The Irish Naturalist* 
January, 
ZOOLOGY. 
A New Genus and Species of Irish Crustacean. 
In the Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), vol, xiv., pp. 274-283, pi. viii., 
Mr. W. F. de Vismes Kane referred to his discovery of Niphargns 
koc/iianus, Bate, in Lough Mask. The occurrence of this blind Crus- 
tacean in an open sheet of water is of considerable interest, since it had 
previously only been obtained in a well near Dublin. 
Among 130 specimens discovered by Mr. Kane, three had well- 
developed pigmentation in the region of the eye, while a fourth had a 
cloudy shading. Fortunately, he sent a selection of his specimens to 
Prof. Vejdovsky^ of Prague, who agreed with Mr. Kane's determination 
of all the specimens except the four referred to. These he pronounced 
to belong to a new genus, which he called Bathyonyx. Professor 
Vejdovsky, wishing to honour the discoverer, intended to call it after 
Mr. Kane, but failed in identifying his surname, so that the new species 
stands as Bathyonyx de Visniesi (" Veber einzige siisswasser-Amphipoden," 
SitziDigsbcr d. K. bohrn. Gesellsch. d. Wissensck., 1905). It may be mentioned 
that on the Continent the last of a series of names which have been in- 
vented to identify a person by no means always represents his surname. 
Hence Prof. Vejdovsky 's error. 
The new genus stands between Gaininarus and Crangonyx, but differs 
from the absence of the secondary gills, and by the possession of a 
forked telson. The eyes especially are peculiar in Bathyonyx, as they 
are not ordinary composite organs as in Gammams, but such with varying 
number of crystalline cones, which form an irregular spot on each side 
of the head. Prof. Vejdovsky followed up his observation on Batliyouyx 
by some remarks on NiphaTgns /nochianus. 
Psederus caligatus at Wexford. 
Among some beetles sent to me by my friend, Mr. J. H. Johnston, from 
the vicinity of Wexford, I found a specimen of Rcderiis caligatus Er. 
This is an addition to our Irish List, and we have now records of all the 
four species oi Peed eras found in the British Islands. 
W. F, Johnson. 
Acton Glebe, Poyntzpass. 
Sagacity of the Herring Gull. 
The following incident in bird life, witnessed at Skerries, Co. Dublin, 
in July last, may be of general interest to readers of the Irish Naturalist, 
since it raises the question of the nature and extent of the reasoning 
faculty in the lower animals. I was one of a party of three crossing on 
