BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WOODS HOLE AND VICINITY. 487 



The proportionate amount of algal life was very much greater in the deeper waters 

 of this, the easterly portion of Vineyard Sound, than in the other regions, and there 

 were no extensive barren areas. The character of the algal flora was essentially similar 

 to that in the narrow portion of the Sound. The following species, however, present in 

 the narrow portion, were not observed, although it is probable that all of the forms 

 occur at times in this region : 



Chorda filum. 

 Chordaria flagelliformis. 

 Desmarestia aculeata. 

 Desmarestia viridis. 

 Ectocarpus siliculosus. 

 Mesogloia divaricata. 

 Ralfsia clavata. 



Actinococcus subcutaneus. 



Ceramiura fastigiatum. 



Corallina officinalis. 



Cystocloniuni purpurascens var. cirrhosum. 



Melobesia membranacea. 



Rhodomela subfusca. 



Some algae were found which are not recorded in the previous lists: Sphacelaria 

 cirrhosa, Callithamnion tetragonum, Chondria dasyphylla, Melobesia Lejolisii, Polysiphonia 

 fibrillosa, and Polysiphonia Harveyi. However, most of these latter were in small quan- 

 tities, and the Melobesia Lejolisii and Polysiphonia Harveyi occur in relation to beds of 

 Zostera. The summer algal flora of the easterly portion of Vineyard Sound is clearly 

 representative of the warm-water sublittoral formation. 



3. CERTAIN INSHORE REGIONS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST. 



It would be impossible in the limits of this paper to describe in detail the character 

 of the vegetation along the entire coast line of Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound as 

 determined from the dredgings at the inshore stations. There are, however, certain 

 regions of particular interest because of various physiographical peculiarities, and of 

 these the following will be briefly described: (i) Gay Head and vicinity, (2) the reefs 

 of Sow and Pigs, (3) the passage of Woods Hole, (4) Robinsons Hole, (5) Quicks Hole, 

 (6) Menemsha Bight, (7) Tarpaulin Cove, (8) Vineyard Haven, (9) Cove west of Cutty- 

 hunk Neck, (10) the Middle Ground. 



(l) G.\Y HEAD AND VICINITY. 



The most interesting region in the limits of the Survey with respect to algal life is 

 that around Gay Head. This area presents a greater luxuriance of growth and variety 

 of species than any neighboring region, chiefly on account of the varied character of the 

 bottom and also because a number of forms characteristic of cold waters are able to 

 live on the exposed reefs and ledges. Conspicuous among these are Laminaria digitata, 

 Delesseria sinuosa, Gymnogongrous norvcgicus, Lomentaria rosea, Plumaria elegans, and 

 Euthora cristata. Euthora cristata was dredged by W. G. Farlow off Gay Head in 8 to 10 

 fathoms in September, 1871, but we have not been fortunate enough to find this striking 

 species, indicating that it is not common. The conditions under which most of the 

 algae of this region live are clearly those of the cool-water sublittoral formation. 



The region is complex and there are at least three clearly defined zones. The first 

 zone (stations 50 and 51) is in shallow water and includes large rocks, some of which 

 rise above the water, with sandy areas between them. The second zone (stations 44 



