Zoology 143 



The paper of Dole and Chambers presents the results of an examination of 

 a series of daily water-samples, with some omissions, collected from off Fowey 

 Rocks, Florida, from March 24, 1914, to October 17, 1915. The condition of tide, 

 direction and velocity of the wind, condition of the weather, and amount of the 

 precipitation are recorded. The average salinity is 36 parts per 1,000, but there 

 is some range above and below that amount. The diluting effect of precipitation 

 is especially discussed. 



The experiments on which the paper of Roger C. Wells is based were made 

 on the same water discussed in the preceding paper by Messrs. Dole and Cham- 

 bers. The conclusion is expressed that the sea-water from Fowey Rocks appears 

 to contain so much carbonate that in contact with the atmosphere at 1 C. it neither 

 has nor acquires an appreciable solvent on calcite. At higher temperatures it 

 undergoes a slow diminution in its content of carbonates on being agitated is 

 contact with outdoor air. 



T. Wayland Vaughan, in the article entitled "Temperature of the Florida 

 Coral-Reef Tract," points out the bearing of temperature on both the bathymetric 

 and surface distribution of coral reefs and the relation of temperatures to the 

 capacity of sea-water to hold CaCOs in solution. Daily water-temperature records 

 made at Fort Jefferson, Tortugas, are presented; and temperature records are 

 given for means of ten-day periods for Dry Tortugas, Key West, Carysfort reef, 

 and Fowey Rocks. Salinity and temperature records near Bermuda, the Bahamas, 

 and Florida are given for 26 hydrographic stations occupied by the U. S. Coast 

 and Geodetic steamer Bache in 1914. The data indicate that a well-developed 

 coral-reef is not subjected to an annual minimum below 18 C. and that the tem- 

 perature may be so low at only rare intervals. The mean temperature for the 

 coldest months is not lower than about 21 C. The records near Bermuda, the 

 Bahamas, and Florida show that the temperature at 300 meters in depth is uni- 

 formly too low for the life of reef-corals; at most places it is too low at 200 

 meters; and in some places it is too low at 100 meters, in an area where the sur- 

 face temperature is high enough for the life of reef-forming corals. 



This publication is concluded by a paper by Prof. Lewis R. Cary, which 

 presents a quantitative analysis of the ability of the various species of Alcyonaria 

 to contribute limestone to the reefs of Florida, and arrives at the interesting 

 conclusion that they are more important as reef-builders than are the stony corals. 

 No. 214. CLARK, H. L. The Echinoderms of Torres Straits. (Paper from the 

 Department of Marine Biology of the Carnegie Institution of Wash- 

 ington. Vol. X.) Quarto. In press. 



Dr. Clark believes that complete knowledge of the distribution of echinoderms 

 in the region between Australia and Japan will throw light on the history of the 

 Pacific Islands. The Torres Straits region is particularly favorable for beginning 

 the study, owing to its limited extent. The echinoderm fauna is very rich, some 

 ISO species being included in this report. The main purpose of the volume is the 

 study of the echinoderm fauna as a whole, the attempt being made to determine 

 its component elements and their geographical origin. In this way the part that 

 Torres Strait has played as a connection between the Indian and Pacific faunas is 

 ultimately brought out, with suggestions as to the origin of the Australian fauna. 

 The volume contains colored plates illustrating nearly all of the new species 

 described and many of those long known but never figured. 



No. 251. Papers from the Department of Marine Biology of the Carnegie Institu- 

 tion of Washington. Vol. XI. Octavo, v+360 pages, 20 plates, 59 

 figs. Published "1918. Price $5.00. 



This book contains the following papers, not sold separately: 

 MAYER, ALFRED G. Nerve-conduction in Cassiopea xamachana. 20 pages, 15 figs. 

 MCCLENDON, J. F., C. E. GAULT, and S. MULHOLLAND. The Hydrogen Ion Con- 

 centration, CO2 Tension and COa Content of Sea-water. 48 pages, 24 figs. 

 'GOLDFARB, A. J. Variability of Eggs and Sperm of Sea-urchins. 16 pages. 

 PHILLIPS, ALEXANDER H. Analytical Search for Metals in Tortugas Marine 



Organisms. 4 pages. 



HATAI, S. On the composition of the Medusa Cassiopea xamachana. 14 pp., I fig. 

 GARY, L. R. Studies on the Physiology of the Nervous System of Cassiopea 



xamachana. 49 pages, 18 figs. 

 CLARK, H. L. Habits and Reactions of a Comatulid, Tropiometra carinata. 8 pp. 



