28 



" musselling " was going on. Hedge balks were erected 

 on the tops of the various banks in which a number of 

 codhng, plaice, and flounder were being taken. 



The area of the bed is composed almost entirely of 

 the deserted sand tubes of Sahella which afford a firm 

 hold to the growing Mussels and no doubt also a good 

 food supply from the diatoms and other microscopic 

 animals which feed on the decaying matter about the 

 tubes. Scattered over the beds are numerous large 

 boulders all more or less covered with deserted sand tubes. 



The Mussels here are healthy and in good condition 

 showing evidence of an abundant food supply and of 

 conditions favourable to a rapid growth of the shell-fish. 

 They are quite free from barnacles. 



Fauna of the Scae. 



Along with the Mussels, there were also a few Buccimim, 

 Purpura, Littorina and Carcinus. On microscopic 

 examination the mud was found to contain nineteen 

 species of Foraminifera representing eleven genera, eight 

 species of Ostracoda representing five genera, and nine 

 species of Copepoda (one of which appears to be new) 

 representing eight genera. The mud also contained a 

 few fragments of shells, spines of Spatangus, diatoms and 

 a quantity of vegetable debris. The following is a list of 

 the Ostracoda, Foraminifera and Copepoda : — 



Foeaminifera. 



Lagena striata, d'Orb. 

 ,, williamsoni, Alcock. 

 ,, clavata, d'Orb. 

 ,, semistriata, "Will. 

 ,, sulcata, W. and J. 

 ,, hexagona, Will. 



