If, CEYLON PEAKL OYSTER REPORT. 



special interest from the point of view of the pearl fishery is a Clionid which burrows 

 in the shells of the pearl oyster. Many of the Monaxonids are characterised by a 

 strong development of horny fibre, and from these we pass by a natural transition to 

 the true horny sponges, represented by the genera Euspongia, Phyllospongia, 

 Hircinia, Dysidea, Spongionella and Aplysina. The Euspongia is a fairly good, 



compact, resilient bath sponge and the possibility of establishing a sponge 



fishery is worth consideration." Professor DENDT then gives a list of his identifi- 

 cations, amounting to about 60 species. 



Mr. Hornell, who is reporting upon the Polychaete worms, has sent in a pre- 

 liminary list of over 60 species, at least four of which are new to science and will 

 (Mr. Hornell states) be described under the names " Hermione ridgewayi, 

 Thalenassa imihumi, Phyllodoce foliosopapillata and Spiochcetopt&rus herdmani." 



Mr. Isaac Thompson and Mr. Andrew Scott, who are working up the Copepoda, 

 state that " The collection of Copepoda is the richest and most varied series of this 

 group that has ever been brought from tropical seas by any expedition. The group 

 is represented by over 200 known species and nearly 80 new species, now being 

 described. Of these new species only a small number are true pelagic forms, the 

 remainder being littoral and semi-parasitic species, mostly associated with the pearl 

 oysters on the paars. Some of the pearl-oyster washings were extremely rich in 

 minute Crustaceans, mainly Aniphipods and Copepods. The washings from the 

 Muttuvaratu oysters yielded 43 species belonging to the Harpacticidse alone, besides 

 several species of Lichomolgidse and Ascomyzontidse, many of which are new to 

 science." 



Mr. A. 0. Walker, who is reporting upon the Amphipoda, writes to me that it is 

 " The most important collection of Amphipods which has yet been made known from 



the tropics It contains over 70 species, and the report will describe a large 



number of new species, some of which will require new genera Many of the 



forms are closely allied to British and Mediterranean species, while others again have 



been described from the Australasian seas The size of the individuals is small ; 



compared with those from the Arctic and Antarctic areas they are pygmies." 



Mr. James Johnstone, who is writing on the fishes, reports : " The collection 

 consists of 116 species belonging to 73 genera. It is very representative and contains 

 species belonging to 37 families. About 6 forms are still undetermined, and most of 

 these are probably new to science. A number of the species obtained are apparently 

 new to the fauna of India and Ceylon." 



In other groups also, Hydroids, Polyzoa, Turbellaria, Alcyonaria, Cumacea and 

 Cephalopoda novelties are turning up. but the examination of these is not yet far 

 enough advanced to warrant more detailed announcement. In the concluding article 

 of the Report I hope to submit such discussion as may seem necessary of the general 

 characteristics and affinities of the marine fauna of Ceylon. 



