ASCIDIANS OF GUERNSEY. 



203 



thinks that colonies of this species constitute the splashes of 

 blood referred to by Victor Hugo in his " Toilers of the Sea " 

 when describing the caves of the Roches Douvres. The indus- 

 trious stone turner is amply rewarded for his trouble and labour 

 by the rich harvest of Ascidians he reaps. Here are to be 

 found the small patches of a blue species for which Mr. Sinel 

 proposes the name of Leptoclinum cceruleum. The beautiful 

 transparent vases of Clavellina may often be seen here in 

 company with a smaller relation, Perophora listeri. The 

 beauties of the multitudinous species of Botrylhm to be found 

 on the rocks and stones baffle description, while the simple 

 forms are here in plenty. 



Leaving the rocks for the moment and continuing our 

 search among the sandy parts of our coast we find that some 

 few species, of the genera Molgula and Eugyra chiefly, live 

 entirely unattached and are usually covered with a coating of 

 sand which serves as a protective covering. The Zostera beds 

 at or below half tide mark are a splendid hunting ground. 



Members of the genera Molgula, Diastoma, Botryllus and 

 Aplidium are common on the stems of the Zostera or in the 

 sand at their base. 



The individuals of this gieat class are remarkable for 

 their beauty of tint, but unfortunately there is no liquid 

 known that will preserve their colours. The Simple Ascidians 

 are easy to preserve in formalin (a 2°/ Q solution of the com- 

 mercial Formaldehyde is very good), but few of the compound 

 forms make good8 xhibits, as any kind of preservative fluid 

 alters their appearance. Botryllus mo?*io, a black and white 

 species, looks well in formalin, while the beautiful F. elegans 

 keeps its colour for a considerable period. 



As stated before, any rocky coast will furnish the collector 

 with many species ; according to my experience the best 

 hunting grounds are LTslet, Cobo, Lihou Causeway, Bor- 

 deaux Harbour and Pleinmont Point. 



I am not aware that any proper list of the Ascidians 

 of these islands has ever been published. In the second 

 edition of Ansted's " Channel Islands," p. 219, there is a short 

 list of bare names, but it is not of much use. That is why I 

 venture to present to the Society the present paper. The list 

 given can only be regarded as a piecing together of the 

 scattered lists which make up our present knowledge of 

 the local Ascidians. It appears to me that if a person with 

 an unlimited amount of spare time took up the search for new 

 species, his efforts would be rewarded by the doubling of the 

 present list. Deep water research around our coasts is badly 



