PELAGIC FAUNA. 55 



November. The post-larval fishes had almost but not quite 

 disappeared in November. Clupeoids of 14-5 to 16-5, bima- 

 culated suckers, an occasional pleuronectid with the eye on 

 the ridge (11-5 mm.), and gobies from 18 to 23 mm. were 

 obtained. The contrast to the preceding months was thus 

 marked. 



The shell-fishes were represented by a few bivalves — 

 apparently mussels, and a few minute univalves— both groups 

 occurring only in the bottom tow-nets. Gyphonautes was 

 the only larval polyzoan. 



Minute crustaceans (Copepods) were numerous, with occa- 

 sional swarms of the large-eyed stages (Megalops) of crabs. 



Amongst annelids the larval forms of certain kinds (Nerine) 

 and small examples of others (Tomopteris) occurred. Arrow- 

 worms on the other hand often were in profusion and of large 

 size. They took the place of the crowds of small jelly-fishes 

 of the earlier months. 



The appearance of a mitre-shaped jelly-fish (Aglantha) 

 indicated the presence of the fauna of winter, the others 

 being Tima and the ctenophores — Cydippe, Lesueuria and 

 Beroe in considerable numbers. The majority were beneath 

 the surface. 



The Infusorians and algse were as numerous as in the 

 previous months, and the former occasionally appeared in 

 the surface-net. 



December. In December the post-larval fishes appeared 

 to be extremely rare, though the older stages of various forms 

 were met with. 



Larval univalves in limited numbers represented the shell- 

 fishes. The larval Polyzoan, Gyphonautes, was still common. 



Crustaceans were often in multitudes, the sessile-eyed forms 

 also being present (e.g. Parathemisto), and a few larval forms 

 {Nauplii) were still found. There was no lack of nourishment 

 for fishes in this group. 



The larval annelids were inconspicuous, but a few adults 

 still occurred. Arrow-worms, on the other hand, were remark- 

 ably prevalent, and of large size. They formed a considerable 

 element of the food of fishes at this season. 



