114 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Yol. vii.- 



lastly, a series of observations on the sea fisheries of this Pro- 

 vince, and on other practical subjects. Although doubtless very 

 imperfect, it is yet hoped that on the whole this report will le- 

 fleet no discredit either wpon the Society which I have the 

 honour to represent, or on the Minister under whose auspices 

 these investigations were conducted. 



In order to shew that during the past session important addi- 

 tions have been made to our knowledge of the marine zoology ©r 

 this Province, the following details may not be out of place. 



FORAMINITERA. — These microscopic organisms have been par- 

 tially studied. The novelties detected are not very numerous so 

 far. About ten new species or varietal forms can now be added. 

 to the latest list published. 



PoLYCYSTiNA. — The few species collected in 1872 are pre- 

 cisely the same as those dredged in 1871. 



Sponges. — There are about ten species new to our fauna in. 

 the series collected last year. These are unusually curious and 

 interesting. An attempt has been made to work up the whole 

 group, and portions of many have been boiled in nitric acid, and 

 the spicules carefully examined. The subject is one of great 

 difficulty, however, and the trouble may be referred partly to the 

 want of a series of accurately named British species for compari^ 

 son, and partly to the fact that most of the spooges of the lower 

 St. Lawrence are in all probability new to science. The appear- 

 ance of Dr. Wyville Thompson's new book, ' The Depths of the 

 Sea,' has thrown some light on several of these sponges. It is 

 clear that some of the genera and species described in this 

 volume are identical with specimens dredged in deep water ia . 

 the St. Lawrence last year. 



Hydrozoa. — These simple corallines have been carefully ex- 

 amined and studied. Twenty-three species have been recog- 

 nised in last year's collection, and it is estimated that about ten 

 more have yet to be identified. 



Actinozoa. — The eight or ten additional species in this 

 group have been studied by Prof. Verrill and myself. The 

 three kinds of Alci/onium collected are not yet determined witli 

 any great degree of certainty ; one is apparently undescribed, as- 

 is also a sea anemone of the limited genus Actinojysis. 



