STAUROMEDUSAE UK
An online guide to the Stalked jellyfish (Stauromedusae) found
around the coastal waters of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Includes notes on their identification, and where and how to find them.
Excursions to Arran, Ailsa Craig, and the two Cumbraes, with reference to the Natural History of these islands. Rev. David Landsborough, D.D., A.L.S., etc.. 1851. Chapter XXI. Excursions to Arran. p.304.
The natural harbour at Southend is a great curiosity, to which our attention had been drawn by the description of it in our friend Mr. Ramsey's book. This geological lusus naturae is thus formed: Two dykes, parallel to each other, run a long way into the sea, forming the east and west sides of the harbour. A transverse dyke of smaller dimensions, runs from the one dyke as a jetty, leaving a passage into the basin or inner harbour, in which vessels may lie at anchor, sheltered from winds and waves. And then to complete the harbour, another dyke on the landside runs parallel with the jetty, forming a quay to this natural harbour. But the dykes that abounded on the shore were interesting, not only in a geological point of view, but as forming good grounds for us in the quest of Algae and Nubibranchs. In the pursuit of the latter, my son, as having younger eyes, was much more successful than I was......
.........He also suceeded in finding a rare Zoophyte, Lucernaria quadricornis, new to Britain when Mr. Alder found it at Ardrossan a fortnight before; but which Dr. Johnston thinks may be a variety of Lucernaria fascicularis. He got, besides, something that was new not only to us, but also to Mr. Alder, but which was like a Lucernaria in a young state.
Addendum p.367
Extract of a letter from Joshua Alder, Esq., Newcastle, dated April 14th, 1847, in reference to what is said in page 304 respecting a Lucernaria in a young state.
"I got this morning the first part of Sars's Fauna littoralis Norvegiae, and in it I find figured and described the Lucernaria that Mr. David got in Arran, and which puzzled us so much at the time. Sars names it Lucernaria cyathiformis." This is new to Britain.
From the author of this website - From the published work above, we can conclude that Depastrum cyathiforme was first found in the UK by Mr. David Landsborough, son of the Rev. D. Landsborough on the 2nd June 1846. The species was reported to been found two weeks after Mr. Joshua Alder found Lucernaria quadricornis at Ardrossan, in May 1846. Ref: A History of the British Zoophytes. By George Johnston, M.D., LL.D.. 1847. Vol.I. p.252.
The Rev. David Landsborough also refers to Depastrum cyathiforme in the following work.
A Popular History of British Zoophytes, or Corallines. By the Rev. D. Landsborough, D.D., A.L.S., etc.. 1852. p.264.
4*. Lucernaria cyathiformis, Sars.
Hab. Southend, Arran, D. L., jun.; Corrigills, Arran, D. L.
So far as I have known, this Lucernaria has not been observed anywhere in Britain except in the island of Arran. A few years ago it was got in great abundance on rocks in the sea at Southend, Isle of Arran, and as Mr. Alder was then residing at Lamlash, it was shown to him, who kindly took a drawing of it and sent it to Dr. Johnston, who has given it a place in his 'History' as fig. 86, p. 476. Soon after, Mr. Alder discovered that it had been figured and described by Sars, in his 'Fauna of Norway' as Lucernaria cyathiformis. Its form greatly resembles some of our old silver communion-cups, with a fringe round its mouth. In its structure and substance it is like the other Lucernariae. "The tentacles are arranged in eight tufts round the interior of the disc; and they are extended beyond it, when the animal is alive." It would appear that it is not very rare in the island of Arran, for I got it afterwards on the east side of the island, in a rock-pool at Corrigills.
A History of the British Zoophytes. By George Johnston, M.D., LL.D.. 1847. Vol.I. p.252. p.475.
