Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Rattlesnake Volume Ii Part 41

Herodias plumifera 2 3.

Herodias syrmatophora 3.

Nycticorax caledonicus 1 2 3.

Ardetta flavicollis 1 2.

Ardetta stagnatilis 2 3.

Porphyrio melanota 3.

Rallus pectoralis 1 2 3.

Porzana leucophrys 3.

Tadorna radjah 1 2.

Anas superciliosa 1.

Anas punctata 1 2.

Xema jamesonii ? 1 2 3.

Sylochelidon strennuus 1 2.

Thala.s.seus pelecanoides 1 2 3.

Sterna gracilis 2.

Sterna melanauchen 1 2 3.

Sternula nereis 2 3.

Hydrochelidon fluviatilis 2.

Onychoprion fuliginosus 1 2 3.

Onychoprion panaya 1 2 3.

Anous stolidus 1 2 3.

Anous leucocapillus 1 2 3.

Puffinus sphenurus 1 3.

Phalacrocorax carboides 1.

Phalacrocorax melanoleucus 1 2 3.

Attagen ariel 1 2 3.

Phaeton phoenicurus 3.

Peleca.n.u.s conspicillatus 1 2 3.

Sula personata.

Sula fusca 1 2 3.

Sula piscator 1 2 3.

APPENDIX 5.

ON THE MOLLUSCA COLLECTED BY MR. MACGILLIVRAY DURING THE VOYAGE OF THE RATTLESNAKE, BY PROFESSOR EDWARD FORBES, F.R.S.

1. ON THE BATHYMETRICAL DISTRIBUTION OF MARINE TESTACEA ON THE EASTERN COAST OF AUSTRALIA.

As in every instance the exact locality, depth and character of habitat of species of Mollusc taken were carefully noted of at the time of capture, much more valuable information elucidating the distribution of sh.e.l.lfish in the Australian seas has been collected during this expedition than was ever before obtained. Whilst new species are usually sought after by collectors with eagerness, the habits and range of the commoner or less conspicuous forms are pa.s.sed over without observation.*

Hence every note on the habitat and mode of life of marine creatures from the southern hemisphere becomes of no small value. Indeed, there is no information more desirable at this time for the ill.u.s.tration of geological phenomena, than such as may throw light on the distribution in range and depth of the creatures inhabiting the sea of the Tropics, and those living around the coasts of Australia and New Zealand. The following notes will serve to record the more prominent facts bearing upon the Bathymetrical distribution of the Testacea collected on the northern coast of Australia, at Port Essington, and on the eastern coast from Cape York to Ba.s.s Strait, including the northern ports of Van Diemen's Land.

(*Footnote. An extensive collection of landsh.e.l.ls was made at Madeira.

They proved on examination to be all known species, including several of the rarer forms, and not a few of those discovered by the Reverend Mr.

Lowe. They were compared with Madeiran specimens by Mr. Vernon Wollaston.

When the Rattlesnake touched at the Azores on the return voyage, a few landsh.e.l.ls were collected at Fayal. Among them was the Helix barbula, an Asturian species, Helix pauperata, and Bulimus variatus, Madeiran or Canarian forms. A considerable number of marine and terrestrial Testacea were procured at Rio de Janeiro, not a few of them new and of great interest. Terebratula rosea was dredged off Rio in thirteen fathoms water, on a coa.r.s.e sandy bottom. Collections were also made at the Cape of Good Hope, at Mauritius and in the Falkland Isles. The radiata were gathered with as much care and their habitats recorded with as much attention as the Mollusca.)

It may here be remarked that the Molluscan fauna of the seas of North Australia and of the north-east coast from Cape York southwards to Sandy Cape, belongs to the great Indo-Pacific province, a zoological region extending from the east coast of Africa (from Port Natal or a little above, northwards to Suez) to Easter Island in the Pacific. But south of Sandy Cape and onwards to Van Diemen's Land (and apparently including New Zealand) we have a distinct (East)Australian province, marked by a peculiar fauna in many respects, representative of the Senegal, and perhaps also Lusitanian regions of the North Atlantic.

