NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF FALMOUTH. 197 



March. Another unsettled month, with a uniform low surface 

 temperature was recorded ; 46°F. being the surface temperature 

 on the last day of the month. As in the previous month, but 

 little tow-netting could be done owing to the unsettled state of the 

 weather. 



April. "With the commencement of this month the spring 

 may be said to have begun. 



The surface temperature of the sea on the 2nd was 47 'ST., 

 but it quickly rose to 48-6'^ F. on the 4th, and grew perceptibly 

 warmer till the 14th, when 50-6'= F. was recorded. Between that 

 day and the 22nd the temperature of the sea remained fairly 

 uniform, being 51-6° F.: 53-3'' F. being the average surface 

 temperature during the last six days of the month. 



Tetraspores were iirst detected for this year in a gathering 

 made on the 4th during high- water ; and between that day and 

 the 21st they rapidly increased in quantity, attaining their maxi- 

 mum between the 20th and 31st. At the beginning of the 

 next month, this alga began to decrease in quantity till the 

 27th, when only a very few spheres were seen for the last 

 occasion. During this time, in no case were these Tetraspores 

 sufficiently numerous to prevent the use of the tow-net. Indeed, 

 on many occasions this alga would have escaped notice but for the 

 employment of that useful instrument. 



Among the most prominent forms in the surface gatherings 

 taken during this month were shoals of Oithonia spinifrons. On 

 the 21st, after S.E. winds, the comparatively rare copepod, 

 Anomalocera Patersonii was exceptionally abundant in the docks. 

 Owing to their large size, these specimens could be easily seen 

 with the the naked eye, darting hither and thither just beneath 

 the calm surface of the sea. Microscopical examination of these 

 specimens shewed that the males were far more numerous than 

 the females, the average being almost three to one. All these 

 were ladled from the sea with a tin cup, and were captured in 

 quantities. 



The next day only a single specimen could be found in the 

 harbour, and that was only seen after a protracted search. 



May. The weather during the first week of this month was 

 very wild, but after the 6th the wind shifted to the north, and 

 finer weather followed. 



