[ vi ] 



The remaining Reports are Zoological. Mr. A. E. Shipley's on the Gephyrea, 

 Mr. E. R. Sykes' on the Chitons, and Mr. J. Pearson's on the Holothurians, all 

 contain descriptions of interesting new forms. Mr. W. M. Tattersall's Report on 

 the Cephalochorda adds no new species of Amphioxus, but performs the equally useful 

 function of showing that some of those previously described are so closely linked 

 by variations that they may safely be regarded as the same. It is interesting 

 to find that out of the dozen well-established species of Amphioxus, no less than 

 seven were found in two months work round the Coast of Ceylon. 



The last Report in this present Part I. that on the Copepoda, by Mr. Isaac 

 Thompson and Mr. Andrew Scott is by far the largest, and deals with a great 

 number of species. It is certainly surprising that we should in such a short time, 

 without being able to pay any special attention to the group, have come across no less 

 than 283 species of Copepoda, of which 76 were new to science. Mr. Thompson has 

 acknowledged handsomely the large share which his colleague, Mr. A. Scott, has 

 taken in the more laborious parts of the preparation of the Report ; but I also must 

 draw attention to the combined industry and skill which Mr. Scott has exhibited in 

 the beautiful drawings for the numerous accurate plates illustrating the new species 

 of Copepoda. 



The next Part will be ready early in 1904, and will contain Reports upon the 

 Sponges, by Professor A. Dendy ; the Hydroid Zoophytes, by Miss L. R. Thornely ; 

 the Medusae, by Mr. E. T. Browne; the Turbellaria, by Mr. F. F. Laidlaw ; the 

 Polychasta, by Mr. Hornell ; the Cephalopoda, by Dr. W. E. Hoyle ; the Cumacea, 

 by Dr. W. T. Calman ; the Fishes, by Mr. J. Johnstone ; and the Entozoa of the 

 Pearl Oyster, by Mr. A. E. Shipley and Mr. Hornell. 



The remaining Parts, which it is hoped will be issued during the following year, 

 will deal with the other groups ot animals. The reports on the Amphipoda by 

 Mr. A. O. Walker, on the Caprellida by Dr. Paul Mayer, on the Isopoda by the 

 Rev. T. R R. Stebbing, on the Ostracoda by Mr. Andrew Scott, on Sarcophytuin 

 and its allies by Miss E. Pratt, on the Nudibranchiata by Mr. G. P. Farran, on 

 the Nullipores by Mr. J. Lomas, the Polyzoa by Miss L. R. Thornely, the Crinoidea 

 by Mr. H. C. Chadwick, and the Alcyonaria by Professor J. Arthur Thomson, are 

 in progress, and some of them are far advanced. My wife is helping me with the 

 identification of the remaining: Echinodermata, and Professor Jeffrey Bell has 

 kindly undertaken to examine and describe those that seem new. Mr. A. Leicester 

 and Mr. W. J. Halls are engaged in examining the Molluscan shells, and will draw 

 up a list of all the species collected. A few other groups are still unexamined. 

 The final Part will contain in addition the remainder of Mr. Hornell's and my 

 own observations and conclusions, including the results of our experiments now in 

 progress, and our final recommendations as to the future management of the pearl 

 oyster banks. 



It is pleasant to be able gratefully to acknowledge much help, both administrative 



