ART. V. A Catalogue of the Species of Rayed Animals found in Ireland, as selected from the Papers of the late J. Templeton, Esq., of Cranmore, with Notices of Localities, and with some Descriptions and Illustrations. By ROBERT TEMPLETON, Esq. (Continued from p. 240.)

RADIA TA.

ACALE PHA Cuv.

Equòrea Peron. ? radiata. Pellucid; a rose-coloured concentric circle about half way between the centre and periphery, from which extend numerous concolour rays projecting beyond the edge so as to form a marginal fringe, underneath no appendages apparent. Breadth 3 in. Shore at Portrush, county Antrim; July 1815. - Callírhöe Peron.? dùbia. Semitransparent, convex, with 10 or 12 fuscous obsolete rays, proceeding from a dark centre; margin with numerous tentacula. Beneath, irregular arms and laminæ occupying nearly the

whole space within the tentacula.

Inha

4.5

margin, the intervals between these lobes having a lunate, transparent, plicated membrane, semicartilaginous, and with numerous tentacula in fasciculi proceeding from beneath them. Found on the shore near Carrickfergus; September, 1812.-Aurèlia? aurita Müll. Transparent, colourless, with 4 heart-shaped purple marks meeting centrally, and 4 plicated arms between them, the margin fringed with fine appendages. Very common during the summer months. Ephysa Peron. símplex Penn. Found occasionally at Donaghadee.-E.? hemisphærica. (fig. 46.) Hyaline, faint traces of obscure radii, 4 purple cordate marks meeting at the centre. Common on the coast.

46

Ocýrhoe? Peron. (Cassiopèa? Lam.) cruciàta. (fig. 47.) Hyaline; 4 arms, pale purple, corrugated; 8 darker, fine rays, and numerous dusky obsolete ones. - O. tuberculàta Penn. Semipellucid, brown and granulated in the midd'e; 15 rays, of a triangular form, their apices inwards, of a bright

brown, the edges darker, accompanied by a circular brown macula within their base, and one in the intervals of their rays. Beneath 4 elongate arms; no tentacula. Piliscelotus. Body hyaline, hemispherical, the apex somewhat produced, and terminating in a fleshy, elongated, spindle

48

shaped appendix. Margin of the body with 4 moderately long tentacula, each tentaculum arising from a small tubercle.-P. vítreus. (fig. 48.) Hyaline, bell-shaped, with

4 brown tentacula arising from the margin, nearly equidistant; the centre produced into a long dark brown appendage somewhat thickened in the middle. Found in the pools on the limestone rocks at the Whitehead; June 25. 1812, moving with a pretty quick but steady motion, by expanding and collapsing the body, which was so extremely transparent, that scarcely any part was visible, but the dark brown appendage, and the marginal tentacula. The marginal tentacula were dilated at their base. —Appendix. Medusa scintillans of Macartney is very common at Bangor and Glenarm. - Béroe Müll. píleus Gm. ? Occasionally detected in our deep bays.—Cucumis Fab. fúlgens Macartney. A great number were found floating in with the waves on the shore of Dundrum Bay, west of St. John's Point. - Velélla Lam. mùtica Lam. Very common at Magilligan, floating in on the water during westerly winds.

PO'LYPI.
CARNO`SI.

While

Actínia Lin. equina Lin., hemisphærica Penn. Common on the rocks and stones on every part of the coast. engaged in sketching this species, which was immersed in a bowl of sea water, considerable surprise was experienced, on pressing it slightly, to see several completely formed young ones, of different sizes, protruded from the mouth. In every respect they resembled the parent, except in the fewer number of the tentacula, which, in the very smallest, and, it is presumed, the youngest, were only 4; and they gradually increased in number as the animals increased in size; so that the age may, perhaps, be judged of from the number of the tentacula.-A. senilis Lin., crassicórnis Bast. Lam. Common on the rocks at Bangor, and other parts of the coast. The colour varies from dark to more or less light red, and occasionally the tentacula are beautifully variegated with dark and light red bands, tinged with prismatic hues. A. effo`ta Brug. In great numbers on the rocks between Ballyholm Bay and Groomsport, county Down; Sept. 1811.-A. sulcàta Pennant. Most probably the young of the preceding. Found at Ballyholm Bay near Bangor, Sept. 1811. A. pedunculata Penn. Found in a pool on the rocks at the north end of the Island of Rathlin; August, 1795.A. monìle. (fig. 49.) With a cylindrical body of a light cinereous green, marked with from 14 to 16 lines of beadlike tubercles; the circumference of the disk is also striated,

