Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891 Excerpt:...scientific societies by means of sub-division and co-operation in work. The origin of land animals from marine ancestors was touched on, and some examples given of sea-animals now living on our coasts, which are becoming accustomed to breathe in air. Finally the subject of "bionomics," or the relation between animals and their environment was discussed, and cases given of protective and warning colouring, of mimicry, and of the characteristics of species having a definite utility and obvious connection with the habits or surroundings. The remainder of the afternoon was spent in examining the specimens under microscopes in the laboratory, and in the tanks and aquaria, under the superintendence of the Hon. Director and the Curator. Protective Colouring. This is a subject which has been referred to in several of these annual reports, and a number of new examples have been described from our former laboratory at Puffin Island. There are two cases--(1) that of Lamellaria perspicua, and (2) that of Virbius varians--which we have had under observation during the summer at the Port Erin laboratory, and which may be of some interest to readers. (1) The following note on the "mimicry" of Lamellaria appeared in the " Conchologist " for June 24th:--"About twenty years ago Giard pointed out that the mollusc Lamellaria perspicua may be found associated with various compound Ascidians, and is then protectively coloured so as to form an excellent example of what he at that time called direct defensive mimicry. "Lamellaria perspicua is not uncommon round the south end of the Isle of Man, and is frequently found under the circumstances described by Giard; but I met lately with such a marked case on the shore near the Biological Station...