248 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



present, however, comparatively few of the latter, and nothing like 

 the quantity of the former species are to be found living. The 

 deposits, on the other hand, are full of their dead remains, the 

 dredge often bringing up huge quantities at each haul. 



The "Clam," "Oyster," "Mussel," and Turritella beds have 

 greatly diminished in size. They are, in some places, entirely 

 destroyed, and are only now to be had in comparatively small 

 quantities in a few more or less favourable localities, namely : — 

 About the North Craig Buoy, off Cockenzie, Prestonpans, and a 

 few here and there on and near the edges of the Middle Bank. 

 That the marine life generally on the floor of the Firth of Forth 

 has been gradually killed off appears evident. The greater 

 portion of the area within 3 or 4 miles west from the May 

 Island, as seen by the examination of the deposits, reminds 

 one more of a huge burial-ground, so numerous are the quantity 

 of the bones, "so to speak," of the marine organisms one finds in 

 them. 



In working over the district, the struggle for existence is 

 strikingly illustrated by the difference in the number of living 

 animals captured. The nearer one approaches the mouth of the 

 Firth from Inchkeith, gradually the various forms of marine life 

 (especially the lower forms) increase in number and species, as will 

 be seen by reference to the lists accompanying these notes of the 

 animals obtained at each of the special observing stations (see 

 Chart). Taking Stations I. and IX., for example, we find at 

 Station I., at a depth of 10 to 18 fathoms, 1 to 5 miles east of 

 Inchkeith, the following result : — 



