90 CEYLON PEARL OYSTER REPORT. 



found however that the locality was quite unsuitable for oyster cultivation. In the 

 south-west monsoon the surf evidently breaks over the spit and without doubt 

 churns up the water and the bottom of the bay. This opinion was entirely corroborated 

 by what we heard from the natives on shore. 



The Tow-netting on March 30th over the Mudalaikuli Paar gave very much the 

 same results as on the previous day. As additional forms obtained may be noted 



Calanopia ettiptica, Centropages orsini and a new species of Centropages, Pseudo- 

 diaptomus serrieaudalus, and Eucalanus monachus. 



On April 1st we moved the barque to Talaivillu Paar, where again we found no 

 oysters, the bottom being practically a living coral reef. At 8 a.m. the sea-tempera- 

 ture was 86 F., and at 5.30 p.m. 87 F., and the water in our tanks 84 F. The 

 specific gravity was 1/0229. On Talaivillu Paar we obtained, on a brown (largely 

 calcareous) sand with much Halimeda (II. gracilis and H. tuna) 



Axinella donnani, various incrusting and some Tetractinellid sponges ; 



Cceloria sinensis, Porites arenosa, Fungia crassitentaculata, F. patella, Madrepora 

 (sev. spp.), Montipora sp., Favia and other Astrseids, Flabellwn sp., Sarcophytum 

 roseum, and other Alcyonaria ; 



Cheosiphon aspergillvm, Sabellaria bicornis; 



Dexamine sp. and other Amphipods ; 



Phyllidia varieosa and P. ccratosoma ; Leptoclinum sp. 



The Tow-nets gave 22 species of Copepoda, amongst which may be mentioned : 



Setella gracilis, Oncoea medkerranea, Corycceus lemgistylis, Aeartia erythreea, 

 Pseudodiaptomus aurivillii, P. serricaudatus, and Tortanus forcipatus. 



On April 2nd, at G.40 a.m., the sea-temperature was 85 F. and at 6 p.m. it was 

 86 - 5 F., the specific gravity being 1/0228. We had moved to the Navakaddu Paar, 

 where the usual diving operations were continued all forenoon. The bottom here 

 consists largely of great blocks of dead Coral much encrusted with Polyzoa, Nulli- 

 pores, compound Ascidians, &c, together with a certain amount of living Coral, such 

 as Astrseids and Porites. 



Amongst other organisms brought up on Navakaddu were : Halimeda gracilis 

 and various red Algse (Hypnea musciformis, Polysiphonia, &c). 



Asterina eepheus and Antedon sp. (? A. palmata) ; 



Chcetoptenis append iculatus, Trophonia sp. 



Amphipods, Compound Ascidians, and a new species of Chitonidse, Callochiton sub- 

 Icevis, n. sp. (Sykes). There were no pearl oysters. 



The Tow-nets this day, in addition to Triehodesmium (very abundant) and Ceratium, 

 contained a number of Copepoda, including Setella gracilis, Corycceus venustus, 

 Calanus minor, Ectinosoma atlanticum and OitJtona plmnifcra. 



In the afternoon, still continuing south, we moved down upon the Udupankarai 

 Paar. We found that there were no oysters on the ground, and not likely to be, as 

 this paar, like several of the smaller ones in this neighbourhood, is now practically a 



