SHELLS, ETC., ON ARDEKR AND IRVINB BEACHES. 245 



some of them are thickly covered with Spirorbis, 

 etc. 



Various Fishes are occasionally cast up during 

 storms, and this winter a small Shark (which, how- 

 ever, I did not see) was found on the Ardeer shore. 

 The egg-cases of the Skate are sometimes obtained, 

 and more rarely those of the Dogfish. 



Among the Crustacea often cast ashore may be 

 mentioned Inachus dorsettensis, Hyas coarctatus. 

 Cancer paguriis, Carcinus mcenas, Corystes cassi- 

 velaunus, Pagurus Bernhardus, and P. Prideauxii. 

 I have seen but rarely Gonoplax angulata, Galathea 

 squainifera, and fragments of Homarus vulgaris. 

 Various species of Cirripedia are often found attached 

 to stones, and once I obtained a cluster of Lepas 

 anatifera. 



On three or four occasions I have got the sea- 

 mouse, Aphrodite aculeata, with its brilliant array 

 of iridescent spines. The lovely Pectinaria belgica, 

 with its brilliant scarlet combs, and conical tube 

 neatly built of grains of sand, is sometimes cast 

 ashore in abundance ; and the leathery sand-covered 

 tubes of Terebella are also plentiful. 



Among the Echinoderms may be mentioned 

 Amphidotus cordatus, often strewn upon the shore 

 in thousands ; Echinus sphcera, Ophiura albida, 

 Asterias aurantiaca, Uraster rubens, all frequently 

 cast up ; and Solaster papposa, occasionally obtained. 

 Once I found a little red worm-like Holothurian 

 whose skin was thickly studded with microscopic 

 " anchors and plates." 



Various Anemones occur, including Adamsia 

 palliata frequently found attached to the mouth 

 of a Buccinum undatum in which the hermit-crab 

 Pagurus Prideauxii has taken up its abode. Sponges, 

 including several species of Halichondria, as well 

 as the boring Clionce, are often met with. 



The following Shells have been collected from the 

 Ardeer and Irvine Beaches during a period of about 

 twenty years: 



