REPORTS ON EXCURSIONS. 355 



Goniaster Templetoni, Forb., and the rather rare Cribella oculata, 

 Penn., were also found. 



Very few fishes were caught, owing to the " Mermaid's " trawl 

 not being adapted for their capture, but a small Plaice and 

 several very young Skate were taken. 



Of Hydroids, the following were obtained : — Antennularia 

 ramosa. Lmk., and A. antennina,Jj., Plumularia Catherina, Johns., 

 and a species of Diaphasia and some Sertularians. 



Many Polyzoa and other microscopic creatures came up 

 adhering to stones and dead shells, but were not examined 

 under the microscope. 



Molluscs were plentiful, the chief Gastropod being Buccinum 

 undatum, L., and the two species of Fusus, viz., F. antiquus, L., 

 and F. gracilis, da Costa, and the most common Lamellibranch 

 was Pecten opercidaris, L. 



Specimens of the Polychpete worms Aphrodite aculeata, L., and 

 Nereis pelagica, L., were found, and one specimen each of the 

 Sea-pen, Pennatula phosphorea, L., and Alcyonium digitatum, L., 

 or "dead-men's fingers." 



The afternoon being now well spent, the " Mermaid " steamed 

 back to the station to land those members who wished to pay 

 a visit to the tank-room, and to examine the fine collection of 

 marine forms preserved in the Robertson Museum. 



A number of members who arrived by the 4: p.m. steamer 

 were then taken on board, and a course steered for Portincross 

 Point, on the Ayrshire coast, where another haul of the trawl 

 was taken, and an immense quantity of sea-weed lifted. This 

 haul proved rather poor in animal life, the most plentiful 

 creature being a species of Eolis, the specimens of which, with 

 their coils of ova, literally covered all the great fronds of 

 Laminaria. ' A little fish (Lepidog aster), with its ova, was 

 found sticking to the inside of an empty shell. These fishes 

 have the pectoral fins modified with a sucking disc, by which 

 they firmly attach themselves to the hollows of shells, and 

 mount guard over their hundreds of transparent little eggs, 

 which are fixed beside them. 



The " Mermaid " now returned to Keppel Pier, in time to allow 

 members to catch the 6.20 steamer for Glasgow, after having 

 enjoyed a very pleasant day. 



