wholly different from that of C. 

 viridis, though not included in the diagnostic characters. 



Genus Zoanthus. 

 Z. Couchii, Johnston. 



{Dysidea ? papiUosa, Johnst. Brit. Sponges, p. 190, pi. 16. fig. 6.) 



This species, di-edged from a depth of 15 to 20 fathoms in Strangford 

 Lough, on the 22nd June, 1846, by Mr. Hyndman and myself, was brought 

 home in a living state, and proved on the expansion of its tentacula to be 

 a Helianthoid Zoophyte. It was then noted as — " coming very near Zoan- 

 thus, Cuv. (Reg. Anim., vol. iii. p. 293, edit. 1830), if indeed it should be 

 generically separated from it. The character of each individual rising from 

 a common base does not apply to it, and the generic character must conse- 

 quently be either altered to suit the species, or this be constituted a new 

 generic form." Other observations made at the same time are now unne- 

 cessary (as the sequel will show) ; the preceding note is given merely with 

 reference to one on this subject at p. 252, second edition, British Zoo- 

 phytes. 



\^Tien on board Mr. M'Andrew's yacht at Southampton, Sept., 1846, 

 Professor Forbes pointed out to me living specimens of Zoanthus Couchii 

 (according to the Cornish Fauna) which had been di'edged off the southern 

 coast of England, and these to my surprise proved to be the same spe- 

 cies as I had obtained. 



All the specimens named Z. Couchii, that I had previously seen, were 

 the very different Sarcodictyon catenata, Forbes (Johnst. B. Z., p. 179,* 

 pi. 33, figs. 4 — 7, 2nd edit.). On referring to Couch's work, I agreed with 

 my friend about the identity of the species, which, being certainly the 

 same as that from Strangford Lough, decided, at least to my mind, the 

 question that D. f 2)apil!osa and Z. Couchii are not distinct. Dr. John- 

 ston, not having seen the living animal, placed his D. jmpillosa doubtfully 

 among the sponges. In doing so he judiciously remarked, that it is 

 nearly allied to the Alcyonium ocellatum of Ellis and Solander, Zoop., 

 p. 180, tab. i. fig. 6 ; and it is probable that the two productions are of 

 the same nature, whatever this may be." — Brit. Spong. p. 191. 



This species was ch'edged by us in Strangford Lough in 1835, as no- 

 ticed in the Annals (vol. v. p. 254). It was, as on the last occasion, found 

 adherent to dead bivalve shells — Venus aurea, V. ovata, Corhida striata. 

 The figure referred to in the British Sponges represents the species from 

 this locality. 



* Dr. Johnston has here (p. 180) correctly brought the Youghal species 

 under this — it is the Zoanthus Couchii of my Report. 



