4 A, E. Verrilli— Dredgings on the Coast of New England. 
month of August to make such drawings. During this time he 
labored most faithfully and diligently, and with remarkable 
results, for to his great skill with the pencil he adds the accu- 
rate observation and enthusiasm of a genuine naturalist. During 
the short time he was with us he made 164 drawings from living 
animals, many of them quite elaborate. All of these were 
compared critically with the living specimens at the time, and 
carefully corrected, even in the minute details, whenever neces- 
sary. ‘These drawings will be used for the illustration of the 
final report, and will be of themselves an exceedingly valuable 
contribution to science, for they nearly all represent animals 
never before accurately figured, if at all. A large part of them 
are also of direct importance, since they represent the natural 
food of our common edible fishes. 
8th. In all these investigations the relations existing between 
the fishes and the lower animals which serve as food for them, 
were constantly borne in mind, and all information bearing 
directly upon this subject that could be obtained was recorded. 
To this end large numbers of stomachs from fishes newly 
caught were examined, and lists of the species found in them 
were made. Most of those thus ascertained to be their ordi- 
nary food, were traced to their natural haunts from whence the 
fishes obtain them. 
9th. The parasites of fishes, both external and internal, were 
collected and preserved for future study. 
10th. Similar investigations, so far as practicable, were to be 
carried on at St. George’s Bank, on the U. S. steamer Bache, 
in connection with the ordinary work of the U. S. Coast Sur- 
vey, by a party of two, provided with all the apparatus and 
materials necessary for the purpose. This party at first con- 
sisted of Mr. S. I. Smith and Mr. Oscar Harger, assistants in 
the Yale College Museum, both of whom had previously had_ 
experience in such work. During the last cruise of the Bache 
they were relieved by Dr. A. S. Packard and Mr. Caleb Cooke, 
of Salem. Very important collections were made by both these 
parties, notwithstanding the unfavorable weather which they 
encountered. 
As a general summary of the character of our collections, I 
may state that those made this year, together with those 
obtained by our parties in the same localities in previous years, 
~ but not yet reported upon, have added at least 350 species to 
those hitherto recorded from the same region, exclusive 
of Foraminifera. Entomostraca, and other minute forms. Man 
of these are undescribed species, but the majority are known 
from northern Europe. Of Polyps there were previously known 
8 Actinoids and 4 Aleyonoids; we have added 4 Actinoids and 
3 Alcyonoids; among the former a new and gigantic species o 
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