686 



8CIENGE. 



[N. S. Vol. VIII. No. 203. 



determines the prevailing character of the 

 shore line, sandy or gravelly beaches with 

 boulders extending into deep water and 

 most abundant at the base of the worn-oflF 

 bluffs. 



Mud flats are common, but for the most 

 part underlaid by sand at a depth of one to 

 three feet. A mud flat extends from parts 

 of the sand spit at the level of mean low 

 tide. No rock occurs in place, but on many 

 headlands the accumulated boulders at the 

 base of the bluffs form an extensive rock- 

 work. At intervals the shore line of the 

 harbor is diversified hy salt meadows, partly 

 enclosed salt ponds and shallow ' harbors ' 

 and bays. 



THE FAUNA ABOUT COLDSPEING HARBOR. 



The situation of the laboratory is unique 

 in its combination of immediately accessible 

 faunas of the sea, fresh- water and wood- 

 land, all very rich in individuals and spe- 

 cies. Some of the commoner or more inter- 

 esting forms may here be enumerated. The 

 list may be prefaced with the statement 

 that, owing to the fact that the Harbor is so 

 nearly an inland sea, there are few strag- 

 glers in the marine fauna ; what one finds 

 belongs to the place — its presence is deter- 

 mined by the local environment. 



Protozoa : Volvox and Stentor are ex- 

 tremely abundant in the lakes. 



Spongice : Spongilla (?) in the stream con- 

 necting the lakes. The boring sponge, 

 Clione sulphurea Desor, is abundant. There 

 are various other species in the Harbor, 

 unidentified. 



Antliozoa: The coral Adrangia Dana is 

 one of the common products of dredging 

 at the lower end of the Harbor. Three spe- 

 cies of sea anemones are common. Among 

 them Sargartia leucolena and Halocampa pro- 

 ducta are common in the sand. 



Hydrozoa: Hydra is common in the 

 lakes. Of the hydroid stocks may be men- 

 tioned Obelia, Campamdaria, Podocoryne, 



Hydractinia, Plumularia and Bougainvilliat 

 which are abundant, and Perigonimus, Eu- 

 dendrium and Tubidaria, which are less 

 common. Jelly-fishes of several other 

 species occur in the tow. 



Ctenophorce : Mnemiopsis Leidyi has been 

 abundant throughout the present summer. 



Eehinoderma : Asterias forbesii is very 

 abundant, especially on the outer bar. Its 

 numerous abnormalities have attracted 

 some attention this season. The sea-urchin, 

 Arbacea punetulata Gray, is found occasion- 

 ally in dredging, but is not abundant. The 

 Holothurian Synapta Girardii is abundant 

 in the sand spit near the laboratory and is 

 sometimes found in the tow. Synapta rose- 

 ola Verrill also occurs. The tow frequently 

 contains star-fish larvae. 



Balanoglossus : A form of this genus, ap- 

 parently different from B. Kowalevskii, oc- 

 curs in the sand spit. 



Mollusca: The shores of Long Island 

 have long been famous for the richness of 

 their molluscan fauna. About 100 species 

 from the Harbor have been identified* dur- 

 ing the present season. Among the more 

 abundant genera are Chiton, Fulgur, Sy- 

 cotypus, Tritia, Ilyanassa, Urosalpinx, Eu- 

 pleura, Neverita, Littorina, Teredo, Xylotrya, 

 Mya, Solen, Mactra, Venus, Lioeardium, 

 Nucula, Scapharca, Mytilus, Modiola, Pecten, 

 Anomia, and the semi- domesticated oyster. 

 Slugs of various species are common in the 

 woods. Few of the various nudibranchs 

 have been identified. Squids' eggs are oc- 

 casionally dredged and adult squids occur, 

 although they are irregular in their appear- 

 ance. 



Bryozoa : Among the common marine 

 forms may be mentioned Crisea eburnea, 

 Bowerbanhia, Alcyonidium hispidium and Bu- 

 gula turrita. In the lakes Peetinatella mag- 

 nifica Leidy is abundant. Pedieillina has 

 been found. 



Tunicata : Botryllus is common. Molgula, 



* Chiefly by Mr. Francis N. Balch. 



