Mr. J. Gwyn Jeffreys on Dredging-Reports. 449 
The colour of shells in their living state is, I believe, more 
affected by temperature than by light; and the former of these 
conditions must also have a considerable influence on the 
quantity as well as on the variety of animal life. The cases 
I instanced of bright hues from deep water were by no means 
exceptional, and might be supplemented by many more. In- 
deed, while I am writing, there are on an adjoining table 
specimens of Venus ovata (the shell referred to by Mr. M‘An- 
drew), lately procured by Carpenter and Thomson in the 
North Sea at depths of 189 and 550 fathoms, the colour of 
which is, as usual, reddish-brown, some specimens being va- 
riegated—also, from 189 fathoms, a bright-red Tectura fulva 
and a pink-rayed Tellina pusilla. Milne-Edwards noticed, 
in the case of the Mediterranean electric-telegraph cable, Pecten 
opercularis, var. Audouinti, as “ fortement colorée”’ from be- 
tween 1010 and 1530 fathoms; and Sars, in his further re- 
marks on the distribution of animal life in the depths of the 
sea, has now recorded the occurrence of Pecten septemradiatus, 
Astarte sulcata, Natica Montacutt, and Eulima bilineata from 
250-300 fathoms, having the same coloured markings as in 
specimens from shallow water. We do not know the extent 
to which sea-water is penetrated by the sun’s rays; but as 
cephalophorous mollusks which live at considerable depths are 
provided with eyes, it may fairly be assumed that light exists 
there. Carpenter and Thomson got several specimens of 
Pleurotoma carinata in 189 fathoms, and one of Columbella 
halieeti in 530 fathoms: all these were living, and had con- 
spicuous eyes. In a letter just received from Professor Lovén, 
he says that, in the last Spitzbergen Expedition, “ not a few 
forms’ were brought up from over 2000 fathoms. When the 
collections have been examined, we shall know something 
more on this interesting subject. 
My proposition founded on the casual occurrence in our seas 
of exotic and oceanic shells had no reference to the distribution 
of the Mollusca. 
The important explorations of Carpenter and Thomson 
(which it is hoped will be renewed next year) have produced 
another addition to the list of recent species which had been 
called “extinct.” A specimen of Pleurotoma galerita was 
dredged about fifty miles from Cape Wrath, at a depth of 
189 fathoms. Philippi described and figured this species as a 
very rare Calabrian fossil. 
