316 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. 



the translucent bounding membrane appearing under the 

 microscope to be composed of minute particles with spicules 

 imbedded therein. So completely did the gelatinous mass 

 diffuse itself over the tow-net that it was most difficult to find 

 or pick out any small surface animals. 



Although the little gelatinous bodies were quite perfect 

 in form when taken in a bottle, the rush of water into the 

 tow-net always broke them up, the result being a mass of 

 debris (apparently vegetable) which clung tenaciously to the 

 muslin of the net. The gelatinous spheres appeared to be 

 most numerous a few feet below the surface, and were 

 distinctly visible on looking down into the water from the 

 boat side. Weather seemed not to affect them, as they were 

 apparently equally prevalent on calm and on rough days ; 

 but it was noticed while rowing across from Penmaenmawr 

 to Puffin Island that they were less plentiful about the 

 middle of the entrance to the Menai Straits than nearer each 

 side. Early in June they were noticed in profusion about 

 the mouth of the Dee, on the " Merry Andrew " expedition. 



Associated with these gelatinous bodies were always 

 found quantities of Noctiluca miliaris, which were con- 

 gregated about the surface of the collecting jar, while the 

 gelatinous spheres, if not fractured, remained suspended in 

 the water, and the broken debris from the tow-net fell to the 

 bottom. 



These spherical gelatinous bodies are probably Algae, and 

 they have been noticed previously by several observers on 

 different parts of the coast as occurring at times in very 

 great abundance. In Nature for July 16th, 1885, Mr. 

 Shrubsole records having noticed them in quantity on the 

 East coast. 



In a paper " On the Movements and Food of the 

 Herring,"* Mr. F. Pearcey describes the occurrence in the 



' Froc. Roy. Phys. Sue , Ediu vol. viii, p. 389. 



