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H.—lsa

Memorandum of Distances steamed and towed by Trawler "Rita" when prospecting Hawke's Bay.

Deab Me. Ayson — 24th July, 1901. I have been requested by Messrs. Thomson and Hamilton to write a preliminary report on the zoological results of this last trawling expedition in the s.s. " Doto." Unfortunately, we have all been too busy to work up the collections thoroughly; but although the results are poor as compared with those of last year, the few specimens captured are of great interest, and many of them are, as far as we can ascertain at present, new to science—at any rate, have not hitherto been recorded from the New Zealand area. Anthozoa. In addition to the corals Flabellum and Cylicia, an important find is a second species of Alcyonium, of which a distinct species was dredged in 1900. ECHINODEEMA. The common heart-urchin (Echinocardium zealandicum), a young Asterias calamaria, and the rare Astropecten edwardsii of Verrill were the only representatives. Annelida. In addition to Eunice leuconuchaks that was described by me in last year's report, there are species of Nereis, Eunice, and Trophonia —a poor selection compared with the rich results of last year. Ceustacea. Several new species of crabs appear to have been obtained which Mr. Thomson has not yet had time to examine. There are also shrimps and prawns. Hippolyte, Leander, and Crangon common everywhere ; whale-feed (Grimothea), with two species of Idotea, one of Cassidinia, and the peculiar form of amphipod met with last year, but not yet named. Mollusca. In addition to a few common shells, some handsome sea-slugs— Nudibranchiata —have been captured. These appear to be new to the colony : (1) A white one with orange spots ; (2) a grey one with yellow spots ; (3) a purplish one. A genus (Tritonia) hitherto unrecorded was dredged off' the East Coast. Tunic at a. A new species of the peculiar compound ascidian Colella was obtained from the Hauraki Gulf. Fishes. Amongst the half-dozen of small fish, one, Scorpaena plebeia, is a rarity. It is certainly a surprising fact that so few of the lower invertebrates were captured. I am, &c, W. B. Benham, Professor of Biology in the University of Otago. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (1,675 copies), £13 14s. 9d.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9ol.

Price 6d.\

3—H. 15a.

Date. Locality. Miles steamed. Miles towed. Total. [ay 13 „ 14 „ 15 „ 16 „ 18 „ 19, 20 From Napier and off Kidnappers From Napier to Mahia Peninsula Mahia to Napier Napier to inside Kidnappers ... Napier to Bare Island and north of Kidnappers ... 21 44 42 20 41 30 11* 8* 13 32* 52* 55 20 45 35* 4 5* Grand total of " Bita's" cruise... 198 42* 240*