[ 17 1 



NARRATIVE 



WITH 



AN OUTLINE OF THE INVESTIGATION, 



AND 



DETAILS OF THE STATIONS WHERE OBSERVATIONS WERE MADE. 



The greater part of our observations at sea (as distinguished from the laboratory 

 work which came later), both on the Pearl Oysters and on the animals that are 

 associated with them and the conditions that surround them on the banks in the 

 Gulf of Manaar, can be given most conveniently in the form of a narrative of our 

 cruises in the s.s. " Lady Havelock " and with Captain Donnan in the inspection 

 boats. This narrative is written out with as little change as possible from the 

 diary and other note-books in which each day's work was recorded at the time. 

 Consequently the names in the lists of species* although, with the help of my friends 

 who are kindly working up the groups, they have been corrected up to the time of 

 writing, will naturally in some few cases require alteration, and therefore it will be 

 understood that, in the event of any difference in nomenclature, the " Supplementary 

 Reports" that follow must supersede the lists in this " Narrative." On the other 

 hand, this section contains the authoritative statement as to the dates, localities, 

 depths, and other particulars of the observing stations, and therefore forms a necessary 

 introduction to the Special Reports. A station, in the later sections of the work, may 

 be referred to briefly by its roman numeral, and the details, both as to the locality 

 and conditions and also as to the other organisms obtained, may be found here. 



I may add, in conclusion, that my view in regard to these present lists is that 

 although by no means complete, they are substantially correct as far as they go, and 

 will serve a useful purpose in giving a general impression of the most abundant and 

 conspicuous, or in other ways noteworthy, organisms at each observing station. They 

 will also enable conclusions to be drawn as to the fauna of the " paars," and as to the 

 enemies and other competing organisms which may affect the life and prosperity of 

 the pearl oyster. 



* As all these species will be treated more fully in the Special or Supplementary Reports, I have not 

 considered it necessary to give in these provisional lists the authorities and references. To have done so 

 would have added greatly to the length of the lists, with little or no compensating advantage. 



D 



