333 



Notes on the Marine Invertebrate Fauna of 

 Plymouth for 1892. 



By 



Walter Oarstang, 91. A., 



Naturalist in Charge of the Dredging Operations, M.B.A. 



The following faunistic notes are offered as an indication of tlie 

 ctief results which have characterised our collecting operations during 

 the present year. It is hoped that, short as they are, they may prove 

 serviceable to British naturalists desiring to pursue special researches 

 in marine zoology, but undecided as to the locality most likely to 

 meet their needs. The notes are incomplete, owing to my absence 

 from Plymouth during the earlier part of the year ; but they are 

 sufficient for the formation of an inference, since the results here 

 described were obtained for the most part during only a fragment of 

 the year — from June to September. 



I have not discussed the peculiarities which have characterised the 

 floating fauna, since Mr. Bles, who has been specially pursuing 

 planktological researches, is publishing a note upon his observations 

 in the same number of this Journal. 



In future numbers I hope to give a systematic account of the 

 fauna characterising the different bays and natural areas which 

 are within the reach of the routine dredging and collecting opera- 

 tions of the Laboratory. Such an account will, I trust, be useful 

 to naturalists visiting the Laboratory, and will also be so arranged 

 as to form a contribution towards the general subject of marine 

 bionomics. 



The dredging, tow-netting, and trawling work of the Laboratory is, 

 however, carried on at present under difficulties* which can hardly be 

 adequately realised. The frequent breakdowns of the small and 

 antiquated launch belonging to the Association seriously interfere 

 with the continuity of our work, and needlessly limit the scope of 

 our operations. A new and seaworthy steamboat has become an 

 absolute necessity. 



PoRiFERA. — A specimen of Leticosolenia lacunosa (Bwk.), a rare and 

 * These difficulties, I learn, are, happily, nearly at au end (October 17th). 



