they frequently chase people with great ferocity; that their bite has been often fatal; that they sometimes coil themselves around the limbs of persons, so that it becomes necessary to cut them loose? Is it not notorious that they suck the cows?" I once pleaded with a farmer for the life of a poor black snake that he had pinned to the earth with a stick. "I make it a rule to kill every snake that I meet with," replied the barbarian "d-n them, I hate from the bottom of my soul the whole race." I wish from the bottom of my soul that that prince of mischief and ugliness, Old Nick, had not taken it into his head to assume the appearance of a snake when he undertook to tempt our lovely but frail mother Eve: much of the prejudice against snakes, I am persuaded, has arisen from this circumstance. My dear friend, I have, from my boyhood, been in the habit of roaming on foot in various parts of our country; I have explored forests, swamps, and morasses for hundreds of miles; and nave beheld hundreds of black snakes in a state of nature; but never, in one instance, did I see them practise the reputed art of fascination; never did I see them chase a human being; never did I see them suck a cow; and never did I know them do the least injury, with the exception of an insignificant scratch, to any one. Buckingham, Pennsylvania, January 9. 1836. 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. Hydra Linn. (Continued from p. 305.) RADIATA. PO'LYPI. GE LATINEUX Cuv. brúnnea. (fig. 56.) Deep brown, with from 4 to 6 slender, tapering, brown tentacula, scarcely exceeding the length of the body; the peduncle nearly transparent. Found adhering to the stems of Potamogeton nàtans in the Lagan canal; June, 1805. In H. fúsca of Trembley the tentacula are "longíssimis álbis," which clearly distinguishes it from the above. * [* Mr. Templeton expressed, previously to his departure for Malta, on about April 12. 1836, a wish that his catalogue could be submitted to 56 Hy. grísea Linn. Of a cinereous pale green; with from 3 to 7 tentacula, longer than the body. Found in stagnant water; Aug. 1811. verrucosa. (fig. 57.) Of a pale cinereous hue, with 6 Dr. Johnston of Berwick upon Tweed, to the end of obtaining the benefit of Dr. Johnston's notes upon the contents of it. From the name Hydra brúnnea, to the end of the catalogue, has been submitted to Dr. Johnston, and the notes signed G. J. are those which he has made.] The conclusion is, perhaps, doubtful; for, since the animals have the power of shortening the tentacula very much, unless Mr. Templeton can show that his species could not extend them, when at rest, beyond the verrucated tentacula, of moderate length, and nearly equal thickness. In the pond at Cranmore; Sept. 1812. This species, when at rest, assumes more of a campanulate form than any other species of the genus, except lutea and the following. The warts are not uniformly diffused, as in pállens; nor do the tentacula diminish much in size towards the tips.* Hy. corynària Lam. (fig. 58.) White; head large; about 10 58 extremely short tentacula encircling the base. Found adhering to Fucus vesiculòsus, at White House Point, Belfast Lough; Oct. 1810. Córyne Gærtn. multicórnis Forsk. Body subsessile; light purplish red; about 12 simple tapering tentacula near its apex. + Found in great plenty on Fucus vesiculosus at the White House Point, Belfast Lough; Aug. 1807. Vorticélla Müll. stentòrea Müll. Common in stagnant water. lunàris Müll. Common in stagnant water. Convallària Müll. Common in stagnant water. globulària Müll. In great numbers on Dáphnia Pùlex, in the pond; May, 1833. length of the body, it may be identical with Trembley's, after all. The fewness of the tentacula is another doubtful character. Compare the figure with those of Trembley's species in pl. 3. of his Histoire des Polypes. G. J. * The habit seems to prove this a good species; but the specific name is objectionable: the tentacula of all Hydræ are verrucose.-G. J. This is surely C. squamàta of Fleming.-G. J. Vor. acinòsa Müll.? Globular, or somewhat obovate, with dark grains; peduncle rigid. On Conférva amphibia, in a ditch; June, 1806. pulvinata. (fig. 59.) Spindle-shaped; mouth slightly di lated; peduncles elongate, simple, aggregate. Found on the rocks and stones in Colin Glen river, forming small hemispheric sponge-like cushions, during the summer months. polypina Müll. Compound, ovato-truncate; peduncle much branched; branches repeatedly flexed. Among Conférvæ. intracta. (fig. 60. a, contracted; b, expanded.) Compound, globose, or ovato-truncate; when at rest, closely aggregated; when expanded, the peduncle very much branched. Found on Conférva capillaris at the Point Fields, Belfast.+ elongata (fig. 61.) umbellata Müll.? Obconic, narrow, elongate; peduncle divided; repeatedly branched. Found in the Manyburn River, Ballylesson, c. Down. It bears considerable resemblance to V. umbellàta of * The " Clustering Polype Coralline," of Ellis, Corall. p. 25. pl. 13. fig. b. B. c. C.-G. J. +["June, 1811," are inscribed upon the drawing.] |