NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF FALMOUTH. 255 



netting impossible, more advanced specimens of this medusa 

 could be ladled from certain spots in the harbour. I am quite 

 certain that during the time I have been observing the changes 

 of the fauna in this locality, I have never seen such quantities of 

 Aurelia aurita ; and this fact is all the more remarkable seeing 

 that this species was exceptionally scarce during the previous 

 year. 



April. With the exception of noting a rapid increase in 

 quantity and size of Aurelia aurita, no other forms of interest 

 were observed till the following month. 



May. There was a steady rise in the surface temperature 

 of the sea during this month, and a corresponding increase in 

 surface life observed. On the 1st, the surface temperature of 

 the sea at 10 a.m. was 51°F. By the 7th it had risen to 52°F., 

 and had increased to 53-6 P. on the 13th, on the 24th to 54-3 E.; 

 56°F. being recorded on the 29th. 



The most important forms secured during this month were 

 examples of Bolina hydatina, Lizzia octopunctata, and Sarsia 

 tubulosa. On the 2nd, a few Noctiluca were captured, and these 

 infusorians continued to be present in all the gatherings made 

 during this month. 



From the 20th to nearly the close of the next month the 

 sea in certain protected places in the harbour was almost solid 

 with examples of Tiaropsis multieirrata. This species was 

 identified for me by Mr. Edward T. Browne, who has made this 

 class of animals his special study. Especially abundant in the 

 structureless layer of the umbrella of this species were numerous 

 examples of a very singular larva of a species of Trematode. 

 Both medusa and parasitic larva have been abundant in the 

 harbour during 1896. Mr. Browne'^' has recorded the presence 

 of . ... "a species of Cercaria which lives in the mesogloea. ..." 

 of Phialidium temporarium (Browne). He very kindly sent 

 me some specimens of this parasite to see if it agreed in structure 

 in any way with mine : microscopical examination, however, 

 shewed them to be quite different. It has not been unusual for 

 me to find from three to as many as eight of these larvae present 

 in the structureless layer of a single medusa ; and in one 

 specimen of Hormiphora plumosa upwards of ten specimens 



