43 



SOME REMARKS ON THE PELAGIC LIFE OCCURRING IN AND 



NEAR FALMOUTH HARBOUR, WITH ADDITIONS TO THE 



FAUNA OF THE DISTRICT FOR 1894. 



By BUPERT VALLBNTIN, 



The year 1894 will long be remembered as one of the most 

 unfavorable we have experienced for many years. The uniform 

 low temperature of the sea during the spring and summer of 

 that year, had an appreciable effect both on the quantity and 

 variety of those forms of life which are usually to be obtained 

 in and near Falmouth harbour. In spite, however, of these 

 drawbacks many interesting forms were observed, and on several 

 occasions animals new to the district were secured. 



Perhaps the most striking feature during the past year was 

 the absence of Aurelia aurata from this district. During every 

 spring for the past five years, Ephyrce have always formed one 

 of the most prominent larval forms in tow-net gatherings ; and 

 later, during calm summer evenings, the adult medusee can be 

 seen drifting almost motionless in the tide-ways. I have been 

 unable to discover whether the absence of this species has been 

 recorded elsewhere during the past year. At any rate, on the 

 Essex coast during last August these Medusae, according to Mr. 

 H. C. Scorby,'^'* occurred in "countless thousands," and at 

 Plymouth they seem to have been equally as abundant. 



Noctiluca miliaris was also absent from tow-net gatherings 

 during the whole year, although repeated efforts were made after 

 easterly winds to capture them ; and as a natural consequence 

 the autumnal displays of phosphoresence were not observed aa 

 on previous years. 



On the 5th April a single specimen of Rhizostoma pulmo 

 was detected being carried up the main channel of the harbour 

 by the flowing tide. After that date these Medusee steadily 

 increased in numbers, till during August and September they 

 attracted the attention of even the most casual observer. In 



*These numerals refer to Bibliographical list at end. 



