714 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXI. No. 801 



acter, though many of the plants common on 

 the mainland are absent from the wind-swept 

 sandy reefs. 



The report closes with a classified list of 

 the 268 species of ferns and flowering plants 

 collected. Of these, 11 are new to the flora of 

 North Carolina. 



Dr. W. D. Hoyt, Bruce Fellow, Johns Hop- 

 kins University, Baltimore, Md., continued 

 the study of the marine algae, begun in previ- 

 ous summers. This region, unlike most of the 

 southern coast, is found to have a fairly rich 

 algal flora, one hundred and nineteen species 

 being recorded up to the present time. The 

 location of Beaufort, intermediate between 

 the northern and southern regions, makes this 

 flora of special interest, since many forms 

 reach their northern limit here, while others 

 have this for their southern boundary. The 

 presence of a submerged coral reef off the 

 coast gives a supply of subtropical forms on 

 the beach. 



The study that is being made includes the 

 conditions of growth, the distribution of the 

 algse, and the factors controlling this distribu- 

 tion. Collections were made throughout the 

 winter (1908-09) and kept for study, thus giv- 

 ing a view of the algae throughout the entire 

 year. The work was extended to the coast 

 south of Beaufort, visits being made to nearly 

 every accessible point between this place and 

 Tybee, Ga. Notes were obtained which will 

 furnish interesting comparisons of the distri- 

 bution and conditions of growth with those of 

 Beaufort. The final report will soon be sub- 

 mitted. 



Mr. Eaymond Binford, professor of biology 

 in Guilford College, Guilford College, N. C, 

 worked on the life history of the stone crab, 

 Menippe mercenaria. A large number of 

 crabs were kept under observation in tanks 

 in the laboratory and in floats at the wharf. 

 From these the spawning habits were ob- 

 served and the development up to the third 

 larval stage was worked out. The period 

 from spawning to hatching covers eleven to 

 thirteen days, from hatching to the third 

 larval stage about four weeks. At this time 

 they have not yet reached the megalops 



stage. The strength of the claw muscle was 

 tested and the molting habits observed. Crabs 

 were collected varying in size from 4.5 mm. to 

 132 mm. across the carapace. A study of the 

 frequency of molting and the increase of size 

 at each molt indicates that they reach the 

 egg-laying size, 56 mm. across the carapace, 

 within a year from the time of hatching. 

 About a thousand of these stone crabs were 

 caught in and about Beaufort Harbor during 

 the summer. There is a ready sale for them 

 at 65 cents per dozen. 



Eggs from other species of crabs were 

 hatched in the laboratory, viz., the mud crab, 

 the oyster crab, a crab found in the Atrina 

 {Pinna) shell, one taken from the Ohceiop- 

 terus tube and the blue crab, CalUnectes sapi- 

 dus. CalUnectes was followed through six 

 molts beginning with the megalops stage. It 

 made those molts within a period of thirty- 

 seven days and reached a size thirteen milli- 

 meters across the carapace. Some experi- 

 ments in hatching and rearing the young were 

 undertaken. It is proposed to continue work 

 along this line during the coming summer. 



Mr. B. H. Grave, Johns Hopkins Univer- 

 sity, Baltimore, Md., spent two months at the 

 laboratory studying the anatomy of Atrina 

 {Pinna) rigida Dillwyn. The greater part of 

 the time was spent in injecting and dissect- 

 ing the vascular system. Experiments were 

 carried on to ascertain the rate and method 

 of the growth of shell and an attempt was 

 made to determine whether the calcium salts, 

 used in shell growth, are taken directly from 

 the sea water or from the blood of the mol- 

 lusk. The results of this work will soon be 

 ready for publication. 



Mr. W. H. Kibler, of the department of 

 science of the Durham High School, Durham, 

 N. C, was engaged in a general study of the 

 fauna of Beaufort and a study of the embry- 

 ology of Arbacia, Toxopneustes and Turritop- 

 sis. In studying the fauna observations were 

 made upon about forty common forms, and in 

 addition a dozen or more species of fishes 

 were collected and identified. The eggs of 

 A7-hacia and Toxopneustes were artificially 

 fertilized. The development was normal and 



