St. Andrews Marine Laboratory. 181 



the finest example in the museum was procured this month. 

 A few 8agitt(B 18 millim. long were present once. 



Throughout October the larval 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 chiefly of the 

 larv£e of Nerine, Polydora^ and Polynoe. Sagitke 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 15 millim. 



In the midwater-net Tomopteris occurred occasionally in 

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

 Very few Sagittce 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 Tomojjteris, while the bottom-net, besides a few 

 similar specimens, added a few Nematodes. These free 

 Nematodes are occasionally got at considerable depths. 

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

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

 medusas. 



The paucity of Annelidan life was equally marked in 

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

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

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

 only bristles of Sabellaria 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 

 Sheerness-on- Sea. 



The SagittcBj 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 

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

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

 midwater-net they 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- 

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



