TflB VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 41 



" While waiting for the yacht some free-swimming larval 

 ascidians were picked up on the beach, and a small grapnel 

 brought by Mr. Page, used from the Middle Brighton pier, 

 broui^ht up seaweeds to which were attached small sponges of 

 the Sycon type. 



" On arriving off Beaumaris the dredge was used about half 

 a mile from shore, and the bottom was found rather muddy ; 

 however, molluscs and echinoderms were fairly plentiful. Going 

 in closer with a view of obtaining forms from near low-water 

 mark oft" the beech, which, worked from the shore, has yielded 

 good results on former excursions of the Club, the dredge 

 showed the bottom to be less muddy, and attached to the rocks 

 and shellfish brought up were living polyzoa and ascidians, 

 also echinoderms and a number of sponges, including some 

 apparently in the Olynthus stage. It was intended to try the 

 deeper water some distance from the shore for the finer mud 

 deposit, but a signal from the steamer had to be obeyed, and the 

 homeward trip commenced. Off Black Rock several hauls 

 were made, the dredge showing the bottom to be of a promising 

 character and worth attention at a future time. Every stone 

 brought up was thickly encrusted with animal growths, and 

 among them was noted the sponge Sycandra gelatinosum. Here 

 the grapnel before mentioned was used with good results, 

 bringing up one of the most perfect specimens of sponge 

 obtained during the day. Unfortunately the grapnel was lost, 

 but a device for saving future ones was suggested, and with such 

 an addition this instrument appears likely to yield good results as 

 a supplement to the dredge. A tow-net was tried for a short 

 time off" Beaumaris, and among the captures were several young 

 Medusoid forms, which Professor Spencer has identified as 

 Ephyree soon after their release from the strobila or nurse stock 

 which is the early form of development of the common jellyfish. 



" The following genera of Diatomacere and Foraminifera were 

 recognized by Mr. G. J. Page in the material taken home by 

 him : — Diatomaceas — Actinocyclus, Actinoptychus, Auliscus, 

 Amphiporora, Biddulphia, Coscinodiscus, Cocconeis, Campy- 

 lodiscus, Climacosphenia, Euphillodium, Fragiliaria, Gon- 

 phomena, Gramraatophora, Hylodiscus, Melosira, Navicula, 

 Nitzschia, Orthosira, Pleurosigma, Podosira, Podosphenia, 

 Rhabdonema, Surirella, Synedra, Tabellaria, Triceratium, &c. 

 Foraminifera — Gaudryina, Lagenia, Planorbulina, Polystomella, 

 Rotalina, Textularia, Truncatulina, &c." 



Soon after 5 p.m. a start was made for home, and a westerly 

 wind having sprung up, the yacht merrily followed in our wake, get- 

 ting to her moorings about 6 p.m. We delayed for a short time 

 dredging the " Brighton shell bank," without much result, then 

 heading for Williamstovvn, passing through a ram-squall on the 



