MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT PORT ERIN. 31 



as the Committee had now decided to establish a more important 

 laboratory at Port Erin near the south end of the Isle of Man 

 in order that they might have the opportunity of investigating 

 the rich marine fauna of that neighbourhood. The Fifth 

 Annual Report contains many records of additions to most 

 of the groups of marine Invertebrata, and some observations 

 on the distribution and habits of shore animals. The following 

 paragraphs may be quoted as an example of some of our 

 experiences during the days that many of the Committee 

 spent from time to time on Puffin Island :— 



" During the remainder of our stay the weather was 

 perfect. In fact, on the second day it was so calm that in the 

 evening at low tide we were able to row into the wonderful 

 ' sponge caves ' on the north side (which can only be entered 

 at the lowest of tides and on a calm day, and then only in a 

 small boat), for the purpose of inspecting their treasures. 

 The two large caves are close together, and have been hollowed 

 by the sea out of the bases of the high limestone cliffs. Their 

 mouths face seawards towards the Irish coast, and on entering 

 the boat has to be pushed (it is too narrow to row) through a 

 long tunnel-like passage, with vertical walls, to the inner end, 

 with its small piece of sloping gravel beach, where one can 

 land — in the dark. On striking a match it is seen that the sides 

 of the cave are closely encrusted with various kinds of colonial 

 and sessile animals, especially with sponges, the characteristic 

 feature of the place. Here one revels in Pachipnatismajohnstoni, 

 Dercilus bucJdandi, Plwnohalichondria atrosan guinea, and 

 other many-hued slimy-looking Tetractinellicls and Monac- 

 tinellids. Here we first found, a few years ago, the rare new 

 genus which has been named ' Seiriola,' in honour of our 

 sainted predecessor on the isle (probably a good biologist 

 according to the lights of his day and generation), who lived, 

 as the naturalist always loves to do, besido the Bea, the rocks, 

 and the Puffins, and who possibly shoved his coracle on a calm 



