A contribution to the biology of Ianthina janthina (L.)

Abstract

The summer of 1954 will long be remembered for lack of sunshine, excess rain and frequent high winds over England and Wales. In the south-west of the region the winds from June onwards until the end of the year were predominantly westerly, often reaching gale force, and the total run of the winds was often above average. During the last week of July there were persistent westerly winds from well out in the Atlantic, often strong and reaching gale force at times, particularly on the 27th and 28th. During the last 4 days the winds were generally from the north-west at Scilly and in southern Ireland. They were variable in strength and direction early during the first week in August, but occasionally blew freshly from the south-west. On the 7th it was often blowing strongly from the west, a gust of 50 knots being recorded at Scilly. It was during this first week in August that the first few specimens of Ianthina janthina (Linnaeus) came ashore, heralding the most extensive strandings of this species on British shores for very many years.