NOTES ON THE MICRO-FAUNA CF AILSA CRAIG, FIRTH OF CLYDE. 155 



I have already stated, however, that my chief purpose for going 

 ashore was to ascertain if there were any land or fresh-water 

 Crustacea on the island, and, if so, what kinds they were. On 

 my previous visit, I had examined some pools of water at the foot 

 of the southern cliffs, but had only found the worm-like larvae of 

 insects in myriads — no Entomostraca were observed; indeed, had 

 an Entomostracan happened to get into any of these pools, it 

 would, no doubt, among such a ravenous crowd, have met with a 

 short shrift. None of these pools was examined on our last 

 visit, as it was considered that an attempt should rather be made 

 to reach the so-called Garry Loch, which is situated fully midway 

 up towards the top of the Craig, and therefore, acting on the 

 instructions of the lighthouse keepers, whom we found most 

 obliging, we selected the pathway that leads in a slanting direction 

 up to the " Castle," as being, so far, the safest and most easy 

 towards our goal. On reaching the sort of plateau on wliich the 

 castle stands, a well in the vicinity of the castle was examined, 

 but no Entomostraca were observed in it; the water was clear and 

 cool, and almost devoid of animal life — at least such as could be 

 seen with a hand lens. After a look at the old castle — near which, 

 by the way, was a luxuriant bed of Wild Hyacinths in full bloom, 

 a few of the flowers being pure white — we proceeded to the 

 Garry Loch ; and if the climb up to the castle was stiff, the path 

 (if it could be called so) from thence to the loch was more so. We 

 proceeded by what appeared to be the most direct route, but, 

 whether it may have been so or not, we soon found that it was a 

 rough road to travel. On reaching our destination, however, we 

 considered ourselves repaid for all the trouble we had experienced 

 in getting to it. The "Loch" occupies a nook which is surrounded 

 on all sides, except the north, or north-east, by grassy and mossy 

 banks, and only required a few bushy trees to be a typical 

 " fairy dell." A large portion of the hollow is now filled up 

 (forming a carpet soft and restful for the weary foot), and the loch 

 is consequently reduced, especially in summer, to very small 

 dimensions. The Marsh Marigolds referred to by Mr. Lawson 

 were, at the time of our visit, in considerable abundance, and their 

 golden flowers, which in the genial sunshine had expanded to 

 their fullest extent, made the scene, though limited, very gay. It 

 would appear that the loch was originally comparatively deep, for 



