. MAEINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT PORT ERIN. 267 



of the lively scenes that took place when the animals were 

 fed. There were always a number of the ordinary shore 

 animals, usually some beautiful vessels of brilliant ane- 

 mones from the Calf Sound, sometimes jars of Copepoda 

 and other surface organisms, while Hermit crabs, the sea- 

 mouse, a few flat fish, brittle stars, and sea-urchins were 

 always interesting to watch, and could readily be made to 

 lend themselves to purposes of instruction. 



Besides its distinct use to the general public, our 

 Aquarium has another function. Several of the naturalists 

 at work this year have made more or less use of it, and 

 it has been felt to be a distinct aid in making several 

 interesting original observations, such as those on Fan- 

 thalis described further on. A. number of animals 

 spawned during spring or summer in the tanks, and an 

 Actinia mesemhryanthemum produced in March about 50 

 young anemones, which scattered themselves over the 

 tank and throve well. 



Temperature of the Sea. 



As we have had no permanent resident Curator during 

 the year, the sea temperatures have not been taken with 

 regularity, but several of the naturalists working, who 

 have been interested in the matter, and notably Mr. 

 E. T. Browne in the earlier part of the summer, and 

 Dr. Hanitsch, who acted as temporary Curator during 

 the later part of the season, have kept daily records during 

 the period of their stay. These are entered in the 

 diary at the Station, and they show that, as in the case 

 of last year's series, but not quite so markedly, the 

 temperatures of the sea- water in gradually rising as the 

 spring and summer advance lag slightly behind the in- 

 increasing temperatures of the air. This summer the 

 highest temperature (62° F., on August 21st) was ten 



