1869.] WHITEAVrS— ON DREDGING. 271 



sides, from Little Gaspi^ and Douglastown to Ship Head, and from 

 the latter pi ;ce to the village of Cap Rosier. 



Principal Dawson dredged at two or three localities in Gasp^ 

 Bay, also in the River St. Lawrence opposite Murray Bay, at 

 which latter place curious and somewhat unexpected results were 

 obtained. The greatest depth at which the dredge was success- 

 fully used, was a little over 50 fathoms. A large number of 

 • marine invertebrata were procured, of which it is proposed to 

 give a general and preliminary account, as at present the species 

 have not been sufficiently studied to enable an accurate detailed 

 description of them to be given. In the division Protozoa a 

 number of species of Foraminifera and of sponges were procured. 

 Of the Foraminifera upwards of forty species, and varietal forms, 

 known to inhabit the Gulf of St. Lawrence, are in Dr. Dawson's 

 M.S. lists, of many of which examples were taken. Of these 

 Truncatulina lobulata was by far the most abundant, and MUiolina 

 scminulum and Lituola Canariensis most conspicuous from their 

 large size. Among the other species recognized are Lagena vulgaris, 

 Evtosolenia glohosa, costata, and squamosa, Polystoviella crispa, 

 Rotalia Beccarii, Polgmorphina lactea, and Nonlonina scapha. 

 Almost nothing is known with any certainty respecting the 

 Canadian marine sponges, but if the external form is any 

 criterion, it is probable that we have at least as many as from six 

 to eight species in our waters. One curious jform occurred, — a 

 small species between two and three inches high, with a root of 

 radiating siliceous fibres. Specimens of most of these are in the 

 hands of Dr. Bowerbank, of the British Museum, for examination. 

 Many fine hydrc>id "polyps were procured, but these are at present 

 undetermined. No example of a true coral has as yet been taken 

 in the Canadian area, in our seas they seem to be represented by 

 Polyzoans with stony cells, such as Myriozoum subgracile and 

 species of Eschara. Alcyonium rubiforme was frequent ; it is 

 ont? of the nearest Canadian allies to the true corals, and our two 

 common sea Anemones, Mefridium margmafnm^ and Actinia 

 (Urticaria) crassicornis were obt-iined in abundance. The latter 

 is certainly identical with the European gpecies, and presents the 

 same series of varieties. 



Among the Echinoderms a large sea cucumber new to our 

 fauna, was taken, but no other species of special interest except 

 Sars' brittle star, which occurs not unfrequently in Gaspe Bay. 

 Many species of marine worms and Crustacea were observed. 



