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Show 186 LETTER FROM DR. R. O. CUNNINGHAM. [Mar. 12, constitute the sum total of the fishes obtained last season. I trust, however, that in succeeding seasons I may be more fortunate. I have procured a considerable number of mollusks. The only Cephalopod seen was a species of Octopus, specimens of which were dredged at Sandy Point, St. Jago Bay, &c. These were all of small size ; but I saw much larger mutilated specimens lying on the beach at Sandy Point on one occasion, having been cast up by a severe gale. Gasteropoda-species of Trophen (Trophen magellanicus is one of the commonest Strait shells), Fusus, Buccinum, Turbo, Voluta, Crepidula, Fissurella, Emarginula, Calyptreea, Patella, Ac-mcea, Chiton, &c. occurred to me. I never succeeded in dredging live specimens of Voluta magellanica, though the dead shells existed in great numbers, almost all m y live ones having been found on the beach at Sandy Point after a gale. The body of the animal is of a fine purple colour, as is also that of a second species of Voluta I found at Cape Possession burrowing in the sand, and apparently feeding on the mussels on the rocks after the manner of our British Purpura lapillus. I met with no land Mollusca, and only a single freshwater species, a Lymncea. The Chitones, Patellee, and Fissu-rellee were of large size. Among the Lamellibranchiata of the Strait I may mention species of Pecten, Mytilus, Pullastra, Mactra, Solen, &c. The Brachiopods are represented by one, if not two, species of Terebratula, of which much the finest specimens were procured by means of the dredge in Possession Bay, one or two measuring more than 1^ inch long. The Strait appears to be rather rich in Tunicata, both simple and compound, many species of both sections of the class attaining a very large size, specimens of the former sometimes measuring 5 or 6 inches from the base to the apertures, and those of the latter frequently attaining a length of 2 or 3 feet. Of Polypeea I obtained several species. Then, as to Crustacea, I have been more fortunate as respects the sessile-eyed than stalk-eyed species, having met with but few of the latter. Two species of Lithodes are tolerably abundant, and two or three Brachyura ; but I have met with only one small Macrurous Decapod. The most striking of the Sessile-eyed Crustacea observed was the Sardis fabricii, which was taken in great numbers in the sea at Sandy Point. Of Annelids I have obtained a considerable number, most of them belonging to British types. The insect-fauna of the Strait is, I need scarcely say, very poor. Of Coleoptera I found six or eight species, including one or two Curculionidee, a small Longicorn, one or two Carabidce, &c. The Orthoptera were represented by two species of Grasshopper ; the Hymenoptera by an orange-coloured Humblebee, found at Port Gallant, and a few Ichneumonflies; the Neuroptera by two Dragonflies, one got at Possession Bay, the other at Port Gallant; the Diptera by a few obscure species ; and the Lepidoptera by four species of Butterflies and a few Moths. Of Echinodermata I procured species of Aste-riadce (including species of Asterias and Genatha, Aphiuridee, Echi-nidce, and Halthuridce). Several large species of Acalephse were obtained, and a variety of Hydroidea and Porifera. |
