Ob TRANSACTIONS, NATtlRAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



of the Eobertson Museum and tank room, proceeded on board 

 the " Mermaid " amidst a downpour of rain, and steamed up 

 the Largs channel to a point opposite Fairlie, where the eight/ 

 foot beam trawl was lowered to the bottom in a depth of 25 

 fathoms. The bottom deposit here is fine mud, inhabited by a 

 rich and varied fauna. Flounder, sole, and other flat fishes are 

 fairly abundant, and this channel is the principal fishing ground 

 frequented by the small fishing smacks which are still permitted 

 to use the beam trawl. 



During the time our first haul was being taken, a good-sized 

 bottle-nose Whale was observed blowing at a distance of about 

 200 yards ; soon another appeared, and then another, and within 

 a quarter of an hour no less than six individuals were seen 

 within a radius of about a mile. It is probable from the slow, 

 deliberate movements of the Cetaceans that the creatures were 

 feeding, as were also large numbers of Guillemots, Gulls, and 

 Gannets, which were grouped in flocks all over the channel. The 

 Whales evinced no alann, although passenger steamers passed 

 within a few yards of some of them. 



When our trawl had been dragged along the bottom for about 

 half-an-hour it was taken on board, and tlie following amongst 

 other animals were eixamined and noted : — Norway Lobster, 

 Nephrops norvegicus ; Swimming Crabs, Portunus puber, and 

 P. depurator ; Hermit Crabs, Eupagurus bernhardus, and S. 

 prideauxi, the latter with the Cloaklet anemone, Adamsia palliata, 

 attached to the outside of the shell in which the hermit lives. 

 The Green Shore Crab, Carcinus maenas, was found with the 

 Crustacean parasite, Sacculina carcini, attached to the abdomen. 

 Many other Crustaceans were also taken, such as Stenorhi/nchus, 

 Inachus, Galathea, and Munida. 



The Sea Mouse, Aphrodita aculeata, Terebellids, Sabellida, 

 and other Annelids were also secured. The Molluscs included 

 Buccinwm, Fusus, Aporrhais, Turritella, Scaphander, Pecten, 

 Cardium, and Nucula. Amongst fishes, plaice, flounder, young 

 cod, and Coitus were taken. 



A second haul near the same ground brought up similar forms, 

 with a fine specimen of the sea pen, Pennatula phosphorea, 

 which is far more common in this part of the Clyde than was 

 formerly supposed. 



