Voi'ks/iirc .\(i/iii'ii/isfs at Filer. 251 



Under the head of marine biolog'y Mr. T. Petch writes : 

 A profitable week-end was spent in exploring the Brig;, thougfh 

 more workers were sorely needed. On the Mondav, with the 

 assistance of several concholo^ists and 'unattached' members, 

 mollusca received more attention than on the previous days, and 

 thirty-five species (dead and alive) were observed, incltidini^- 

 most o'i those pre\iously recorded.'"-" Some beautiful iridescent 

 Eituiargan'fa heliciua var. fasciata excited g-eneral admiration. 

 Eg-g- clusters of various species and the ribbons of Eolis were 

 abundant, wliilst the enormous numbers of young' Mytilus con- 

 trasted strongly with the scarcity of adults. Chiton {Acaiitho- 

 chites) fascici(/aris was taken, but Craspedocliilus cinercus 

 ( = Chiton niarginntus) is the prevailing" species. 



In Crustacea, Galathea strigosa was found on the Spittal, 

 nests of Podocents were observed on Tiibularia, and Ainathilla 

 sabini was common in the fishing- cobles. Idotca nuiriiia showed 

 marked protective colouration, closely matching- the Fucus and 

 differing- altogether from the g-rey specimens of the Humber 

 ditches. The usually abundant Porcellana longiconiis was not 

 seen. Pycnogonids were represented by Pycnogomun littoralc, 

 and one specimen each of Phoxichilus spinosns and Phoxichilidinm 

 coccineiun, but a general order to ' hunt for spiders ' failed to 

 produce any further examples of the last two. Actinia viesem- 

 hryanthenium was abundant everywhere, Tealia crassicornis was 

 rare on the parts examined, and Sagartia, probably troglodytes, 

 was fairly common in hollows beneath the Fucus. The 

 Hydrozoa, Polyzoa, and worms which were collected have not 

 yet been examined. Particulars of these will be given shortlv. 



It was disappointing to find such a small attendance of 

 marine zoologists. The idea that this work can only be 

 carried on at exceptionally low tides is quite erroneous ; on the 

 contrary, it may safely be said that in the present state of our 

 knowledge of the fauna and flora of the Yorkshire coast, a visit 

 to Flamborough, Filey, etc., at any low tide will reveal some 

 form or habit with which the observer is unacquainted ; and onlv 

 by the experience and knowledge gained between average tide 

 levels can we profitably utilise the opportunities afforded by 

 exceptional tides. 



We are indebted to the photographer, Mr. H. L. Kettle, for 

 permission to reproduce the photograph of some of the members 

 taken at Filey (Plate VIIa), and to Messrs. A. Brown & Sons for 

 the loan of the block on page 242. T. S. 



' 'The Xatiiralist,' \'ol. IX., p. 72. 



1903 July I. 