Lucernaria cyathiformis, " semipollicaris, stipite disco circulari repando sese affigente; corpore cyathiformi, margine dilatata, repanda, circulari, integra (s: non in radios divisa), tentaculifera, tentaculis saepissime in fasciculis 8 fere continuis ad marginem corporis dispositis; organis generationis 8, binis approximatis." - Sars Faun.
lit. Norveg. no.i., p.26, tab.3, fig.8 — 13.
Some time ago I received from Mr. Joshua Alder a drawing (Fig. 86)* of a Lucernaria, the same as that characterized above by Sars. It was found by Mr. David Landsborough in the south of Arran. In its structure and substance it resembles the other Lucernariae. The tentacles are arranged in eight tufts round the interior of the disk, and probably they are extended beyond it when the animal is alive. It wants the produced arms of the typical Lucernariae.
(Fig. 86)* - A drawing described by the Rev. D. Landsborough, in "A Popular History of British Zoophytes, or Corallines".
Possible location of Southend Harbour, Arran.
On Streetmap.co.uk
The Reverend David Landsborough describes a place called Claitshimore in his "Excursions to Arran"; this site probably now described as Cleiteadh Mor on modern OS Maps. Claitshimore is described as a group of six dykes in the sea, two of which are of great size. He also said Clachig stood temptingly up on the hill-side above Claitshimore, which is the case with Cleiteadh Mor.
The Reverend David Landsborough describes in his book on page 303 that, "the natural harbour at Southend is a great curiosity, to which our attention had been drawn by the description of it in our friend Mr. Ramsay's book. This geological lusus natures is thus formed: Two dykes, parallel to each other, run a long way into the sea, forming the east and west sides of the harbour. A transverse dyke of smaller dimensions, runs from the one dyke as a jetty, leaving a passage into the basin or inner harbour, in which vessels may lie at anchor, sheltered from the winds and waves. And then, to complete the harbour, another dyke on the land side runs parallel with the jetty, forming a quay to this natural harbour. But the dykes that abounded on the shore were interesting, not only in a geological point of view, but as forming good ground for us in the quest of Algae and Nudibranchs. In the pursuit of the latter, my son, as having younger eyes, was much more successful than I was."
This somewhat accurately describes a site just a short distance west of Cleiteadh Mor as shown in the link to the Streetmap map above. Colin Cowley, a naturalist from Arran has stated, Southend Harbour is a term which was only in use in the mid- 19th century and it is now obsolete. His opinion is that the precise location of Depastrum cyathiforme is unclear but sites between Southend Harbour and Struey Rocks should be considered for it. The following article by Rev. David Landsborough describes Depastrum cyathiforme as being found near and not at Sothend Harbour, so Colin Cowley is completely correct in his assumption..
Proceedings of the Philosophical Society of Glasgow. VOL. II. MDCCCXLIV-MDCCCXLVIII (1844-1848)
1st March, 1848. — The President in the Chair.
Messrs. James H. M'Clure and John Craig were admitted members.
The following communication was made : -
XXXVII. — List of Zoophytes found in the West of Scotland. By the Rev. David Landsborough, Saltcoats. Communicated by William Gourlie, Jun. p.230-241.
Rev. Mr. Landsborough's List of Zoophytes. p.235-6
Family. — Lucerniadae.
21. Lucernaria. Muller.
1. Lucernaria fascicularis. This is not rare in the west, and yet it had not been noticed till Mr. Alder came to stay some weeks at Ardrossan, in June, 1846. His will-trained eye soon observed it on seaweeds. It has often been found by my son David since, here and in Arran.
2. L. cyathiformis. This was discovered by my son David, in Arran, in July, 1846. It was in great plenty at one place, among the trap dykes near the natural harbour at Southend, Arran. He brought a specimen along with him, and showed it to Mr. Alder, who was then in Arran. He thought that it was a Lucernaria, but he could not give the specific name till Sar's Fauna Littoralis Norvegice came into his hands, and then he saw that it was the above-named. It had not before been observed in Britain. It is not so showy as L. fascicularis, which proves to be the same as L. quadricornis of Muller.
