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The Fauna of the Exe Estuary. 



By 

 E. J. Allen, D.Sc, and R. A. Todd, B.Sc. 



(With a Chart.) 



I. Introduction. 



In continuation of the scheme commenced last year for making a 

 detailed survey of the marine fauna in the estuaries on the Devon^ 

 and Cornish coasts, an examination has been undertaken during the 

 present summer (1901) of the Exe estuary. For this purpose the 

 floating laboratory boat Dawn, which has been generously placed at 

 our disposal and maintained by Mr. J. W. Woodall, was towed to 

 Exmouth and moored in the dock there, where she remained from July 

 to September. 



The principal means of collecting were hunting and digging on the 

 shore between tide-marks ; the use of a small trawl with a beam about 

 four feet long fitted with a bag of mosquito netting ; and the use of the 

 dredge. The estuary, however, is not favourable for the use of the last- 

 named instrument, as the ground is only suitable in the main channel, 

 and the great strength of the tide makes the operation of dredging 

 difficult excepting at slack water. Mr. Todd is almost entirely 

 responsible for the collecting work, Dr. Allen only having paid 

 occasional visits to Exmouth. 



We have been able to combine with the collections made this 

 summer the detailed records kept by Mr. E. W. L. Holt of some hauls 

 with seine nets taken in the Exe estuary during two visits to Exmouth 

 in the Busi/ Bee in 1897. 



As regards the identification of the species. Dr. Allen is specially 

 responsible for the Polychjetes, Mr. Todd for Crustacea and Molluscs. 

 An account of the examination by Mr. Worth of some samples of sand 

 from the estuary, especially as regards the Foraminifera which they 

 contained, is published in the present number of the Journal as a 

 separate paper. 



The estuary of the Exe differs markedly from the Salcombe estuary, 

 which we examined last year (vide Journ. Mar. Biol. Assoc, vol. vi. 

 p. 151), both as regards its physical characteristics and the nature 

 of its fauna, and a comparison of the two is interesting in several 



NEW SEEIES. — VOL. VI. NO. 3. JANUARY, 1902. X 