and with a single range of variegated tentacula. Rare: a few specimens were found on the shore of Belfast Lough, near Holywood, April, 1803. They were, when contracted, scarcely larger than a pea, and had only 10 tentacula. Perhaps the young of a larger species.-A. dianthus Ellis? pentapétala Penn.? Conic, rounded above, of a green or greenish yellow colour, with a few scattered warts in longitudinal rows; disk light blue, often divided into 11 lobes; tentacula numerous, pale, in from 5 to 7 fasciculi, variegated with dark annuli. In the hollows of the rocks at Ballyholm Bay, Bangor.-A. margaritífera. (fig. 50.)

Body subconic, low, and very much dilated at the base, deep brown inclining to chestnut, with longitudinal and concentric plaits; mouth conic, striated; at the base of the tentacula a series of light blue ovate lobes. On the coast of the Copeland Isle; August 1811.- Lucernària Müll. aurícula Müll. octoradiàta Lam. Found adhering to the Fùci on the shore at Ballycastle, and in the Cave near Dunluce Castle, county Antrim, in great numbers; July, 1815. The form of this species was strictly campanulate. The rays varied in number, in different specimens, from 5 to 8; the latter number being in no instance exceeded. The colour was tawny, or pale brown, with a dark brown streak extending along the middle of each ray.-L. quadricórnis Müll., fasciculàris Flem. Found on the coast at Donaghadee, after a strong easterly gale, adhering to a

When at rest,

fragment of Fucus serràtus; Dec. 1796. it assumes very much the form of a common drinkingglass, and is exceedingly conspicuous from its beautiful rose tint.

(To be continued.)

ART. VI. Proposals for instituting Meteorological Stations in various Parts of Britain, and a cooperative Use of them. By Mr. W. H. WHITE.

THERE is, perhaps, no subject connected with the various operations of nature, that affords greater interest to the admirer of natural phenomena, than meteorology. It is, at all periods of the year, a pleasing and, in many instances, a useful employment, to notice the different changes of the weather, especially in so variable a climate as this is. Meteorology, both in its ordinary and in its extraordinary manifestations, furnishes abundant materials for the contemplation of the scientific enquirer.

As there are several correspondents of this Magazine who take considerable interest in the science of meteorology, I beg most respectfully to propose to them, and to others interested in the science, the propriety of adopting some efficient plan to carry into effect a unity of purpose in making observations; and this, I think, can only be effected by establishing several meteorological stations, both in north and south Britain; and by each observer using the same kind of instruments, making observations at the same appointed time, and using the same formulæ in each journal. The maximum, minimum, and mean results might be brought into conjunction once a month, in the Magazine of Natural History. Such a plan of observation would not only render each meteorological station of greater value, in consequence of its useful association with others, but it would become an object of the highest importance to meteorological science. Astronomers have set the example, by planting astronomical stations in all parts of the globe; and I feel persuaded, if meteorologists would do the same, with respect to the constantly variable climate of Britain alone, taking care to record each observation with philosophic fidelity, the result from such a union of labours would be of the greatest importance to meteorological science; and, at the same time, be a means of unveiling many of those mysterious phenomena which at present evade scientific research.

I shall be most happy to take my station in the field; and, though I do not aspire to take the rank of a general, I may be useful as a pioneer. — Old Kent Road, Jan. 14. 1835.

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