MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT PORT ERIN. 25 



to our complete satisfaction. But one morning we found 

 it missing, and, in searching for it, attention was soon 

 centred upon the largest Tealia, which had swollen to 

 nearly twice its normal size. Closer inspection revealed 

 the whereabouts of our Nudibranch. It was still 

 recognisable through the semi-transparent tissues of the 

 Actinian, and the next day the indigestible remnants of 

 the truly aldermanic meal were expelled from the widely- 

 expanded mouth. Such an effort in practical dietetics 

 was, however, too much, even for a big Tealia. Two days 

 later it paid the bill with its life, and lay limp, and with 

 all its mesenteries exposed, at the bottom of the tank. 



Early one morning in May last the Curator was 

 fortunate enough to make an interesting observation on 

 the lug-worm, Arenicola marina. A handful of these 

 worms had been given to our congers the previous evening, 

 and, on approaching the tank, he was surprised to find 

 one which had escaped the attentions of the fish making 

 its way slowly towards the surface of the water, which is 

 there four feet deep. Such an occurrence seemed to be 

 unusual, so the worm was watched closely. It was one 

 foot from the bottom of the tank when first seen, and by 

 strong and frequent flexion of the body on either side of 

 the median sagittal line it finally reached the surface. 

 Continuing the contractions, it approached the glass front 

 of the tank, and then slowly sank to the bottom, where 

 further observation of that specimen was brought to an 

 abrupt conclusion by one of the congers. That Arenicola 

 can swim has been alternately affirmed and denied. It 

 may be that the capacity is exercised but rarely, but the 

 above observation clearly supports the affirmation, and 

 may help to explain the appearance and disappearance of 

 the species in and from particular areas. 



Two successively cast shells of the spiny lobster, 



