54 PELAGIC FAUNA. 



Infusorians in considerable numbers occurred in almost 

 every net, especially in mid-water. 



Diatoms and other algoids were as abundant as in August. 



October. No pelagic eggs of fishes were found in October, 

 and the pelagic post-larval and very young fishes were few in 

 number. They consisted of clupeoids of the autumn series, 

 from 17 to 18 mm., with permanent rays appearing in the 

 dorsal fin and in the tail ; rocklings ; an occasional gurnard 

 of 16 mm., various gobies and a stray pipe-fish or two. 



Young appeudicularians were met with several times. 



The pelagic shell-fishes were still procured in considerable 

 numbers, the majority of the bivalves being apparently young 

 mussels, though other forms were likewise present. Larval 

 univalves were frequent. 



Cyphonautes (the larval stage of an encrusting Polyzoan) 

 continued throughout the mouth. 



The bottom-nets teemed with minute crustaceans from 

 the beginning to the end of the month. Larval types (Nauplii 

 and the Cypris-stage) were plentiful. The paucity of the 

 larval phases of the higher crustaceans was a marked feature, 

 but very young forms were often met with. 



The larval annelids showed little diminution in their 

 numbers in the bottom-net, and their variety was great 

 showing how ample the food-supply of the smaller fishes is from 

 this source. Arrow-worms occurred sparingly at first, but were 

 numerous at the end of the month. 



The diminution of the larval Echinoderms was most 

 marked. Only a few ' painter's easel ' larvae (Plutei) appeared 

 at the surface about the middle of the month. 



The small jelly-fishes (Hydromedusae) were still occasionally 

 numerous, though the species were limited. They were, 

 however, comparatively rare in the surface-nets. The cteno- 

 phores were represented by myriads of Cydippe, while Beroe 

 was generally present in most hauls of the nets. 



Infusorians occurred in considerable numbers, and one form 

 (Ceratium tripos) was sometimes in vast profusion. 



The pelagic diatoms and algse were in great variety, and 

 quite as numerous in the bottom- and surface-nets as formerly. 



