1876.] 



Biology of the 'Valorous' Cruise, 1875. 



203 



82 as European, 49 as British ; but one only, the Amphipod Anonyx 

 gulosus, Kroyer, has as yet been found living in the Mediterranean. 



Of the 66 Polyzoa, 33 are American, 59 European, 35 British, 1 

 Mediterranean. This Polyzoon is Lejyralia hyalina, the range of which 

 seems to be cosmopolitan. 



Of the 30 Echinodermata, 27 are American, 21 European, and 9 British, 

 but not any Mediterranean. 



Of the 103 Eoraminifera, 46 are known as American, 54 as European, 

 52 as British, and many Mediterranean. 



Taking these four classes together, therefore, we find that of 312 Grreen- 

 land species, 149 (or 47 per cent.) are North- American, 216 (or 69 per 

 cent.) are European (including Spitzbergen under that term), and 145 (or 

 46 per cent.) are British. We might thus be led to infer that the 

 Greenland Marine Invertebrata approached much more nearly in character 

 to the European than to the American fauna. Closer examination, how- 

 ever, of the facts seems to prove that such a conclusion would be erroneous ; 

 for while the Marine Invertebrata of Europe have been very carefully 

 worked out, very much remains to be done among all the less conspicuous 

 animals of the North- American coasts*. Thus, as regards the great class 

 of the Crustacea, comparatively little is known of any orders except 

 those which contain the large stalk-eyed forms. 



If, then, disregarding all other classes and orders, we confine our per- 

 centages to the Echinodermata and Stalk-eyed Crustacea, which we know 

 to have been well worked up on the North-American coast, we find the 

 results altogether changed ; for of the 30 Greenland Echinodermata 27 (or 

 90 per cent.) are American, 21 (or 70 per cent.) are European, and 9 (or 

 30 per cent.) are British ; and of the 15 Stalk-eyed Crustacea, 13 (or 86 

 per cent.) are American, 11 (or 73 per cent.) are European, and 6 (or 40 

 per cent.) are British ; and we cannot but conclude that when the American 

 marine fauna shall have been as fully known as that of European seas, 

 the fauna of Davis Strait will be found to possess an American rather 

 than a European character, though the contrary might at first sight be 

 inferred from our present unequal knowledge of the several faunae. 



The following Tables wiU show at a glance : — (1st) the number of 

 animals belonging to the several classes, (2nd) to the orders of the Crustacea, 

 Polyzoa, and Echinodermata, w^hich have been dredged by the ' Valorous,' 

 whether in Davis Strait or the North Atlantic, and the proportionate 

 geographical range of the forms in the American, European, and British 

 seas ; 3rd, our knowledge of the fauna of Davis Strait previous to the 

 ' Valorous ' Expedition, and the increased knowledge which is the fruit 

 of that expedition. 



* The more the fauna of the western side of the ISTorth Atlantic is studied the nearer 

 it is found to approximate to that of the western side. This has become very evident 

 from the recent valuable operations carried on, under the conduct of Messrs. Verrill and 

 Smith, by the American Government, and, under Mr. Whiteaves in the Gulf of St. 

 Lawrence, by the Canadian Government. 



