After the publication in this Journal in 1899 of the paper “On the Fauna and Bottom-Deposits near the Thirty-Fathom Line from the Eddystone Grounds to Start Point” (Journ. Mar. Biol. Assoc., vol. v. pp. 365–542), observations were undertaken for the purpose of preparing a similar account of the fauna of the inshore grounds in the neighbourhood of Plymouth. As the work proceeded, however, it was realised that, owing to the great damage which has been caused to the grounds within easy reach of the harbour by the constant discharge of mud and refuse from barges working in connection with the new dockyard extension at Devonport and other harbour works, any attempt to prepare a consecutive account of the fauna and bottom-deposits over the whole area, such as was given for the grounds from Eddystone to Start, would be a matter of extreme difficulty and of little use.

Fragments of a large tube built of pieces of coarse gravel and shell, evidently the work of some Polychæte, have been constantly dredged for many years on the grounds in the neighbourhood of the Mewstone and Stoke Point, to the eastward of Plymouth Sound. Not until June 4th, 1903, was the worm first discovered to whose skill as a mason these tubes are due. On that day the Laboratory fisherman captured and drew attention to a tube which was occupied by a living worm. The specimen, along with a number of fragments of empty tube, was obtained on a patch of coarse gravel off Stoke Point.

Pending the publication, in a paper now in preparation, of an account of the Holothuria of the Plymouth district, and an attempt at a revision of the European species of that group, it has appeared advisable to publish the following short note, with the view of removing one of the most prolific of those sources of error with which the literary history of the Holothuria has come to be burdened.

Four ordinary and two special meetings of the Council have been held during the year, at which the average attendance has been ten. The Council have to thank the Royal Society and the Linnean Society for allowing the meetings to be held in their rooms.