[CEYLON PEARL OYSTER FISHERIES-1905-SUPPLEMENTARY REPORTS, No. XXTI.] 



REPORT 



ON THE 



OSTRACODA 



COLLECTED 1!Y 



PKOFESSOR HERDMAN, AT CEYLON, IN 1902. 



BY 

 ANDREW SCOTT, A.L.S., 



RESIDENT FISHERIES ASSISTANT IN THE MARINE LABORATORY AT PIEL, BARROW-IN-FURNESS. 



[WITH TWO PLATES.] 



THE OSTRACODA forming the subject of this report were, with a few exceptions, found 

 amongst the sand and debris washed out of the vessels containing other groups of the 

 Ceylon collection. Pelagic species were occasionally taken in the tow-nettings made 

 during the examination of the pearl banks, and also in the series of plankton 

 collections taken during the outward and homeward journeys. Samples of mud and 

 sand from various pearl banks were also examined, but these yielded no members of 

 this group. Some of the material had been preserved in formol, which had apparently 

 a bad effect on the delicate shells of these creatures. In some cases the lime salts 

 had been partly or entirely dissolved out, making the identification a work of much 

 difficulty. 



The Ostracoda are represented by 77 species belonging to 22 genera. Thirty-five 

 of the above number appear to be undescribed, and are now added to the Ceylon 

 Fauna, and figured in the plates. 



A considerable amount of work has already been done and a good deal of information 

 published relating to the Ostracoda of Ceylon. Professor BRADY has one paper in 

 ' The Journal of the Linnean Society ' (vol. xix., No. 114, 1886) which deals entirely 

 with Ceylonese Entomostraca. It contains descriptions of new and other marine 

 species dredged in 2 fathoms off Kalpentyn, in the Gulf of Manaar. Descriptions of 

 other species are given by Professor BRADY in reports published in the ' Transactions 



