vol. 2, pt. 1.] SALPIDAE FROM PHILIPPINE WATERS METCALF. 3 



southern Luzon, June 7, 1909; D 5530 and D 5540, northwestern 

 Mindanao Sea, August 11 and 19, 1909; D 5553, D 5561, D 5578, and 

 another station, all in the central and southwestern Sulu Archipelago, 

 September 18, 19, 20, and 23, 1909; D 5604, Gulf of Tomini, Celebes, 

 November 15, 1909; D 5616, Molucca Passage, November 22, 1909; 

 D 5640, southeast coast of Celebes, December 13, 1909; D 5663, west 

 of southern Celebes, December 28, 1909. 



Salpa bakeri is discussed in the accompanying paper, "The Salpidae," 

 and need be mentioned here only to say that it is a form somewhat 

 similar to, though clearly distinct from Salpa fioridana Apstein (1894, 

 b). The three specimens in the Albatross collections are nearly adult, 

 though still attached to one another. They are more nearly adult 

 than any specimens of the aggregated form of this species heretofore 

 seen. 



Both the echinate form (aspera) and the smooth form of Salpa 

 fusiformis are represented. 



For a description of the new variety, Salpa maxima tuberculoma, 

 and of the rare and hitherto insufficiently-described Salpa (Ritteria) 

 amboinensis, see the accompanying paper on "The Salpidae." 



Nothing in the distribution of the species collected is very unex- 

 pected. The Salpas are purely pelagic and are likely to be carried 

 at the will of the ocean currents. With the exception of a few 

 species, their home is the warmer seas or the warmer currents of 

 northern and southern seas. Those species which have thus far 

 been reported from only a few localities are scarce forms. Their 

 discovery is probably to be expected in time in other seas. Even 

 the Mediterranean species have all been reported from other waters 

 also. 1 The absence of Salpa affinis from these collections, and the 

 rarity of S. pimwta where both might have been expected, and the 

 presence of a rare species of this subgenus, S. bakeri, are noteworthy. 

 The observed range of Salpa maxima is extended, for it has not been 

 reported before from the western Pacific. In most parts of the 

 world Salpa democratica and S. fusiformis are the most frequent 

 and the most abundant Salpas. It is evident that Salpa confederata 

 was found in Philippine waters by the Albatross most frequently and 

 most abundantly. 



At 11 stations more than one species of Salpidae were found at the 

 same time. 



Station D 5125, Sulu Sea, west of Panay, Salpa democratica, soli- 

 tary and aggregated forms, and S. cylindrica, solitary form. 



Station D 5128, Sulu Sea, west of Negros, Salpa hexagona, aggre- 

 gated form, S. fusiformis, solitary and aggregated forms, S. demo- 



1 Salpa pnlae Sigl (1912), seems better classed as a variety of S. pinnata than as a distinct species. It 

 has been known heretofore only from the Mediterranean Sea. The United States National Museum col- 

 lections discussed in the accompanying paper, contain a specimen of this form from the Hawaiian Islands. 



