008 THE FOOD FISHES. 



Execrate is a slender, creeping one, rather new to naturalists. DiastopTiora is found on eel- 

 grass, forming little circular discs, with tubular cells rising from them, the middle ones being 

 the longest. Tubulipora occurs, attached to algae. Membranipora is known by its oval cells 

 bordered by erect, bristle-like processes, of which the one at the proximal end is much the 

 longest. 



Hydroids art' very numerous. A tew species, like Hydractinia, attach themselves directly 

 to the rocks, bill the greater number adhere to ascidians, alga 1 , and other hydroids. Many 

 are found in like ways. Delicate Plumularias and Obelia are also found, on the larger 

 Lammarias. 



Polyps are found. The coral Astrangia Da me is common. 



Sponges are rather numerous. One of the most abundant is the Chalmia, which grows 

 in bunches of slender, soft, smooth branches, five or six inches in length, and about half an inch 

 in diameter. Beautiful bunches of these are found on the piles of Beverly Bridge, in Salem 

 and Beverly Harbor. A coarser species is found outside, in colder waters, and extends to 

 Carolina. The common, irregularly-branched Red Sponge is abundant, and also several 

 light-yellow, soft, massive species of Teda>iia, and the firm, massive sulphur-yellow Cliona 

 sulpTiurea. 



Among the animals found on the gravelly and shelly bottoms of the bays and sounds are 

 several interesting Echinoderms. The common green Star-fish {Asteria arenicola) is abundant, 

 as it is everywhere. The Cribrella sanguinolenta is rather rare. The Green Sea-urchin is not 

 so common as farther north. This is replaced, seemingly, by the Purple Sea-urchin (Arabcia 

 punctulata), which is common in many localities. At Holmes' Holl, line large specimens are 

 taken. 



Thyoiie briareus is not uncommon in shallow water, especially among weeds. Its habit 

 of carrying Eulima oleacea attached to its skin, is an interesting fact. 



Tlie Holothurian (Pentamera pulehella) is quite common; seen abundantly on Nobska 

 Beach after storms. This has previously been known only below the Carolinas. 



A delicate ophiurian, the AmpJiipJiolis elegans, is occasionally met with on shelly 

 bottoms. It is also found further north, and is common in the Bay of Fundy. < 



Under the heading "Free Swimming and Surface Animals, 1 ' the Commission Reports 

 give an excellent summary of species. The waters of the coast are warmed by the proximity 

 of the Gulf Stream. It is, therefore, perfectly natural that the fauna of the Gulf Stream 

 should — some of its members — be estranged, and mingle with the creatures of a colder zone. 

 Vineyard Sound and Nantucket are especially likely to catch the stragglers. The surface 

 fauna of this region is very rich in summer. In winter, life is also abundant on the surface. 



There is a great abundance of Entomostaca, as Saggita, some northern Amphiopods, 

 Mi/sis, and the eggs and young of certain fishes. The wonderful phosphorescent Salps are 

 found on these waters. 



The Cephalopods of this region are all free-swimming species, through the entire period 

 of their lives, though they go to the bottom to deposit spawn. 



The Squid (Loligo pealif), with its eggs, is taken in July. 



Loligo pallida is found abundant, in autumn, along the shores of Long Island. 



A tine species of Squid (Ommast replies ittecebrosa) has been found in the same localities, 

 though it has seldom been found south of Cape Cod. It is common in Massachusetts Bay, 

 and very abundant in the Bay of Fundy. Mr. Sydney Smith found it abundant in Province- 

 town, Massachusetts, among the wharves, in July, where numbers were engaged in catching 

 and devouring young mackerel, which were swarming in schools. 



In attacking mackerel, the Squid would suddenly dart backward among the fish with the 

 velocity of an arrow, and as suddenly turn, obliquely, to the light or left, seize a .fish, and 

 bite its neck with their sharp, curved beaks. 



Among the Pteropods, the Clione papillionacea was taken in numbers at Watch Hill, 

 Rhode Island. They were swimming at midday in company with PleurobracMa rhododactyla, 

 and appeared to be common. 



