46 PELAGIC FAUNA. 



An increase in the numbers of the larval annelids also 

 took place in April. The sexual forms of Nereids and the 

 tinted Syllids (Autolytus) bearing eggs were also common, 

 along with the translucent Tomopteris and Sagitta, though 

 the latter were sometimes less conspicuous than during the 

 previous month. 



The jelly-fishes, especially the smaller forms ' (Hydromedusce), 

 were plentiful, some bearing buds from the central stem 

 (manubrium) or at the margin, as in Lizzia and Hybocodon, 

 others issuing in swarms from the hydroid stocks, as in Clytia. 

 The pelagic stages (Arachnactis-st&ge) of Peachia were also 

 present. The ctenophores were abundant, and young stages 

 were occasionally met with. 



Minute forms of plant-life crowded the water, and their 

 great profusion had a close relation to the abundance of 

 various pelagic animals. 



May. Amongst the pelagic eggs of the food-fishes that 

 of the gurnard was prominent. It was accompanied by 

 those of the whiting, pollack, poor cod, rockling, green 

 cod, sprat, haddock, plaice, dab, lemon-dab, brill, topknot 

 and others. As a rule, however, during easterly gales most of 

 the eggs were found in the lower parts of the water. Post- 

 larval gadoids were abundant, and during the month it was 

 easy to follow some of these to unmistakeable young cod. 

 There were also numerous clupeoids, myriads of sand-eels and 

 young flat fishes, besides the larval and post-larval stages of 

 many inshore fishes, such as the lump-sucker and armed bullhead. 

 On the south coast pelagic brill were common in the inshore 

 waters. 



The Appendicularians occurred generally throughout the 

 month in all the nets (surface, mid-water and bottom). The 

 largest were frequently found in mid-water, and they were 

 quite as fine as any procured during the Challenger expe- 

 dition. It sometimes happened that when certain algoids 

 (Rhizosolenise) occupied the upper regions of the water the 

 Appendicularians held the lower regions. 



Young mollusks were represented by minute univalves like 

 Velutina and many others like Natica. 



Crustaceans from Copepods upwards were plentiful, and 



