414 ON THE FAUNA AND BOTTOM-DEPOSITS NEAR. THE 30-FM. LINE 



buried in the gravel. The tubes form excellent fixing places for other 

 species of animals, more especially for the hydroid Halcduvi halecinum, 

 which is exceedingly abundant and characteristic of this ground. 

 Plumularia Catharina, P. ^;mn«to, and Ilalecium Beanii are also 

 commonly found attached to the tubes of the same worm. 



Only one or two small pieces of Sertulai^ella Gayi, which was the 

 abundant hydroid on the fine sand, were taken here. Another charac- 

 teristic species is the ascidian Polycarpa varians, which is very 

 numerous, and seems to be attached directly to the gravel, since pieces 

 of gravel and shell are generally fixed all over its base when it comes 

 up in the dredge. 



Caryophyllia Smithii is abundant on shells, especially on Pecien 

 shells, associated with the barnacle Pyrgoma anglicum. Alcyoniiim 

 diyitatum is found only in the form of small colonies on living Peden 

 ojjcrcularis. One specimen of Parcqjhcllia cxpansa was obtained. 



Amongst other fixed species Anomia cpliippium, A. 2^tttelliformis, 

 Scrupocellaria scrvposa are common attached to the Chactoptcms tubes 

 or to shells, Bicellaria ciliata on Halccium, and incrusting polyzoa 

 on shells. 



Wandering species. Peden opercularis is numerous, and with it 

 Asterias nibens and Asterias glacialis. Peden maximus is also common, 

 and is a characteristic species of these coarse gravel grounds, though 

 by no means so numerous as P. ojjercularis. Ophiotlirix fragilis, of 

 which only a few small specimens at the roots of hydroids and Ccllaria 

 were seen on the fine sand, is here very numerous. Ophiura ciliaris 

 is present in considerable numbers, but is by no means so plentiful as 

 0. fragilis. Ophiura albida, which was never taken on the fine sand, 

 is common, as well as Ophiactis Balli, a small species which hides away 

 in crevices amongst shells and Chactopterus tubes. Echinus aeutus and 

 esculenius are both taken. 



The hermit crabs Bu2Jagurus Bernardus and E. Prideauxii are plenti- 

 ful, the former associated with Hydradinia echinata, the latter with 

 Adamsia palliata. Anapagurus laevis is very abundant, so much so 

 that it becomes one of the peculiar features of the ground. Inachns 

 dorsettensis is plentiful, covered with sponges, &c. Stcnorhynchis longi- 

 rostris is less abundant. Eurynome aspera was represented by several 

 specimens. Porcellana longicornis and Galathca dispersa are exception- 

 ally numerous. The polychaete fauna is abundant and varied, the 

 abundance of Hyalinoecia tuhicola and the presence of Hermione hystrix 

 being characteristic of the coarse deposit. 



Living specimens of T^irritella communis, a species only represented 

 by single specimens on other grounds, were here numerous. Buccinum 

 undatum was present, and single specimens of Lima Loscomhii and 



