1(540 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



these minute organs are of the form usual in the genus and indeed in the whole group, 

 having a small inner plate between the two outer plates, the latter having the outer margin 

 convex and the inner sinuous. 



1885. Kerville, H. Gadeau de. 



Apercu de la Faune actuelle de la Seine et de son embouchure depuis Rouen 

 jusqu'au Havre. In L'Estuaire de la Seine, par G. Lennier. Le Havre, 1885. 

 Tome 2. pp. 181-182. (E. Chevreux.) 



See Note on Gadeau de Kerville, 1886 (p. 583). 



1886. Brook, G., and Calderwood, W. L. 



Report on the Food of the Herring. Appendix to Fourth Annual Report of 

 the Fishery Board for Scotland. Edinburgh, 1886. pp. 102-128. 



In allusion to this Appendix the Introduction to the Report states (p. xix) that " during winter 

 and spring herring feed chiefly on Htjperiu Galba, Nyctiphanes norvegica, and Sagitta." 



In regard to Hyperia galba the Appendix itself says, " This species must be reckoned as one of 

 the most important forms of herring food. Judging from its frequency in the stomach of 

 the herring, this form must exist in myriads off the east coast of Scotland. The male is 

 smaller than the female and leads an active pelagic existence. In structure it is so different 

 that it has been described as a distinct genus (Lestrigonus). The males occur in much 

 greater abundance than the females in the stomachs which we have examined, an occurrence 

 which is doubtless to be attributed to the difference in habit of the two sexes. The female 

 occurs plentifully in the summer time under the umbrella of Aurelia, RMzostoma, and other 

 Medusas. We are not, however, acquainted with its habit during the colder months, that 

 is during the period in which it is found as herring food." In the notes on the distribution 

 of the species it is stated that " the statistics given for the area between Peterhead and 

 Cromarty appear to show that Hyperia is frequent in that part in December, more abundant 

 in January, while in February and March the supply gradually diminishes and the herring 

 then seeks other food. A careful comparison, however, shows that so far as our material 

 goes, Hyperia is by no means so abundant in this area as in those to the south of it." 

 " This species," the authors say, does not " appear to form such an important part of the 

 herring's food in the Wick district at any time, as it does in the waters south of Peterhead." 

 They are also " of opinion that Hyperia cannot be a common form on the west coast." 



Since the authors speak of Hyperia as a species, it may be presumed that they did not intend to 

 lay any special stress on the specific name Hyperia galba, which has so long exercised and 

 still continues to exercise the minds of writers on the synonymy of the Amphipoda. Indeed 

 the herrings must be delicately sensitive in the matter of taste if they can discriminate the 

 various closely connected species of the family Hyperidse, let alone those of the genus Hyperia. 

 The opinion of Thomas Edward as to the stay of Hyperia galba and Hyperia oblivia 

 respectively at Banff, may be seen in the Note on that author, p. 382. Unless, however, 

 some distinguishing marks are given, it is of little use to argue about the distribution 

 of species, since authors may be referring to different species under the same name, 

 or to the same species under different names. No great stress should, I think, be laid 

 on the negative evidence regarding the occurrence of Hyperiee. on the west coast of Scotland, 

 but it is corroborated by Mr. David Robertson's experience with regard to " Paratliemisto 

 oblivia" recorded in his Catalogue of the Amphipoda of the Clyde, 1888. 



