MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT PORT ERIN. 95 
good deal of knowledge of the habitats and times of 
occurrence of the different species. During the ensuing 
year it is my intention to devote special attention to some 
of the other less known groups, so that at its close, the 
detailed report on the shore and bottom fauna of the bay 
(illustrated by charts), which has been alluded to in 
former annual reports, may be completed and issued. 
‘‘Hixperiments with various reagents have been made 
from time to time, with a view of discovering new and 
improving old methods of narcotising and fixing marine 
animals. Menthol, reeommended by Dr. H. C. Sorby, 
has proved very useful for Hydroida, Siphonophora, and 
Polyzoa. By dropping a few crystals on the surface of 
the water in a trough in which I examined Agalmopsis 
elegans, | was able to keep the specimens quite motionless 
and in a fully extended condition for some time. The 
usually refractory Sertularians give very good results. A | 
1 % solution of Cocaine has been used with complete 
success in narcotising the Lamellibranch, Tapes pullastra, 
with its siphons fully extended.” 
HKASTER COLLECTING PARTY. 
The usual dredging expedition of the Liverpool Marine 
Biology Committee in the Haster vacation opened very 
successfully, but was brought to a sad and untimely end 
on the third day by an unfortunate boat accident in Port 
Hrin Bay. On March 31st dredging and trawling to the 
east of the Calf Island were carried on from the fisheries 
steamer “‘ John Fell,” and on the following forenoon the 
working of the “Tanner” closing net, and the method 
of pumping plankton from the bottom by means of a 
hose-pipe, were demonstrated to the Students on the 
steamer. On the afternoon of Saturday, April lst, two of 
the workers at the Biological Station went out to collect 
