67 
SURFACE ANIMALS collected in MALTESE SEAS 
during 1886—7. 
By Davin Bruce, M.B. 
[Read 28rd April, 1887.] 
PROFESSOR HERDMAN exhibited a collection of surface 
animals from the Mediterranean, which had recently been 
sent to the Zoological Laboratory for examination. The 
collection had been made by Surgeon Bruce, M.B., Edin., 
who, while stationed at Valetta, Malta, had taken every 
favourable opportunity of using the tow-net. 
There were altogether fifty-seven bottles sent by Dr. 
Bruce, each bottle representing a separate gathering, and 
the whole extending over one year, from 23rd January, 
1886, to 24th January, 1887; so that from an examination 
of the collection a very good idea could be obtained of 
the Maltese surface fauna at all seasons. 
The specimens were preserved, some in spirit after 
hardening in picric acid, and the rest in Mr. Thompson’s 
preservative fluid, composed of equal parts of water, spirit 
and glycerine, with 1 per cent of carbolic acid added. 
They are all apparently in an excellent state of preser- 
vation. 
A rapid preliminary examination of the series of bottles 
shows that the specimens collected range over the fol- 
lowing groups :— 
Protozoa (Radiolaria.) 
Ccelenterata (Medusz, Siphonophora.) 
Vermes (Sagitta.) 
5—2 
