A Proposed Handbook of the British Marine Fauna

Abstract

I AM obliged to Prof. Thompson for his criticism of my scheme, although only one of the points he raises is new to me —as I think it will be to most zoologists—viz, that “there are no nematophores no the stem” in Antennularia. I thought A. ramosa had nematophores on the stem, and I think so still. Some of his other remarks are so very obvious as to have scarcely required mention, at any rate to biological readers; a few, however, are just such debateable points as I was anxious to have opinions upon from as many naturalists as possible, and I am glad to know Prof. Thompson's. I am glad to say a number of biologists have written to me, since the scheme appeared in NATURE, expressing general approval, and criticising various points of detail, and some of them kindly making offers of assistance in special groups—and without that kind of assistance from specialists I need scarcely say it would be impossible to carry out the work satisfactorily. The proposal was first brought before the Biological Society of Liverpool on November 11, and it was only after some weeks of intermittent discussion with some of my friends in that Society (such as Dr. Hanitsch, Mr. Isaac Thompson, and Mr. A. O. Walker) who are specialists in certain groups of marine invertebrata, and after correspondence with Canon Norman and other biologists, that I sent the scheme to NATURE, with the view of getting further opinions. Consequently some of the debateable matters alluded to by Prof. Thompson (limits of British area, introduction of certain non-British forms, specific nomenclature, how to treat records of size and distribution, best terms to use for zones of depth, and, I may add, for relative abundance) have already been considerably discussed. The other points raised by Prof. Thompson in connection with Antennularia only require a few words. I said A. ramosa was usually branched. Prof. Thompson says it “may sometimes” be unbranched. The difference between these statements is slight. As to dimensions, a zoophyte which grows to 12, or occasionally to 24, inches in height, will, of course, be also frequently found of smaller sizes; and it might be the best plan to give the extreme range, say, 1 to 24 inches. What I gave was the fair average size of most of the specimens dredged or seen in collections, which I still consider to be 6 to 9 inches.