Polyzoa of Queen Charlotie Islands. 459 
LIV.—Report on the Polyzoa of the Queen Charlotte Islands. 
By the Rev. Tuomas Hrncxs, B.A., F.R.S. 
[Plates XIX. & XX.] 
In 1878 Dr. G. M. Dawson conducted an exploration of the 
Queen Charlotte Islands, as one of the staff of the Geological 
Survey of Canada. The results of his expedition are embodied 
in a valuable report which appears in the official ‘‘ Report of 
Progress” for the year 1878-79 *. 
A series of dredgings formed a part of the plan of opera- 
tions ; and large quantities of material were obtained at various 
points off the coasts. Mr. J. F. Whiteaves has reported on 
the Echinodermata, the principal portions of the Mollusca, and 
some other Invertebrate tribes. The Crustacea have been 
dealt with by Prof. S. I. Smith, of Yale College. The Poly- 
zoa and Hydroida have been placed in my hands for exami- 
nation ; and to the former the present Report is devoted. 
The Queen Charlotte Islands are situated in the North 
Pacific, and ‘“‘ form a compact archipelago, separated by wide 
waterways from the islands which fringe the shore of the 
mainland of British Columbia to the west, and the coast of the 
southern extremity of Alaska to the north.” 'They are “ in- 
cluded in north latitude between 54° 15’ and 51° 55’, in west 
longitude between 131° 2’ and 133° 5’. The extreme length 
from point to point is 156 miles, the greatest width, in a direc- 
tion at right angles to the length, 52 miles ”’ (Dawson). 
The average temperature of the surface-water in the neigh- 
bourhood of the islands was determined by frequent observa- 
tions to be 53°.8 I’. for the summer months (June to August 
inclusive). Fifteen observations taken between September 
12th and October 17th gave a mean of 50°.7 F. 
The dredgings which have been placed in my hands were 
taken chiefly at three or four stations—one at the extreme 
north of the islands, and the rest off the south-eastern portions 
of the coast. 
I shall reserve all remarks on the facies of the Polyzoan 
fauna of the islands and its relation to the general subject of 
distribution for the close of the Report. The number of un- 
described species is large, including some very striking and 
interesting forms; but so far no new generic type has oc- 
curred. ‘The beauty and the luxuriant growth of the specimens 
are remarkable; the old shells taken up are thickly incrusted 
* ‘Geological Survey of Canada, Report of Progress for 1878-9: pub- 
lished by authority of Parliament, Montreal, 1880,’ 
