The Scottish Naturalist. 7 



stillness of the evening was alone broken by the weird curlew's cry 

 along the shore. 



Next morning at sunrise, the writer accompanied by a botanical 

 friend, started for a walk along the rocky coast beyond Clachland 

 Point. The tide was favourable, and a good many interesting 

 Algae, and invertebrates, were found ; in particular, we noticed 

 colonies of the pretty anemone Sagartia bellis, in rock pools, living 

 near high water mark, also many specimens of Trochus umbili- 

 catus, which appeared to be the characteristic Trochus in this 

 locality. 



After our return to the yacht, a start was made about nine 

 o'clock for the north end of the bay, between the Holy Isle and 

 Clachland Point, and the dredge was put down in about ten 

 fathoms of water. On its being emptied on deck, it was found to 

 be almost full of the coral-like alga (Jlfelobesia calcared) which affords 

 shelter to many marine animals, but more especially Mollusca. 

 Single valves of Lima hians were very numerous, and not a few 

 living specimens were obtained enclosed in their Melobesia "nest ; " 

 and one or two of a rarer and more delicate species (Lima Loscombii) 

 were also got. Of other Mollusca, there were examples of Cardium 

 7iorvegicum, C. fasciatum, C. nodosum, Emarginula fissura, Punc- 

 turella noacliina, Pecten maximus, P. striatus and a single quite 

 recent valve of the rare P. testae, also Venus fasciata, V. ovata, and 

 single valves of V. casina. Of Crustacea there were many examples 

 of the hermit crab Pagurus Prideauxii, which we subsequently 

 found common all over the aiea, in all cases associated with 

 the pretty spotted anemone Adamsia pallia fa living on the outside 

 of its protecting shell. We again got Comatula rosacea, and in 

 addition Astropecten irregularis, Luidia Savignii, and several large 

 specimens of the prickly Asterias glacialis. After the search, which 

 lasted no little time, had ended, our course lay along the outside 

 of the Holy Isle, off the north end of which the trawl was put 

 overboard in about twenty fathoms of water; and the yacht proceeded 

 at a slow rate for about half an hour. When the contents were drawn 

 on deck, very few fish were present, though many other interesting 

 animals came up ; as a fine living specimen of Terebratula caput- 

 serpentis, also Trophon barvicensis, and one or two shells of Isocar- 

 dia cor, perfect and fresh, but without the animal. Two 

 starfishes were obtained, viz., several examples of Palmipes 

 placenta, and one of Cribella rosea ; and there were many 



