ON THE FLORA OF SHETLAND 



5i 



" Off Montrose 42 fms.," are the only localities for this species 

 on the east coast of Scotland. 



This species does not appear to be common on our east 

 coast, but on the west it is sometimes obtained in great 

 abundance. In the early part of 1887 I was on board a 

 trawler working over 20 fathoms water off Craigmore, near 

 Rothesay, when the trawl net on being hauled up was found 

 to contain a large quantity of fine mud, amongst which 

 there were a great number of Brissopsis. I counted more 

 than sixty whole specimens, besides which there were many 

 others more or less damaged. This large capture of Brissopsis 

 has been however far exceeded by one recorded by Mr. W. 

 Anderson Smith in the Fishery Board's " Ninth Annual 

 Report" (1891), part iii. p. 298. I cannot do better than 

 quote Mr. Anderson Smith's description of his interesting cap- 

 ture. He says, — " Besides the ordinary echinoderms we had 

 a most remarkable haul of what we formerly considered a 

 rare form of heart urchin, Brissopsis lyrifcra, completely 

 choking our net, which hung like a huge bag of potatoes and 

 could not be lifted. We calculated the quantity of these 

 urchins as representing not less than three tons weight." 



That it should occur in such enormous numbers on the 

 west coast and only one or a very few at a time on the east 

 coast, where the physical conditions appear to be equally 

 favourable for its existence, is rather singular, and is not easily 

 explained. Beam-trawling has been more vigorously pro- 

 secuted on the east coast than on the west and may have 

 something to do with the difference alluded to, but the true 

 explanation will have, I think, to be sought for elsewhere. 



ON THE FLORA OF SHETLAND. 



By William H. Beeby, F.L.S. 



IN continuation of already recorded research into the 

 Flora of this county, I paid my sixth visit t«> the Islands 

 last summer, spending there over three weeks, which included 



1 "Scottish Natural! :." 1887-189I. 



