318 PELAGIC LIFE, FALMOUTH. 



II. Additions to the Fauna. 

 Before recording the interesting marine forms captured 

 since my last report, I should like to direct attention to a fact 

 which, so far as I know, has not been recorded. 



Before the memorable blizzard of March, 1891, the main 

 channel of Falmouth harbour was throughout its course almost 

 lined with Ascidians ; the majority of the specimens being 

 Ascidia mentula and A. tuberculata. On the 6th of February of 

 that year, I spent the day dredging in the main channel of the 

 harbour. It is recorded in my note book that these Ascidians 

 occurred in such abundance that the dredge had to be hauled 

 more frequently than usual, and when it reached the surface, the 

 bag was found almost filled with these animals. . Naturally 

 these Ascidians afforded a fine hold for Comatula and various 

 species of Hydroids and Polyzoa. 



On the 5th of May following I spent the day dredging in 

 the same locality, and, curious to relate, the Ascidians and 

 Comatula had vanished from the ground, and for a full year few 

 specimens were found. Since then, to the close of my report, I 

 have spent many days dredging in various parts of the harbour, 

 and have never secured more than a few isolated specimens of 

 Ascidia mentula and A. tuberculata. — Vermes. 



Although fresh-water rotifers were the earliest, or one of 

 the first living forms to Avliich the microscope was directed 

 shortly after its invention, it is curious to notice that in the 

 various reports published by previous Cornish naturalists, I have 

 been unable to discover a single record of either a fresh or salt 

 water rotifer. 



There is an exceedingly interesting species of parasitic 

 rotifer, Seizon annulatus, to be found in small numbers attached 

 to various parts of the cuticle of Nebalia bipes. This Phyllopod 

 occurs in abundance in certain localities in Falmouth harbour. 



During the past autumn I have found in the reservoir near 

 Penryn, Melicerta ringens in large quantities, and small numbers 

 of Limnias ceratophylli. 



In a marsh pool this autumn near Chyoon granite quarry, 

 I secured a single colony of that interesting social rotifer 

 Conochilus volvox. 



