56 



PELAGIC FAUNA. 



Contrary to what might have been anticipated one or two 

 ' painter's easel ' larvae (Plutei) of Echinoderms still appeared. 



The same jelly-fishes mentioned in November were present, 

 with the addition of one or two others. The numbers of the 

 Ctenophores were frequently large. 



Infusorians of the same species as formerly were often in 

 considerable profusion ; while plant-life such as Diatoms, 

 spores of alga? and minute algae was plentiful throughout 

 the month. 



In connection with a general collection of pelagic larval 

 and post-larval fishes chiefly the latter it is interesting to 

 note that if they are arranged according to the months a 

 spindle is formed, with the thick central mass in May, April 

 being next, and followed by a nearly equal series in June, July 

 and August, while the tapering at each end, viz. the beginning 

 and end of the year, is marked. When the same collection is 

 grouped according to species, the first place is held by the 

 pleuronectids, then follow in order the gobies, gadoids, sand- 

 eels and cottoids, after which come Montagu's suckers, the 

 clupeoids, dragonets, armed bull-heads, rocklings and gunnels. 

 No particular weight need be put on this remark, but it gives 

 an idea of the comparative abundance of young fishes usually 

 captured in the tow-nets. 



FIG. 11. Jelly-fish, with disc everted, partly engulphiiig a post-larval 



flounder. A. T. M. 



