24 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



Rhodymenia bifida, in small quantity, Rhodomela lycopodioides, 

 Pohjslphnn'm elongata, in very robust condition, and Hahjdris siUquosa, 

 were also floated in. Fucus ceraiioidcs was gi"owing where a small 

 burn entered at the head of the loch. The shore at this end was 

 abundantly covered with Enteromorpha compressa, with tufts of E. 

 ramulosa, E. intestinalis, Ulva latissima, and U. Linza. 



Another rare plant, growing on an oyster shell, and also floated 

 in, was Spyridia filamentosa. Professor Harvey says of this plant, 

 that it is " interesting in a geographical view, being a native of 

 warm latitudes, and reaching to its northern limit in this 

 country. Until very recently, when Mr Kalfs discovered it on 

 the Welsh coast, it had only been found in Britain, on the extreme 

 southern shores." Its occurrence in Loch Ryan brings it still 

 farther north. The uniform dejjth of the loch, its comparative 

 shelter from storms, and other circumstances, may render it a suit- 

 able haliitat for the growth of similar species of Algse. 



This slight examination of the shores would go far to prove that 

 the loch would be well worthy of more exact and careful research 

 at low water, and at more favourable seasons of the year. 



II. — Marine Mollusca. 



Loch Ryan is stated to be the only habitat in Scotland where 

 Tapes aurea is found in any abundance. It is somewhat singular 

 that all along the western shore of the loch this shell should be 

 generally distributed — water-worn specimens lying scattered around 

 in all directions; while on the eastern shore, on the other hand, it 

 is comparatively rare, and Tapes decussata there takes its place. 

 This may perhaps arise from the nature of the bottom on either 

 side being more suitable for the one than the other. At all events, 

 for one specimen of T. aurea, on the eastern shore, twenty of T. 

 decussata may be picked up; while on the western, again, twenty 

 of T. aurea may be collected for one of T. decussata. Psummobia 

 mspertina is by no means uncommon. Pecten varius is very plenti- 

 ful, and much diversified in colour; purple, orange, speckled, 

 banded, and pure white specimens were observed. The living ex- 

 amples of this mollusc which came up in the dredge were con- 

 stantly attached to some substance by their byssus. In Cumbrae 

 we have not found them to be so uniformly attached. 



Anomia ephippium, the lady-oyster of the dredgers, is brought 

 up in quantities at every haul of the dredge, only to be thrown 