Proceeding in descending order we may first remark on the:

Sh.e.l.lS OF SALT MARSHES.

As in the Northern hemisphere, Melampus or Convolvulus is the genus represented in such localities. Thus Auricula australis prevails in salt marshes at Brisbane Water, and an allied species in similar places in New Zealand. In both instances we find this form accompanied by members of a curious genus characteristic of the Australian province--Ampullacera, the Ampullacera quoyana being the Brisbane Water species, and A. avellana, that of New Zealand. In the latter case an a.s.siminea is its companion. A very curious fact noted during the expedition was the presence of a Unio living within the influence of salt water, in the River Brisbane.

Sh.e.l.lS INHABIT MUD, ETC. AMONG MANGROVES.

These belong to the Indo-Pacific province. Some are found on the mangroves themselves. Such are the Littorina scabra, on the trunks and branches of mangroves among islets in Trinity Bay; a Phasianella inhabiting the trunks and branches of Rhizophora at the Percy Isles; a Littorina on the leaves of Aigaeceras fragrans at Port Curtis, Auricula angulata, and rugulata on the trunks of mangroves at Port Essington, and Monodonta viridis on their roots at Night Island; a new and very beautiful Ostrea was found on the roots of mangroves among Low Islets in Trinity Bay. In the last-named locality a Cytherea inhabited the mud around their roots. At the Three Islets several new species of Melampus, a Nerita and a Cyrena lived in a like habitat, and at Port Essington Cerithium kieneri, was found in the same situation. The fine Cyrena cyrenoides lives among the roots of mangroves in the Louisiade Archipelago.

LITTORAL ZONE.

Of the many living Gasteropoda taken in this region, very few are new species. Of Patelloid forms we have a new Fissurella and Parmophorus convexus at Port Dalrymple, accompanied by Haliotis naevosa, and species of Patella and Siphonaria. In the more tropical regions, Haliotis asinina and varia, another and distinct Patella, two Fissurellae and a Scutella were collected. Of convolute sh.e.l.ls the littoral species gathered were all Indo-Pacific and inhabitants of mostly the coral-reef region, such as Cypraea arabica, annulus, isabella, errones and oryza, Conus magus, arenatus, achatinus, etc., Oliva cruentata, tremulina and ericinus, those of the last-named genus often living in sand. Bulla cylindrica occurred in sandy pools on the reef at Claremont Isles. Of Volutes, V. turneri lives on coral blocks at Port Essington, and V. undulata partially buried in sandbanks at Port Dalrymple. Conus maculosus is an inhabitant of the last-named locality. The Mitras found in the Littoral zone were all on the north-east coast, and well-known Indo-Pacific forms. A new Murex was taken on mud at Port Curtis. Fasciolaria coronata, Fusus alveolatus, and Triton verrucosus were found on the reefs at Port Dalrymple. Many species of Na.s.sa, all known forms, were collected, mostly on mud in the Littoral zone, chiefly in the north-eastern province. Phos cyanostoma lives on muddy sand in the Trinity Bay islets, where also in similar situations is Terebra maculata and Pyramidella maculosa. Pyramidella auriscati is a littoral sh.e.l.l among the reefs of the Claremont Isles. Several Purpurae were taken on reefs and rocks at low-water; among them was P. textiliosa, a Port Dalrymple species. A Quoya lives on rocks being high-water mark in Lizard Island. Several Terebrae, including T. crenulata dimidiata and affinis, inhabit muddy sand among Pipon's Islets. The well-known Strombus luhua.n.u.s lives on sand among the reefs at Eagle Island. A Cerithium inhabits mud-flats at Port Molle and Pipon's Islets. Of the holostomatous gasteropods inhabiting the Littoral zone, the Naticae, mostly well-known species, were taken in sandy localities on the north-east coast, and the Neritae in the same province, mostly on rocks or reefs. Littorina pyramidalis and mauritiana are inhabitants of the rocky headlands of Broken Bay; other forms were collected at Port Curtis and at Port Dalrymple. At the last-named locality, Turbo undulatus, a new Risella, Monodonta constricta and buccata, and Trochus reticularis were taken on reefs. Littoral species of the same genera occurred on the north-east coast. A New Rissoa was found under stones at Night Island. Turbo squamosus and Trochus lentiginosus are inhabitants of the sh.o.r.e at Port Essington. In Broken Bay species of Bankivia and Scalaria were collected, cast dead on the sh.o.r.e.

