MARINE ZOOLOGY, 185 
This consisted of a metal rim, with lattice wire to keep out large 
objects, such -as jelly-fishes, fitting into a stout outer rim of iron, to 
which was attached the bag made of bunting or muslin. Three small 
Spring swivels attached as many lines to the rope which towed at our 
stern, or was left during the night, as the Lizzie lay at anchor in Brodick 
Bay, and collected a most interesting series of objects. We had thus the 
rare opportunity of examining the beautiful pseud-embryo stages of 
Bipimaria and Pluteus, from which are developed the star-fish and sea- 
urchin. These pseud-embryos, or ‘ zooids,” are formed on a type quite 
different from that which characterises the adult animals, being bilateral 
instead of radial. In the last edition of his ‘‘ Handbook to the Micro- 
scope,” p. 609, Dr. Carpenter says, ‘‘ This pseud-embryo seems to exist for 
no other purpose than to give origin to the Echinoderm by a kind of 
internal gemmation, and to carry it to a distance by its active locomo- 
tive powers, so as to prevent the spots inhabited by the respective 
species from being overcrowded by the accumulation of their progeny.” 
Many other interesting larval forms, such as those of the crab and 
barnacle, were taken, as well as Radiolarians, Rotifers, and the Noctiluca 
miliaris, to which the phosphorescence of the sea on our coasts is mainly 
to be attributed. A small but very interesting collection of Algz was 
taken and mounted by our most obliging friend, Mr. George Miles.| 
Several times during our dredging we had an opportunity of 
seeing the sea under exceptionally favourable conditions, not 
frequently observed. The weather was brilliantly fine, and had 
been so for several weeks before our visit. The wind was §S.H. 
and almost a dead calm, and the sea smooth as oil, and clear as crystal. 
Not the slightest amount of sand or other detritus appeared mixed with 
the water, and thus we saw objects almost as plainly as though we were 
looking into a gigantic Aquarium. The bottom was in some places 
coyered with the Chlorosperm algx, Ulva latissima, and Enteromorpha 
compressa, like a lovely green grass plot. Between these, here and there, 
appeared a delicate Rhodosperm. Above these in places waved long 
broad fronds of the Oar-weeds (Laminaria) or slender filaments of the 
Whip-weed (Chorda.) Star-fishes and large sea-urchins were scattered 
among the vegetation, and the refraction of the light made some of 
them look, as our genial and accomplished friend, Mr. Sam. Timmins, 
(who has himself described it in his charming article on our visit in the 
Daily Post of 20th July, 1878) remarked, like “living turquoises.” Occa- 
sionally fishes, both of large and small size, darted across. The depth in 
many places was between twenty and thirty fathoms. 
And now we are looking forward hopefully to our forthcoming excursion 
to Falmouth. The Cornish coast has long been celebrated for its rich stores 
both of vertebrate and invertebrate marine life. The names of distinguished 
marine Naturalists who have investigated the fauna are as household 
words to us: Borlase, the historian, and Jonathan Couch, the eminent 
' ichthyologist, and his gifted son Richard Q. Couch, who passed away so 
early in life ; and Charles Peach, the Coastguardsman Naturalist, and the 
venerable W. P. Cocks. In many respects the fauna will be a contrast to 
that of Arran, which we have twice seen; but I venture with all confi- 
dence to say that, as hitherto, we shall be more than satisfied, and that 
we shall return, if not with any additions to the already well gleaned 
ground, certainly with large additions to our stock of knowledge and 
a increased admiration for and interest in the wonders of the ‘“ great 
eep. 
DD 
