THE FAUNA OF THE SALCOMBK ESTUARY. 157 



(2) Burrowing Species. Nephthys Homlergii is perhaps the most 

 commonly taken ; Amjjhitriie Johnsioni is generally distributed, but is 

 especially abundant on the south-east shore ; Nereis cultrifera is 

 common at the higher tidal levels ; Nereis longissima is occasionally 

 found in patches of finer mud. Carinella annulata, a few small 

 Notomastus latericius, and the mollusc Tapes puUastra are all met with. 



(3) Wandering Species. Small Carcinus maenas and small Eupa- 

 gurus Bernhardus are numerous, whilst Cardium edule and Prosthecerceus 

 vittatus are also found. 



Comparing the two shores the most striking differences are the special 

 abundance of Brancliiomma vesicidosum, Sabdla p)avonina, and Amphitrite 

 Johnstoni on the south-east, and of Clavelina lepadiformis, Ascidiella 

 aspcrsa, and Phallusia mammillata on the west. On the western shore, 

 also, the following species were taken which did not occur on the south- 

 eastern : Chcetopterus variopedatus, Modiola modiolus, Maclovia gigantea, 

 and Lumhriconereis Latreillii. 



Three specimens of the common octopus, 0. vulgaris, were found 

 nested on the shore near low-tide mark (16 ft. tide), at the southern 

 corner of the island (see Garstang, "The Plague of Octopus on the 

 South Coast, and its Effect on the Crab and Lobster Fisheries," in the 

 present number of this Journal, p. 260). 



The fauna of the soft mud on the north-east shore of the Salstone 

 resembles that found on this kind of mud in other parts of the estuary. 

 Where the mud is finest the common and characteristic species is the 

 small Sabellid Mclinna adriatica, the tubes of which are seen protruding 

 thickly from the whole surface of the mud-flat. The only other species 

 which is at all frequent is the Capitellid, Notomastus latericcus, the 

 specimens of which here attain a large size. These worms live in 

 vertical, spiral burrows in the mud, which are lined with mucus. 

 On the intermediate ground, between the finest mud and the harder 

 muddy gravel, a number of other species occur in addition to those 

 just mentioned, the most important of which are Morcliellum argus, 

 Sagartia hellis, Myxicola infimdibuhim, Tapes pullastra, and Cardium 

 edide. At the higher tidal levels Audouinia tentaculata is common. 



Salstone, West Shore. List of Species. 

 PORIFERA. 



Hymeniacidon sanguineum. Common in patches of considerable size. 

 Suberites domuncula. Not uncommon, occupied by E^ifagurus cuanensis. 



ACTINOZOA. 



Sagartia bellis. Very common in places, attached to stones generally some inches 

 beneath the surface of the mud. 



