40 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [NOV. 9, 



rearranged. A large number of the specimens representing at 

 least 100 genera, have already been mounted in museum jars 

 and added to the stud^^ collection. Many of these have come 

 into immediate use in courses of instruction. Part of the material 

 for research has also been apportioned among various investi- 

 gators and although their results will not be recorded for many 

 months, it is nevertheless known definitely that this material will 

 3' ield results of great interest to zoological science. In another 

 branch of study the work of identifying and describing species 

 in some groups is so great that it cannot well be undertaken 

 under the direct supervision of the laboratory. A number of 

 specialists in this country and abroad, have volunteered to un- 

 dertake various portions of the systematic study in behalf of 

 the University, and thus b}' their generous aid the faunal lists 

 of the collection will be published with reasonable promptness. 

 The reports will be published in a uniform series as the Con- 

 tributions of the Zoological Expedition of 1896 At present the 

 actinians of the collections are being examined by Prof. J. Play- 

 fair McMurrich of the University of Michigan, the crustaceans 

 by Prof. D'Arcy W. Thompson of the University of Dundee, Scot- 

 land, the ascidians by Prof. W. E. Ritter of the University of 

 California, the echinoderms by H. P. Johnson of the same in- 

 stitution, and the teleostean fishes by Dr. Tarleton H. Bean 

 of the New York Aquarium. 



As to the character and extent of the summer's collection but a 

 brief account need now be' given. 



The Protozoa are represented largely by Flagellata. A 

 splendid series of Noctiluca was secured of great value for the 

 study of nuclear division. Of the Sponges about 12 species are 

 included. The remarkable mesozoan Dycyema was collected 

 abundantly in the giant Octopus and will yield interesting ma- 

 terial for cytological study. It is the first time that this form 

 has been taken in this continent. 



Of the Cffilenterates there are at least twelve species of Actin- 

 ians, several of Scyphomedusse and probably as many as fourteen 

 of Leptomedusse. The number of species of Hydroids, nine, is a 

 large one for this region of the Pacific. On the embryological 

 side the series of Lucernaria is of the greatest interest. 



The Echinoderms are represented in a somewhat numerous 

 list, about twenty-five species in all. 



The Platodes and Gephyrea were found to be relatively rare : 

 they are represented solely by two Dendrocoels and one Phy- 

 tnosonia respectively. The Nemerteans on the other hand occur 

 very abundantly : fulh^ fifteen different species were obtained, 

 most of which appear to be undescribed, although some approach 

 more or less closely the European forms, rather than those of 