The Acephala found living in the Littoral zone of the south-east Australian province were Cleidotherus chamoides, under rocks at low-water in Port Jackson; Mytilus erosus on the mud of zostera flats at Port Dalrymple, several species of Venus, Tapes, Cytherea in similar localities; Arca globata in the same habitat at Brisbane; Arca fuscata in reefs at Port Dalrymple; a new Tellina on mud at Port Phillip; another with Donax epidermia in sand at Broken Bay, and Clavagella australis on rocks at low-water, Port Jackson. Species of Pectunculus, Nucula, Pandora, Anatinella, Venus, Tellina (decussata and deltoidalis) and Mesodesma are thrown dead on the sh.o.r.es.

In the north and north-east Australian province the living littoral Acephala are Solens of which two new species were taken at Port Essington, Anomia australis, Anatina olerina, and another, new, in the same locality; species of Mytilus, Meleagrina and Pinna, Ostrea and Pecten (pyxidatus) Lima fragilis and squamosa, Hippopus and Tridacna, the former detached on coral reefs, the latter embedded in the coral, Corbis fimbriatus in sand among coral reefs; species of Venus, Cytherea, Circe, and Tapes in mud, Artemis sculpta at Port Essington on sand, Lucinae on sand or reefs, Cra.s.satella on mudflats at Port Curtis, where Cypricardia vellicata occupies the fissures of rocks with Carditae; several species of Cardium in mud or sand, including C. fragum, C. subrugosum, and C.

unedo; Sanguinolaria rugosa at Dunk Island; species of Mesodesma in sand, and Mactrae and Tellinae in mud; a new Psammobia at Port Essington as also a new Pholas that bores into coral. Other species, members of the same genera, are cast on sh.o.r.e dead.

REGION OF WEEDS EQUIVALENT TO THE LAMINARIAN REGION OF THE EUROPEAN SEAS.

Some seventeen or eighteen localities in this Bathymetrical province were explored by means of the dredge, varying in depth from one to seventeen fathoms. In the south-east Australian province the princ.i.p.al Gasteropoda procured were Bulla brevis, at Port Jackson, in 6 fathoms; Cyprea oryza, at Port Phillip, in 5 fathoms; Calyptraea connata, in 6 fathoms, Port Jackson, with Na.s.sa suturalis, and another, a new Terebra, Monotigma casta, Mitra sordida, a Marginella, a Columbella, and Struthiolaria oblita. A Phasianella was dredged in from 3 to 5 fathoms on sandy mud, at Port Phillip, with Elenchus rutilus, Marginella fornicata, and Cerithium granarium. In the North-east Australian province, a different set of sh.e.l.ls was dredged in similar depths, such as a Sigaretus, possibly new, Fissurella calyculata, Mitra obeliscus, a Turritella, a Murex, Columbella versicolor, and a new species off Cape York, Ranella pulch.e.l.la, new, several Na.s.sae, Phos senticosa and blainvillei, and sculptilis, in 3 and 5 fathoms, off Cape York; Strombus campbelli, in mud off Cape Upstart; Cerithium obeliscus, and a new species of the genus Obeliscus. In the deeper localities Cypraea fimbriata occurred, dead, off Cape Capricorn; and two species of Ranella, one being R. pusilla, in 17 fathoms, off the Percy Isles. The univalves dredged among the Louisiade Islands in this region of depth were mostly known forms, such as Conus betulinus, Oliva sanguinolenta, Mitra exasperata, Terebra maculata, consors and l.a.b.i.ata; these were all taken in less than six fathoms water.

