48 PELAGIC LIFE, PALMOTTTH. 



lighthouse, and several examples of both species were noticed to 

 have the single large winter egg in the brood-pouch. Hitherto, 

 these winter eggs have invariably appeared about the end of 

 September, and at Plymouth Mr. Bles(^) records the capture of 

 similar examples " about the middle of September." Possibly 

 the early appearance of these winter eggs was an indication of 

 the exceptionally severe weather we were to experience later. 

 Both these species vanished from the tow-net after the 10th of 

 October for the year. A few Monstrilla rigida, Oithonia 

 spinifroas, and a single specimen of Muggioea atlantica were 

 found in the same gathering. On the 18th, Actinotrocha, the 

 beautiful larvae of Phoronis, were abundant in the surface-net, 

 and they contioued to form one of the most prominent objects 

 in tow-net gatherings during the present and following months. 

 In the same gathering quantities of a species of Peridinium 

 were taken. From a careful examination of numerous specimens 

 I am of opinion that these were P. tabulatum. This species 

 along with Prorocentrum micans can be usually obtained in 

 profusion during the early part of the autumn in the upper 

 portions of Truro river and Penryn creek. Curiously enough, 

 the cuirass of the latter species was often found in abundance in 

 the stomach and intestine of oysters from both places, together 

 with the remains of diatoms and other rubbish. The larvse of 

 various species of decapod Crustacea were very abundant in 

 surface-net gatherings during this month. On the 1 9th a surface- 

 net gathering was made outside the harbour at 5 a.m. A 

 single Pilidium was the only interesting form observed in that 

 gathering The next day, an opportunity occurred for an 

 expedition to the neighbourhood of the Black-head. The first 

 gathering was made near the Manacle buoy, and in the bottom 

 tow-net Muggioea atlantica occurred in shoals. Strange as it 

 may appear, in a surface-net gathering made about five miles 

 south of the Black-head no forms of life could be detected. 

 The net was towed immediately beneath the surface of the sea 

 for twenty minutes and then hauled on board, and the contents 

 of the tin at the extremity emptied into a large glass jar and 

 examined. As I was unable to discover any rents in the silk 

 net, I concluded that surface life in that locality was practically 

 nil. Off Helford river, on my return, the rare larva of 



