Asterias glacialis, from the same place, was a splendid object when just taken up from the sea, of which Forbes’s figure in the British Star Fishes (1841) gives but a poor idea; it reminds one rather of the frame work of a crown, with the jewels all gone. Luidia fregilissima, (lingthorn,) Goniaster Templetoni, and Asterina gibbosa. Off Ramsey occurred Ophinra granulata and albida, besides O. rosula, bellia, brachiata, and neglecta, recorded by the Professor, as were Uraster hispida, Solaster endeca, and the beautiful Palmipes, long since taken by us. but in a different locality, namely, the Diamond Fishing-ground, in the British Channel, possibly named from the occurrence of the animal, which is so called by the Sussex fishermen.
The Isle of Man appears, then, upon the whole, to have more affinity to Ireland than to its other surroundings. It has no mole, toad, or snake, as is the case with the latter country, and both had the great elk, which was occasionally engulfed in their deep curraghs. The frog was a new importation in both countries in Camden's time, though it is now common, There are newts in the island, the crested and smooth, and as many lizards, Lacerta agilis and Zootoca vivipara, Bell. The hedgehog was originally introduced, but is now common, The pole-cat is absent, but the stoat is common, the only species of the Mustelidæ, as it is in Ireland. The water-rat is found, the squirrel is absent. The tailless cat is, probably, aboriginal, both here and in Cornwall. Many of the Manx fowls are destitute of tail feathers. There may be some physical reasons for these peculiarities, but what they are must he left for others to explain. The habits and language of the natives are also allied to those of the Irish, with, no doubt, a trace of the Scandinavian.
One bird derives its specific name from Mona, the Manx shearwater, but it no longer frequents its ancient resort, the Calf. That peculiarly British bird, the grouse, has become extinct. The magpie is recorded to have been brought to the island by man; and Camden says there are no woodpeckers, jays, or mawps(?). The mischievous Irish or grey crow, and the red crow or chough, are more common in some parts than the black crow, The raven end peregrine falcon are not absent from the highest rocks. There are, also, the long-eared owl, the heron, and a host of interesting sea-birds.
Freshwater Life.—2. Rotifera.
By Edwin Smith, Esq., M.A.
In pursuing our studies of the minute forms of Freshwater Life, we cannot fail to encounter a number of creatures much smaller than the Entomestraca before described, yet quite distinguishable with the aid of a simple lens, sailing through the water with an easy, swinging motion; or grazing, like small cattle, among the threads of algae; or moored by the tail to some green spray, while a curious ciliated head is stretched
