202 NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF FALMOUTH. 



was every evidence of a greater variety of pelagic life being 

 present during that month and the following one than in previous 

 years. 



1899. 



Although I did not begin my regular observations till June, 

 I was able to satisfy myself that the Tetraspores were only 

 present in small quantities during the spring, and that these algse 

 would have quite escaped notice without a liberal employment of 

 the tow-net. 



From the commencement of May to the 27th, the surface 

 temperature of the sea remained very uniform, varying only fi'om 

 53°F. to 53-6" F. ; and from the 28th to the 31st it rose to 55°F. 



June month was fine and warm. From the 1st to the 9th the 

 surface temperature of the sea ranged from 59 ''F. to 60 "F, but 

 owing to the absence of wind no tow-nettings could be made. By 

 the 13th the surface temperature had increased to 63°F., and it 

 remained unaltered till the 19th, when between that day and the 

 end of the month it varied from 60"=F. to 61 °F. 



Sarsia gemmifera abounded in the harbour and especially 

 within the docks. On the last day of this month Sarsia prolif era 

 was almost as numerous. 



July, Up to the 18th the surface temperature of the sea 

 remained low, varying from 59° F. on the 1st to 6r6°F. on the 

 17th. Between this date and the 31st there was an unbroken rise 

 in the surface temperature of the sea to 65"9°F., the weather 

 being very fine, and the wind light on most days. "With this rise 

 of temperature there was a corresponding increase in pelagic 

 forms, but these were almost exclusively inshore animals, the 

 exception being one specimen of Muggisea atlantica secui'ed on 

 the 27th. 



August. This was a record month : the surface temperature 

 of the sea being far higher than I have ever recorded it. This 

 fact is due to almost total absence of rain, and continuous 

 sunshine. 



On the 1st the surface temperature of the sea was 64 °F., and 

 by the 3rd it had risen to 67*'F. During the next week there 

 was a slight decrease to 66 °F, but between the 11th and 15th the 

 surface temperature remained almost stationary at 67 °F. The 



