From day to day a varied display of marine forms was to be found in the aquarium; at different times rare and curious fish, starfish, sea urchins and devilfish, while now and then some of the larger specimens, such as sharks and rays, were brought in. Some of these were kept alive in the large cement floor tank or in the larger jars. Great quantities of smaller specimens were no less interesting, such as sea spiders, serpent stars of many beautiful colors and markings, brilliant nudibranchs, large abalones, curious small crabs and, in fact, all the interesting or beautiful specimens that could be found.
[Illustration: A VIEW FROM ONE OF THE SHORE CAVES]
[Illustration: SEAL ROCKS IN THE DISTANCE]
Each week, until September, the public was also invited to attend the evening lectures. These were usually of a general nature relating to the life of the sea, but some told of land forms as well, and one was on the Hopi Indian Snake Dance.
The chief work of the laboratory during the first six weeks was in connection with the Summer School. There was a class of nine in General Biology, twelve in General Zoology, and five in General Entomology. There were, in addition, from six to twelve doing special work for a longer or shorter period. Students from three Pacific coast colleges were in attendance, although most of the students and advanced workers were from Pomona College. Two or three studied special Histological or Embryological topics, but the majority were interested in faunal and distributional problems. As announced at an earlier time, the Laguna station is but an extension of the Biological part of Pomona College, and the plan for special work includes a survey of the whole region from the mountains to the sea. With this in mind, many explorations have been begun, and the aid of specialists in various fields is sought, so that we may first of all know the living forms that inhabit this varied and interesting section of California. We hope that a better knowledge of the species in the different groups here may lead to more extensive observations both by advanced students from the College and by others.
[Illustration: THREE ARCHES BELOW LAGUNA]
Together with the special and general work of the students, collections of marine and land animals were obtained all through the summer. Some of these were for the local collection, others to aid in the work of the survey. Among the collections made were many species of sponges, hydroids, polyzoans, pycnogonids, marine worms, Crustacea of several groups and, in fact, nearly all the shore forms that could be obtained between tides or a short distance from shore with a small boat. There were also extensive collections of insects and spiders from the hills and from up and down the coast.