MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT TORT ERIN. 65 



Colour — column, disk and tentacles transparent 

 white ; a broad vandyked band of vivid emerald green 

 surrounding the mouth. 



Diameter of corallum — 3 mm. 



This coral was described by Gosse (Actinol. Brit., 

 p. 321) from a specimen found attached to a shell of 

 Cyprina from the deepest part of the Moray Firth. The 

 soft parts of the animal were unknown to Gosse, so the 

 above description may be useful. 



" Granny " Crabs. 



The term " Granny " is used by the Port Erin fisher- 

 men in connection with certain crabs which they consider 

 to be unhealthy and useless, but which, curiously enough, 

 are not necessarily either old or female. These crabs are 

 caught in considerable abundance during July and 

 August, in the pots set along the northern shore of the 

 Calf Island, but are rarely, if ever, brought home by the 

 men. They are recognised as inedible and unsaleable, and 

 when caught are promptly killed and thrown into the 

 sea. The " granny " crab, which may be of any size 

 above four inches, generally female, is recognised by its 

 worn and dilapidated appearance, the shell being pitted 

 and stained with black, and the great claws corroded and 

 frequently broken. The surface is frequently overgrown 

 with barnacles and other foreign bodies. The men say 

 that if a crab in this condition is eaten the flesh will be 

 found to have a strong bitter taste, and a powerful 

 purgative effect medicinally. No one who knows will 

 willingly taste them, the merchants will not buy them, 

 and th& impression amongst the fishermen is that they are 

 diseased and permanently useless and that possibly they 

 may infect others, and consequently the " grannies " are 

 invariably killed on sight. 



