Polyzoa of Queen Charlotte Islands. 459 LIV. — Report on the Polyzoa of the Queen Charlotte Islands. By the Eev. Thomas Hincks, B.A., F.R.S. [Plates XIX. & XX.] In 1878 Dr. G. M. Dawson conducted an exploration of the Queen Charlotte Islands, as one of the staff of the Geological Survey of Canada. The results of his expedition are embodied in a valuable report which appears in the official " Report of Progress " for the year 1878-79 *. A series of dredgings formed a part of the plan of opera-tions ; and large quantities of material were obtained at various points off the coasts. Mr. J. F. Whiteaves has reported on the Echinodermata, the principal portions of the Mollusca, and some other Invertebrate tribes. The Crustacea have been dealt with by Prof. S. I. Smith, of Yale College. The Poly-zoa and Hydroida have been placed in my hands for exami-nation ; and to the former the present Report is devoted. The Queen Charlotte Islands are situated in the North Pacific, and " form a compact archipelago, separated by wide waterways from the islands which fringe the shore of the mainland of British Columbia to the west, and the coast of the southern extremity of Alaska to the north." They are el in-cluded in north latitude between 54° 15' and 51° 55', in west longitude between 131° 2' and 133° 5'. The extreme length from point to point is 156 miles, the greatest width, in a direc-tion at right angles to the length, 52 miles " (Dawson). The average temperature of the surface-water in the neigh-bourhood of the islands was determined by frequent observa-tions to be 53°.8 F. for the summer months (June to August inclusive). Fifteen observations taken between September 12th and October 17th gave a mean of 50°.7 F. The dredgings which have been placed in my hands were taken chiefly at three or four stations — one at the extreme north of the islands, and the rest off the south-eastern portions of the coast. I shall reserve all remarks on the facies of the Polyzoan fauna of the islands and its relation to the general subject of distribution for the close of the Report. The number of un-described species is large, including some very striking and interesting forms ; but so far no new generic type has oc-curred. The beauty and the luxuriant growth of the specimens are remarkable : the old shells taken up are thickly incrusted * ' Geological Survey of Canada, Report of Progress for 1878-9 : pub-lished by authority of Parliament, Montreal, 1880.'
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