ON ZGEAN INVERTEBRATA. 179 
ration of more experienced inquirers, with the exception of calling attention 
to one other point in zoo-geology, which interested me in the course of my 
researches. It is this. 
A very slight depression of land in the Gulf of Macri on the coast of 
Lycia, would now plunge below the sea muddy tracts, abounding in Melania, 
Melanopsis, Neritina and other freshwater Mollusca, Their successors in the 
first formed shallows would be Cerithium mammillatum and a few bivalves, the 
former mollusk in myriads. A drift of sand over this Cerithium mud would 
call into existence a new fauna, and every successive depression or elevation, 
however slight, would produce considerable zoological changes, for the sub- 
divisions of the uppermost region are of small extent in depth, and very 
liable to be affected by secondary influences. 
Now an inspection of the ancient monuments of the ruins of Telmessus 
proyes that such elevations and depressions of small, but as regards animated 
nature, important extent, have occurred several times during the historical 
period ; and a section of the great plain of Macri would doubtless exhibit 
such alternations of freshwater and marine strata with their characteristic 
organic contents. 
In the preceding pages I have put forward several generalizations which to 
many may appear to be founded on inductions drawn from too limited a 
number of facts. The objection is, to a certain extent, true ; though my 
data have been more numerous than would appear from this report, since 
the general conclusions embodied in it have not been founded only upon the 
observations in the AEgean, but also on a long series of researches previously 
conducted in the British seas. In the present state of the subject specula- 
tion is unavoidable, and indeed necessary for its advancement. If it be as 
important as the author believes, further researches are imperatively called 
for ; and since this branch of inquiry, as at present conducted, may be said 
to have originated entirely with the British Association, he hopes that 
through encouragement afforded by that body, other and abler observers 
may be induced to enter the field, one in which the labourers require support, 
involving as it does time, expense and personal risk. Should the officers of 
the Navy and the members of Yacht Clubs take an interest in the sub- 
ject, much might be done through their aid. To the surveying service the 
author from experience looks forward confidently for most valuable observa- 
tions. Since questions of importance to navigation and commerce are inti- 
mately connected with this inquiry, it is not too much to look forward even- 
tually to government for its support, the more so as the means of most natu- 
ralists—votaries of a science in which the pleasure of discovery is the only 
reward—do not warrant their adventuring privately in such researches. 
Note.—In drawing up the tables of species embodied in this report, I have 
derived valuable assistance from several scientific friends, especially from 
Mr. Thompson of Belfast, who enabled me to compare my collections with a 
series of Mediterranean Testacea named by Michaud; from Mr. Cuming, in 
whose splendid collection is a series of Sicilian shells from Philippi; and from 
Mr. Harvey, who most kindly examined the Alge necessary for the elucida- 
tion of the regions of depth. 
