OS 
LIMA, MYTILUS. 9 
ground, gregarious and very abundant. Off Ardbeg Point, 
Bute, the dredge came up filled to the brim with these 
shells enclosed in their nests. It is also common on all the 
eastern and southern coasts of Bute; on the Tan Spit, 
Cumbrae ; in Lamlash Bay, Arran; and generally throughout 
the district. The specimens from Bute furnished animals of 
a specially brilliant colour, exceeding in beauty any that I 
have taken elsewhere. 
The somewhat nauseous smell given off by this mollusk 
does not protect it from the insatiable appetites of the cod 
and haddock. 
British distribution—The headquarters appear to be in 
the west of Scotland, but it extends generally over the 
northern, southern, and western portions of the British 
seas. It is not noticed by Alder in his list from Northum- 
berland and Durham, nor by Messrs. Leckenby and Marshall 
in theirs from the Dogger Bank, and I do not know 
that it has been found anywhere on the eastern coast of 
England. 
Foreign localities—Widely distributed from Norway 
(Lovén, Sars, and others) to the Canary Islands (M/‘A ndrew) 
as also in the Mediterranean Sea. 
Famity Mytinipa, Fleming. 
Mytiuus, Linné. 
*Mytilus edulis, Linné. 
Musculus ex ceeruleo niger, Lister; Mytilus ungulatus, Linné ; 
Mytilus pellucidus and Mytilus incurvatus, Pennant ; 
Mytilus Galloprovincialis, Lamarck. 
Habitat—Almost everywhere on gravel, stones, rocks, 
and timber; gregarious and very abundant from half-tide 
down to a fathom or so deep. There are extensive beds at 
Port-Glasgow, Row Point, and Ardrishaig; and smaller 
ones in many other localities in the district. 
A small variety covers many of our piers, and inhabits 
the crevices in the rocks in vast numbers. Large specimens 
may be found singly or in small clusters in sandy bays, 
such as Fintry Bay, Cumbrae, at low tide. 
This mussel, as is well known, is extensively used for 
food, but is looked on with suspicion by many, as it is said 
to possess, under certain conditions (which are unknown), 
unwholesome and even poisonous qualities. As a mercan- 
tile commodity its chief value is for bait; but Lister 
