2 bulletin: museum of compakative zoology. 



Agassiz I have been given permission to incorporate in this report 

 the results of a study of material brought together from some six- 

 teen distinct collections. 



This material was collected over a wide range of territory, includ- 

 ing the whole extent of the Pacific coast of North America from 

 Panama to the Aleutian Islands, northward through the Bering 

 Straits far up into the Ai-ctic Ocean, and westward to the Com- 

 mander Islands off the coast of Kamchatka. It includes both 

 shore collections and dredgings off the coast to a depth of several 

 hundred fathoms. 



The following collections comprise the bulk of this material: — 



1. A small collection from Panama and the coast of California, 

 made many years ago by Mr. Alexander Agassiz, and now the 

 property of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard College. 



2. A small collection belonging to the Peabody Museum, Yale 

 University, made by Mr. F. H. Bradley at Panama. 



3. Very extensive collections made by the U. S. Fish Commission 

 Steamer Albatross along the whole west coast of North America 

 during the years 1888 to 1895. These collections include a few 

 forms collected on shore at low water, although the great bulk of 

 the material was dredged at various localities off the coast at depths 

 ranging from a few to several hundred fathoms. The greatest 

 depth at which nemerteans were collected was 414 fathoms, the 

 greater number lieing taken in less than 60 fathoms. Several very 

 interesting forms presenting anatomical peculiarities adapted for 

 life at considerable depths of water are included in these collections, 

 and are described on the following pages. A single species of 

 pelagic nemertean {Planktonentertes agassizii Wood worth) was 

 taken at the surface in the equatorial regions. An individual of 

 another species {Euborlasia maxima) measures 45 mm. in width 

 after preservation, and probably exceeds in bulk any other known 

 species. 



4. Collections made in 1882 by the Point Barrow Kelief Expe- 

 dition to Northern Alaska and the Arctic Ocean. 



5. Collections, drawings, and notes made by Mi-. B. B. Griffin 

 in Puget Sound and Southern Alaska, while a member of the 

 Columbia University expeditions in 189(> and 1897. The death of 

 this enthusiastic young investigator occurred while engaged in the 

 study of these specimens. A preliminary report (Griffin, '98) con- 



