On the Occurrence of a Northern Hydroid Halatractus (Corymorpha) nanus (Alder) at Plymouth

Extract

On looking over some hydroid material, for which I have to thank the Biological Station at Plymouth, I found upon an alga that was thickly covered with Eudendrium album, Nutting, between the stalks of the Eudendrium a single specimen of the rare Halatractus (Corymorpha) nanus (Alder), which has until now been considered an Arctic species. The specimen is of special interest owing to the fact that this form has only been exceptionally met with in subarctic waters, and has only been recorded in England as a special rarity from the colder coast of Northumberland [Hincks, 1868; Allman, 1872; Pennington, 1885]. As far as can be gathered, it has only been found once even there. Its discovery now at Plymouth, on the warm southern coast washed by the Gulf Stream, is therefore the more surprising. In the comprehensive list of the Marine Fauna of Plymouth in this Journal (N.S., Vol. VII, pp. 155–298, 1904) the species is not included.