C. CROSSLAND—MARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. a 
Reports on the Marine Bronocy of the SuDANESE Rep Sxa.—lI. Narrative 
of the Exprpition. By Cyrit Crossianp, M.A. (Cantab.), B.Sc. Lond.), 
F.Z.S.; late Lecturer in the University of St. Andrews. (Communicated 
by Prof. W. A. Herpmay, F.R.S,, P.L.S.) 
(Prats I.) 
[Read 2nd May, 1907. } 
Ix November 1904 I had an opportunity of visiting the Red Sea and of 
making collections of the marine fauna, which I hope may afford an interesting 
comparison with the numerous collections from the Indian and Pacific Oceans 
made in recent years. 
Several famous collections have been made in the Red Sea already, notably 
those by Ehrenberg in 1870 ; but of the less commonly known groups which 
have no readily preserved hard parts, not many species are recorded from the 
northern and middle parts of the area. 
CoLLECTING GRounNDs aND Hapirats.—1. Sturz. 
At Suez I spent several weeks, of which a large proportion was given to 
collecting, principally from the very extensive mud-flats which lie alongside 
the causeway connecting Port Tewfik with the mainland. 
The most dreary and uninviting uniformity of these flats gives place to 
considerable variety on closer acquaintance, the muds and sands being of 
varying consistency and constitution with corresponding variety in the fauna 
they support. The sand is composed in places largely of foraminifera, some 
areas are covered with sponges, some with weeds. Stones are rather rare, 
except on the east side at Port Tewfik, near the point where the Suez Creek 
joins the Ship Canal, where probably their presence is artificial. 
Owing to the peculiar tidal conditions of the Red Sea, this is almost the only 
opportunity I had of digging for worms in sand and mud left uncovered by 
a = yal aed 99 On o ° 
the sea. At Suez “springs rise 7 feet,” but the tides are irregular, their 
times and height depending on barometer and wind. At the other end of the 
sea, in the Bab el Mandeb, a considerable tide occurs, but the middle of the 
sea, as at Suakim, is practically tideless. 
Dock walls, the under sides of buoys, and the bottoms of ships in dry dock 
all yielded harvests. 
Suez Bay is shallow and muddy (whence the magnificent green colour 
which forms such a contrast with the reddish mountains of Ataka), but 
trawling produced quantities of fine Aleyonarians, Echinoderms, and Sponges. 
the latter, as always, being the home of many Polycheeta and Crustacea. I 
much regret that I had few opportunities of using the trawl here. I believe 
much remains to be reaped, 
