AMPHIPODA AND ISOPODA OF THE FIRTH OF CLYDE. 55 



Gammavus Sitchensis, Brandt, Meddendorff's Siber. 

 Reise. (1851), ii., part i., p. 133. 



Habitat. — Between tide-mark, and dredged at the 

 Clach Rock in 6 fathoms ; near the Tan Buoy about 

 the same depth, and farther out in the channel at a 

 depth of 35 fathoms ; also taken in the surface-net 

 — Cumbrae. "It has been taken in the Crimea by 

 Ratlike, and by Lilljeborg on the coast of Sweden, 

 and if we judge by its size, its home is in the Arctic 

 Seas, where specimens frequently exceed two and a 

 half inches in length." — Dr. Walker, Naturalist to the 

 last Arctic Expedition under Sir F. L. M'Clintock. 



On 16th February, 1886, four of this species were 

 taken far up on the tidal belt under stones, and put 

 into a 4-oz. bottle about half full of salt-water. On 

 the 18th one was dead, which was allowed to remain 

 in the bottle. Shortly afterwards it was observed 

 that the living ones had commenced to eat their 

 dead companion, all whose remains in a short time 

 disappeared bit by bit. Another dead amphipod was 

 then put into the bottle, which also gradually dis- 

 appeared. An air vessel of Fucus nodosus was also 

 put into the bottle, where it floated on the water, 

 and to this the amphipods often attached themselves. 

 When at the bottom of the vessel, however, they 

 generally lay on their back. 



About the beginning of April, in removing to 

 another house, the bottle got out of sight, and was 

 not discovered till 11th May. Two of the three 

 amphipods were found to be still alive, and to all 

 appearance in good health ; but the other had no 

 doubt gone the way of its deceased brethren. By 

 this time the water had lost about one-third of its 

 bulk by evaporation, and had become very green 

 and nocculent. Still, with this great addition of 

 saltness and discoloration to the water, they seemed 

 to be able to accommodate themselves to that state 

 of things, apparently experiencing little if any 

 inconvenience. Although we have seen that they 

 eat their dead companions, there seems no evidence 



