196 



NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF FALMOUTH, 



From ist January to loth September, jSgS, and from May, iSgg, to 

 the end of that year. 



BY RUPERT VAIvLENTIN. 



I have drawn up my observations on the variations of the 

 Plankton during the above mentioned dates in the same tabular 

 form as I did on the last occasion. What further remarks I have 

 to offer concerning these gatherings, and also the variations in the 

 surface temperature of the sea, will now be noticed in the follow- 

 ing monthly notes. 



January, 1898. The surface temperature of the sea was 

 very high during this month, this being probably due to the 

 prevailing winds being fi'om the south-west. On the 1st the 

 surface temperature of the sea was 49 °F., and two days later it rose 

 to 50° F., and on the following day there was a still further rise to 

 51 ° F. On the 7th the surface temperature suddenly fell to 49-3 «> 

 F., this sudden decline being due to a fresh N. wind, but by the 

 next day it had regained its previous degree of warmth. On the 

 15th, 17th, and 27th the surface temperature fell to 49-6'' F., but 

 on the remaining days it varied from 50° to 51''F. 



The presence of a single specimen of the ephyra stage of 

 Aurelia in the tow-net on the 4th and also on the 17th is inter- 

 esting ; and the abundance of the Zoeae stage of a species of 

 decapod crustacean during the greater part of the month is also 

 striking. Speaking generally, however, there was not much 

 variety in the Plankton for this month, but it was far above the 

 average of former years. 



February. The surface temperature of the sea remained at 

 51° F, during the first four days of the month. On the 5th it fell 

 to 49"6''F., the wind changing to N.E. Between that day and 

 the 19th it slowly rose to 50° F., and after that gradually 

 decreased in temperature to the 28th, when 47'^r. was recorded. 



The weather during this month was very unsettled and no 

 collecting was accomplished. 



