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



Distribution. Gcograjihical. OfT the coasts of Scandinavia and Britain (Sladen, 

 No. 106), ofT the west coast of France (Pcrrier, No. 94, and Koehlcr, No. 61). 



Porania puIviUus is not mentioned by Mobius and Biitschli (No. 88), or by Meissner 

 and Collin (No. 76) in the North Sea, nor by Petersen (No. 95) in the Kattegat, and it 

 does not appear to exist in these localities, its place being taken by Hi2)pastcrias phrygiana. 

 It does not occur in the Mediterranean (Ludwig, No. 70). 



Depth Herdman (No. 40, Vol. VIII., p. 19; Vol. IX., pp. 33 and 34) records 

 specimens from 15 fathoms, 18 fathoms, and 20 fathoms, off the coast of the Isle of Man, 

 and the species seems to be taken at all depths greater than this to 106 fathoms (Porcupine 

 Expedition, Sladen, No. 106). 



Bottom-deposit. Herdman gives the following records as to the natm-e of the bottom- 

 deposit on which this species was taken off the coast of the Isle of Man : — On sandy mud, 

 33 fathoms (Brissopsis lyrifer, a typical mud-dwelling species was taken at the same time) 

 [No. 40, Vol. VIII., p. 18]; on broken .shell and small gravel, 15 fathoms, (Vol. VIII., 

 J). 19) ; on "reamy" bottom [i.e., sand and mud (?)], L!0 fathoms (Vol. IX., p. 33) ; on dead 

 shell, sand and shell, and echinoderm spines, 18 fathoms (p. 34) ; on stones and mud, 19 

 fathoms (p. 37) ; on sand, gravel, and shells, 34 fathoms (Vol. X., p. 39). The Prince of 

 Monaco (No. 94) took the species at four stations off the west coast of France on line sand 

 (74-98 fathoms). The distribution of Porania pulvillus appears therefore not to depend 

 directly upon the nature of the bottom-deposit. 



Palmipes placenta (Chart VII.). Pahnipes was taken in largest 

 numbers on Ground V. (haul 90). This is a fine sand ground (see 

 Table II. and compare with samples 91 and 92) containing a consider- 

 able admixture of medium sand, together with some coarse sand and 

 gravel. It has, on the other hand, a somewhat high percentage of 

 silt (7 %). In the haul of the otter-trawl made on this ground some 

 ten very fine specimens were taken. The species was also very 

 constantly taken on the sand ground south-west of the Eddystone 

 (Ground VII.), though only one or two specimens were found in each 

 haul of the dredge. It occurred in two hauls on the coarse gravel 

 and sand north-west of the Eddystone (Ground XI., hauls 8 and 9), 

 and single specimens were taken on the sand grounds VIII., III., and 

 I. (haul 82). 



Distribution. Geographical. Palmipes placenta has a distinctly southern distribution. 

 It occurs all over the Mediterranean, on the west coast of France, in the English Channel, 

 all around the Irish Coasts, and on the west coasts of England and Scotland as far north 

 as the Shetlands. Rare on the east coast of Scotland and on the coast of Belgium. 

 Entirely absent from other portions of the North Sea and from the Kattegat {vide Ludwig, 

 No. 70, ]). 265). 



Depth. In Mediterranean generally from 10-55 fathoms, occasionally 220 or 330 fathoms 

 {vide Ludwig, p. 266). On British Coasts, from shallow water (seldom less than 10-15 

 fathoms) to 70 fathoms (Bourne, No. 11) and 100 fathoms (Sladen, No. 106). 



Bottom-deposit. Ludwig {I. c, p. 266) has brought together the records under this head. 

 He shows that the species prefers hard ground to mud, and that it occurs both on gravel 

 and on sand mixed with mud. Pcrrier (No. 94) gives a number of records of the species 

 from line sand in the Bay of Biscay. 



Solastrr 'prqyposus (Table Nl.). This species was not generally abun- 

 dant on any of the grounds. It was most numerous on Ground V. 

 (haul 90), where the bottom was not very fine sand. There were also 

 several specimens in haul 77 (Ground IV.). Single specimens were 



