NARRATIVE. 35 



Island and Victoria Wharf. They had been gathered alive in January and used for 

 food. We measured 240 valves, which ranged in size from 2'2 to 5 centims. in 

 diameter. The average size was 4 centims. So these, as well as all we collected 

 ourselves, were of small size. 



Trincomalee is an admirable collecting ground for molluscan shells; some of the 

 numerous beaches in the neighbourhood have fine specimens cast up for which natives 

 are constantly on the look out and there are Moormen in the town who are expert 

 dealers, and have large stocks. I examined several of these collections, with the 

 object of looking for large specimens of the pearl oyster ; but although nearly every 

 little box or basket of shells, made up for sale to passengers on the steamers, contains 

 a couple of valves of pearl oysters, these are all of small size, and none were seen 

 comparable with those from the Gulf of Manaar. 



Some detached valves, about 1^ inches long, were found on the shore close to the 

 Cutch Company's bungalow. Near the same spot were some heaps of a large 

 Mytilus, having masses of quartz gravel entangled in the byssus, and also quantities 

 of Pinna evidently all used for food. Many small rock oysters were seen adherent 

 to boulders and masonry at various points round the bay (see fig. :i). 



The sea-temperature this day (February 9th) in the harbour was 78'2 F. at 8 a.m., 

 and 78 F. at 7 p.m. The specific gravity at both times was 11)2 1. 



Next day (February 10th) at the same place, at 7 a.m., the temperature was 78 F., 

 and at 7 p.m. was 78 '8 F. At both times the specific gravity was 1*020. There had 

 been some rain in the night. The temperature in our various tanks in the ship, in 

 which we kept animals under observation, now began to vary considerably. In the 

 ship's baths the water was 80 F., while some of our wooden tanks were only at 

 75'5 F. February 10th was devoted to dredging in the various smaller bays or coves 

 which open off the so-called " harbour " (fig. 2) or inner bay of Trincomalee. We may 

 regard each bay as one station, although several hauls of the dredge may have been 

 taken in it. 



STATION XXVI Outer part of Yard Cove, between Plantain Point and Middle 

 Point and inwards to the "narrows"; depth 2 to 8 fathoms; bottom coarse 

 sand and gravel with thin layer of mud on surface. Several hauls of dredge. 



Much black branched and pale lilac Renierid sponges ; 



Astropecten sp. ; Synapta striata (lilac and white, in branches of sponge masses) ; 



Sipunculids, Lumbrinereids ; 



Various Ebalid, Portunid and Eurynomid crabs ; 



Strombus succinctus (many), Neritina sp. (common) ; Molgula sp. 



STATION XXVII. Entrance and middle of ( !od Bay ; depth 4 to 6^ fathoms ; bottom 

 muddy sand ; several hauls of dredge. 

 Gelliodes carnosa, Halichondria sp., Clathria sp. ; 



Thyone calcarea, n. sp., Holothuria temiissima, H. atra, and H. marmorata; 



F 2 



