fSt. Andrews .\furine Lahoratori/. iSl 



the finest example in the museum was procured this month, 

 A few Safjittdi 18 millim. hui^ were present once. 



ThrouL^hout October tlie hirval Annelids still abounded in 

 the bottom-nets, demonstrating how ample the food-supplies 

 of the smaller fishes are from this group during a consider- 

 able period of the year. The forms consisted chietly of the 

 larvae of Xerine, Poft/dora, and Pohpioii. Sagiltce were 

 obtained sparingly in this net in the earlier part of the month, 

 but at the end they were very numerous and ranged from 8 

 to lo millim. 



In the midwater-net Tomopteris occurred occasionally in 

 small numbers, ranging from 1^ inch in length downwards. 

 Very few Sagittm appeared in this net, and only on one 

 occasion. 



In the surface-net the larval stages of Nerine and Poly- 

 dora were captured along with a few small examples of 

 Tomopteris during the first half of the month. The paucity 

 of their numbers formed a contrast with those immediately 

 preceding. 



In November the surface-net gave only a very few small 

 specimens of Tomopteris, while the bottom-net, besides a few 

 similar specimens, added a few Nematodes. These free 

 Nematodes are occasionally got at considerable depths. 

 Sagittce^ again, of good size occurred in all the nets and often 

 in great numbers. They took the place of the absent Hydro- 

 medusje. 



The paucity of Annelidan life was equally marked in 

 December. In the surface-net a single Tomopteris f inch 

 long was obtained. The same form occurred in the mid- 

 water-net occasionally from i to | inch. In the bottom-net 

 only bristles of SabeUaria and Nereis with fragments of 

 Polynoe were taken. The same bristles moreover occurred 

 in the contents of a tow-net sent me by Mr. Shrubsole from 

 ISheerness-on-Sea. 



The Sagittce, again, were remarkably numerous and large. 

 In the surface-net and in the bottom-net they appeared in 

 similar proportions, but not always in correspondence; thus 

 the record of the surface-net on the 5th, 13th, 14th, and 18th 

 Avas " numerous, few, many, few," while in the bottom-net it 

 was " few, many, many, few " on the same dates. In the 

 midwater-net tiiey were especially abundant and large, 

 ranging from | to 1 inch, and the reproductive organs were 

 well developed. They formed an important element in the 

 food of the various fishes at this season. 



Only a portion of the life-history of the Annelids {Poly- 

 choita) is thus brought before us in the pelagic fauna; but it 



