Clare island Survey — Archiannelida and Pohjchaetu. 47 3 



this area is defined as lying east of a line from Mulranny Station to Dillisk 

 Rocks. It is separated from Clew Bay as a distinct faunistic sub-area by the 

 nature of the sea-bottom, and the nature of the shores of the numerous 

 islands which it contains. The most characteristic element of the sea-bottom 

 is mud, more or less mixed with sand. Between the islands are deposits 

 of mud and of corallines. Many of the beaches are formed of loose boulders, 

 which shelter a rich fauna ; but unfortunately only a few Polychaetes were 

 collected from these beaches, by other workers in the Survey. 



V. Bofin Harbour. — Collections were made here, both on shore and by 

 means of the dredge and tow-net, by the officers of the Irish Fisheries Branch, 

 in 1899-1900. 



VI. Ballynakill Harbour. — The collections from Bally nakill, made by 

 the officers of the Irish Fisheries Branch in the years 1899-1904, are both 

 large and important, and contain numerous species not found elsewhere in 

 the district. The characteristics of the shore and the nature of the sea- 

 bottom are very varied. Many species were here taken commonly in the 

 tow-net, especially at night, which would otherwise not have been found. 



In addition to these districts, from which collections of some size were 

 obtained, specimens in much smaller numbers were collected at Achill Sound, 

 Cleggan Bay, and in Killary Harbour. In Killary the sea-floor is composed 

 of rich black mud, of a kind not found elsewhere in the district; and 

 consequently the fauna, though not rich in numbers of species, is peculiar 

 and of considerable interest. 



[Table of Species. 



A -i 



