PELAGIC LIFE, FALMOUTH. 323 



On the 17th, one of the men employed by the Dock company, 

 brought me two large specimens of Pleurobranchus mem- 

 branaceus, the largest measuring two and three quarter inches 

 in length. These mollusks were found exposed at low water on 

 some stones which form a ground work for the Western 

 breakwater. Curiously enough, Mr. J. B. Tilly while standing 

 at the extremity of the Eastern breakwater two days previously, 

 observed a single individual of this moUusk being swept past by 

 the flowing tide. Many years ago he informs me, ho captured a 

 single specimen of this mollusk, and submitted it to the 

 inspection of the late Miss Vigurs, who immediately identified 

 it. Dr. Cocks records this mollusk as rare at Q-ylling-Yase, 

 Helford river, not uncommon. Just as I was closing my last 

 report I dredged a single Pleurobranchus near the Vilt buoy. 

 The following morning I throughly hunted over the tidal docks 

 below high water mark for individuals of this species. 

 Fortunately there was a fair tide, and almost a complete calm, 

 and so I was able to see for a considerable distance beyond low 

 water limit. Along the inner edge of the Eastern breakwater on 

 the balks of timber forming that structure, were quantities of 

 these mollusks left by the tide. At low water in this locality, 

 the sea bottom was fairly sprinkled with specimens of that 

 species, most of which were industriously engaged in depositing 

 their ova. On returning later to my moorings, I noticed this 

 mollusk almost as abundant in that locality as elsewhere ; in fact, 

 I observed some coils of their spawn close to the ladder in front 

 of my' hut. On the following morning I made an examination 

 of the shore along Trefusis point to see if individuals of this 

 mollusk were also there, but I was unable to find a single 

 specimen there or elsewhere in the outer harbour. 



On the 24th of July of the current year, Mr. C. Phillips, of 

 Penryn, very kindly gave me some capsules, each of which 

 contained several young Cephalopods in a living condition. 

 These capsules were obtained from some fishermen, and were 

 doubtless dragged from their position in the sand by the rope 

 attached to the outer edge of the pilchard nets. An individual 

 capsule measured 3 cm. in length and 1 cm. in greater 

 diameter. On dissecting a specimen from the gelatinous 

 envelope, and freeing it from its chorion, circulation was plainly 



