200 bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



and Mysis, were noticeable for their abundance. Several species of 

 amphipods occurred regularly : hyperids were common, as was Plironima 

 of three species associated with Doliolum. Lucifer was taken on several 

 occasions. Several species of isopods were collected ; while copepods, 

 among them Saphirina, and ostracods of several species were an impor- 

 tant constituent of every haul. Crustacean larvae, on the other hand, 

 were conspicuously rare, only a few megalops stages, a few stomatopod 

 larvae, and a single phyllosome larva being taken. Annelids, even 

 Tomopteris, usually so common in warm waters, were noticeably absent. 

 Perhaps the best series in the collection is afforded by the pteropods, of 

 such genera as Hyalea, Spinalis, Atlanta, and Liraacina, but other 

 pelagic molluscs were almost absent, no heteropods, and only a single 

 specimen of Janthina being taken. Sagitta was fairly well represented, 

 but only very few Appendiculariae were captured. There were but few 

 coelenterates taken, and those few all belong to species widely distributed 

 in tropical and subtropical waters. Among siphonophores I may men- 

 tion Physalia, Crystallomia, Diphyes, Galeolaria, Abyla, and Rhyzophysa. 

 The only Medusa found on the surface in the Stream was one specimen 

 of Rhopalonema velatum, and the only ctenophores were a few Beroe 

 ovata. The scarcity was even more striking in the case of the finer 

 Plankton, the quantity of rhizopods, radiolarians, and diatoms in any of 

 the hauls being extremely small. Associated with this scarcity is not 

 only the clearness of the water already noted but the fact that through- 

 out the cruise very little phosphorescence was to be seen. 



In addition to the smaller organisms certain other surface forms 

 deserve brief notice. Gulf weed was first noted a few miles southeast 

 of Gay Head. It was seen in small masses so long as we were within 

 the influence of the Gulf Stream ; but after we left the Stream, as shown 

 by the decrease of the surface temperature to 64°, no more was observed. 

 Several small collections of Gulfweed were made, and from them the 

 usual species of crustaceans and other animals obtained ; among them I 

 may call especial attention to Balistes, Lepas, plumularian hydroids and 

 Obelia. A floating box yielded a rich haul, including a small Logger- 

 head turtle, and many specimens of a large eolid with chocolate papillae. 

 A most interesting capture is that of two specimens of a large octopoid 

 taken on the surface in lat. 39° 25' N., long. 71° 48' W. The speci- 

 mens were floating dead when seen, but both were in fairly good condi- 

 tion and were preserved. In the larger the central disc between the 

 bases of the arms was about 18 inches in diameter, and the tentacles 

 were about two feet long. Both specimens were of a deep chocolate- 



