182 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [476] 
that 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, 242a) is also very 
commonly found adhering to oysters. 
The hard sandy tubes of Sabellaria vulgaris (p. 321, Plate XVI, figs 
88, 88a) and the calcareous tubes of Serpula dianthus (p. 322) are very fre- 
quent upon oyster-shells, and occasionally those of Potamilla oculifera, 
(p 322, Plate XVII, fig. 86,) Scionopsis palmata, (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 XX XV, 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,” Urosalpine cinerea, (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 Halecium gracile V., 
(p. 328,) but two or three species of Obelia and some other forms occur. 
Of Bryozoa, one of the most common species is the Hscharella variab- 
ilis, (p. 312, Plate XX XIII, fig, 256,) which forms calcareous incrusta- 
tions. The Bugula turrita, (p. 311, Plate XXXIV, figs 258, 259,) and 
Vesicularia dichotoma V. (p. 404) are also common. The Alcyonidium 
hirsutum, (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 inhabiting oyster-beds in brackish waters. 
ARTICULATA. 
Insects. 
Page. 
Chironomus oceanicus........-22 2.222 - eee ee eee eee ee ee 379 
Crustacea. 
Page Page. 
Pinnotheres ostreum....... 367 | E. longicarpus...-........ 313 
Cancer irroratus.....- ----- 312 | Crangon vulgaris.......-.. 339 
Panopeus Herbstii....-... 472 | Mysis Americana.....-...- 370 
Py, Sayles cecee eee cones 312 | Melita nitida...........-.. 314 
P. depressus.......-.---.- 312 | Ampelisca, sp..--......--- 431 
Carcinus granulatus....... 312 | Unciola irrorata...........- 340 
Libinia canaliculata....... 368 | Corophium cylindricum.... 370 
Hupagurus pollicaris --...- 313 | Epelys trilobus -.......... 370 
