168 TIIK FAUNA OF THE RALCoMP.K ESTUAliV. 



7. SAND BANKS AND ZOSTERA BEDS NEAE THE 

 MOUTH OF SALCOMBE HAEBOUE. 



The conditions prevailing on the shores on either side of Salcombe 

 Harbour, between Salcombe town and the harbour mouth, are very 

 similar. The deposits exposed at spring tides consist chiefly of fine sand 

 and sandy mud, which is covered with large patches of zostera. On 

 the west (town side) there is a band of muddy gravel at a higher 

 tidal level than the zostera, and this gravel possesses a somewhat 

 different fauna from that found on the sandbanks. 



Comparing the animals found on the two sides of this part of the 

 harbour, we notice that the eastern side has, on the whole, a richer 

 fauna than the western. Echinocardium corclatum, which is very 

 common on zostera-free patches on the eastern side, is altogether 

 absent on the western. Solen marginatum, common on the eastern side^ 

 is practically absent on the western, as are also Ophiocnida hrachiata 

 and Gebia stellata, both of which are common on the eastern zostera 

 banks near low-water mark. The following species also, found on the 

 eastern shore, are much less plentiful or altogether wanting on the 

 western : Myxicola infundihulum, Sthenelais hoa, Lucina Jlexuosa, Lucina 

 iorealis, Lutraria elliptica, Cardiurn edule, and Montacuta ferruginosa, 

 which is commensal with Echinocardium cordatum. 



On the other hand, the following occur much more frequently on 

 the western than on the eastern side : Cerianthus, Nereis irrorata (on 

 the coarser gravel at the higher tidal levels), Amphilrite Edwardsi and 

 Amphitrite Juhnstoni (with their respective commensal polynoids Zrpt- 

 dasthenia argus and Gattijana cirrosa), Pccten maximus and Aplysia 

 2mnctata. The difference in distribution in the case of the two latter, 

 which are wandering species, may be due to the fact that whereas on 

 the eastern shore the edges of the banks are steep and the deep channel 

 is close to them, on the western side the banks slope more gradually 

 into the deep water. 



The greater prevalence of burrowing species on the eastern than 

 on the western shore may in a measure be due to the fact that the 

 former is somewhat more sheltered from the effects of southerly gales 

 than the latter. 



Comparison of the Fauna found on the Shore at the Salstone 



WITH that found NEAR THE MoUTH OF SaLCOMBE HaRBOUK. — The 



following species are abundant on the shore between Salcombe town 



