254 



NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF FALMOUTH FOR THE 



YEARS 1895-96. 



BY rupe;rt VAI,I,E)NTIN. 



The severe easterly gales we experienced during February 

 of 189.5 had a very marked effect on the fauna of this district. 

 The egg-cases of Scyllium catulus, which had hitherto abounded, 

 were very scarce, and many of the smaller species of decapod 

 Crustacea were absent during the greater part of the year. At 

 Helford, the fauna over an area some acres in extent was 

 completely changed. Immediately in front of the coastguard 

 flag-staff, and extending for more than a quarter of a mile to 

 the westward, there existed, previous to these gales, a large 

 mud-bank which was left bare when the tide receded. Here, 

 two species of Polyehaete annelids, Myxicola Steenstrupi and 

 Sabella penicillus, abounded. On visiting the locality during 

 March, I was surprised to find that a fine uniform layer of dark 

 sand, several inches in thickness, had been thrown up from the 

 main channel of the estuary and spread over this mud-bank. 

 The Myxicola had vanished ; and only a few examples of Sabella 

 could be discovered at the extreme western edge of this locality. 

 A short time later the tubes of Lanice conchilea began to 

 appear, and during September they were so numerous that they 

 resembled a dense forest in miniature. Since that time I have 

 paid periodical visits to this locality, and have noticed that these 

 Lanice conchilea are more numerous than ever, and seem likely 

 to alter the fauna in that spot in a very marked degree. 



As on previous occasions I will now record the various 



changes observed in the surface-fauna during these two years, 



and later note the various interesting specimens captured during 



that time. 



Sdrface Life for 1895. 



March. During the early part of this month minute 

 Ephyree became abundant, the first specimen being captured 

 on the 7th, and towards its close, when the presence of the 

 gelatinous alga (Tetraspora Poucheti Hariot)i* rendered surface 



* These numbers refer to Bibliographical list at end, 



