476 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



tbat all the individuals may have been brought from the south, in the 

 spring, when quite small, attached to the oysters. It may be, however, 

 that it has really become naturalized on our shores. It is very common 

 in the Gulf of Mexico, and on other parts of the southern coast. The 

 Anomia glabra (p. 311, Plate XXII, figs. 241, 242, 2426t) is also very 

 commonly found adhering to oysters. 



The hard sandy tubes of Sahellaria vulgaris (p. 321, Plate XYII, figs 

 88, S8a) and the calcareous tubes of Serjyula dianthus fp. 322) are very fre- 

 quent upon oyster-shells, and occasionally those of Fotamilla oeulifera, 

 (p 322, Plate XYII, fig. 86,) Scionopsis ][)almata^ (p. 321,) and other species 

 are met with. Many other Annelids are to be found burrowing or hiding 

 beneath the oysters. The common green star-fish, Asterias arenicola, (p. 

 326, Plate XXXY, fig. 269,) occasionally occurs on the oyster-beds near 

 the mouths of estuaries, but is seldom sufficiently abundant in the 

 brackish waters to do serious damage to the oyster-beds. 



In the brackish waters the " drill," JJrosalpinx clnerea, (p. 306, Plate 

 XXI, fig. 116,) is the worst enemy of the oyster, and is sometimes so 

 numerous as to do very serious damage. 



Several species of Hydroids grow adhering to oysters. The most 

 abundant of these, in brackish water, is usually Saleclum gracile Y., 

 (p. 328,) but two or three species of Ohelia and some other forms occur. 



Of Bryozoa, one of the most common species is the JEscharella variah- 

 iliSj (p. 312, Plate XXXIII, fig. 256,) which forms calcareous incrusta- 

 tions. The Bugula turrita, (p. 311, Plate XXXIY, figs 258, 259,) and 

 Yesicularia dichotoma Y. (p. 404) are also common. The Alcyonidmm 

 Mrsutum, (p. 404,) which forms soft fleshy crusts over the surface of 

 the shells, is quite frequently seen. 



The common red sponge (p. 330) is often abundant on the oyster-beds 

 where the water is not much freshened. 



List of species inliabiting oyster-beds in brachish waters. 



ARTICULATA. 



Chironomus oceanicus 



Insects. 



Page. 

 379 



Crustacea. 



Page. 



Pinnotheres ostreum 367 



Cancer irroratus 312 



Panopeus Ilerbstii , . . 472 



P. Sayi 312 



P. depressus 312 



Carcinus granulatus 312 



Libinia canaliculata 368 



Eupagurus pollicaris ^)13 



Page. 



E. longicarpus 313 



Crangon vulgaris. . 

 Mysis Americana . . 

 Melita nitida 



339 

 370 

 314 



Ampclisca, sp 431 



340 

 370 

 370 



Uuciola irrorata 



Oorophium cylindricum 

 Ei)elys trilobus 



