Maude Delap

Maude Jane Delap (7 December 1866 – 23 July 1953) was a self-taught Irish naturalist and marine biologist active on Valentia Island. Delap is known for being the first person to breed jellyfish in captivity and was one of the first to identity their life cycle. In collaboration with her sister Constance, Delap was involved in the extensive study of plankton from the coasts of Valentia Island.

Early life and education Delap was born on 7 December 1866 at Templecrone Rectory, Dungloe to The Rev Alexander Delap and Anna Jane Delap . The seventh of ten siblings, Delap was the elder sister of the marine biologist Constance Delap. though they benefited from some progressive primary school teaching. Maude kept in correspondence with Browne, sending specimens and drawings, until his death in 1937. and Cyanea lamarckii in bell jars and published the results, observing their breeding and feeding habits. The naming had been suggested by Thomas Alan Stephenson in his book British sea anemones. Stephenson notes in his book that "Miss Delap's skill and persistence in collecting rare species are indefatigable."

The poem 'Maude, Enthralled''' from Doireann Ní Ghríofa's poetry collection To star the dark (2021) is dedicated Delap.

Publications Browne, Edward Thomas and Delap, Maude Jane (1890) Notebooks, Drawings and Papers on Hydrozoa and Other Coelenterates from Valencia, Port Erin, Plymouth and Elsewhere Delap, Maude Jane (1899) Diary Recording Observations on Coelenterata and Other Marine Animals Around Valencia, Ireland''