The bivalves of this region were but few. In the South Australian province species of Mactra, Psammobia, Venus, Tapes and Pecten, all peculiar, were taken. This is the region of the peculiar genus Myadora, of which five species were dredged on sand in 6 fathoms at Port Jackson, along with Myochama anomioides, Trigonia margaritacea, Lima bullata, and Cardium radiatum. In the North-east Australian province we have species of Donax, Mactra and Corbula, all apparently new, from the shallower localities; Corbula tunicata, Pectunculus tenuicostatus, and another, from 8 to 11 fathoms, off c.u.mberland Islands; species of Arca, Pectunculus, Avicula, Pecten, Venus, Circe, Cardium, Cardita, and Erycina, mostly new, from 15 to 17 fathoms in a sandy and sh.e.l.ly bottom off Cape Capricorn.

CORALLINE ZONE.

Some dredgings in both North and South-eastern provinces, in depths between twenty-seven and forty-five fathoms, give a slight idea of the fauna of this important region. In the South-eastern province we find in forty and forty-five fathoms on a muddy bottom in Ba.s.s Strait, Turritella sinuata, Trochus nebulosus, a Pleurotoma, an Emarginula, a Dentalium, two species of Cardita, a Cypricardia, a Venus, a Nucula, and Pectunculus holosericeus. In the North-eastern province we find off c.u.mberland Island in 27 fathoms, also on a muddy bottom, species of Murex, Na.s.sa, Turritella, Ranella pusilla, a Fusus, Cancellaria antiquata, a Terebra, two Dentalia, a Natica, a Terebellum, a Scalaria, a Cardium, a Venus, a Nucula, a Pecten, and a Spondylus.

It is evident from the comparative paucity of undescribed species procured in the Littoral zone and the large proportion of new or doubtful forms among those taken by the dredge, that a rich harvest has yet to be reaped in the deeper regions of the southern seas. In the lower zones, however, just as much as in the upper, the distinctions of province are maintained. The explanation of this complete separation of the South-eastern marine fauna of Australia from that of the North-eastern or Indo-Pacific portion, may be explained by reference to the distribution of currents along the Australian sh.o.r.es. In both, as in the Bathymetrical regions of the South Atlantic, the Testacea of the depths are generally smaller and less brightly coloured than those inhabiting the shallows.

During this voyage notes of the habitats of considerably more than a thousand species of Mollusca and Echinodermata were carefully registered.

2. ENUMERATION OF TERRESTRIAL PULMONIFEROUS MOLLUSCA AS YET NOTICED IN AUSTRALIA.

The following Catalogue is founded on the monograph of Helicidae by Dr.

Pfeiffer. To the species therein described are added certain new ones, announced by Pfeiffer since the publication of his work, and others, recorded for the first time in this volume. It will be seen that a great part of the Australian land-sh.e.l.ls is as yet unfigured. The exact localities of not a few have to be determined; a precise record was kept of the place and circ.u.mstances under with each was found during the voyage of the Rattlesnake. From all we yet know the genus Helix is fairly represented in New Holland, and presents some very remarkable and peculiar forms; Bulimus has but few, and those (with the sole exception of B. atomatus) not remarkable Australian members; a single Pupa, closely resembling one of our commonest European species, is the only recorded Australian one; and a very remarkable addition to the terrestrial conchology of the southern hemisphere has been made in a Balea of a type unlike any other member of the genus.

HELIX.

1. H. falconari, Reeve. (Conch. Syst. t. 163, f. 4).

Locality: Bellingen River, in the brushes (Macgillivray).

2. H. irradiata, Gould.

Locality: New South Wales.

3. H. australis, Menke.

Locality: Swan River.