134 LOCH C RERAN. 



upper, this large species is clearly accustomed travelling 

 for they are very active on the convex side, for the 

 flat side in this instance is heavily freighted with the 

 domiciles of serpulae and barnacles while the other is 

 rubbed clean. Another proof of the steady use of the 

 lower shell for standing the brunt of locomotion is its 

 superior strength, not only of form but of construction, 

 while the flat shell is almost invariably of more or less 

 bright colouring, the other being dull and colourless. 

 This would naturally be the result of continuously facing 

 the light in the one case, and being debarred from it in 

 the other, as we see in the back and belly of a flat fish. 

 Plenty of growing Opercularis, from half an inch to an 

 inch and a-half, are there, and the shrewd provider, with 

 much foresight, is tossing them into the briny sea for 

 future attentions. We are just in the nick of time for 

 not all small pectens are necessarily young ones and we 

 rescue two fine specimens of a small species(/ > . tigrinus], 

 beautifully marked, and one of them quite an inch in 

 length and the same in breadth a large specimen of 

 this gracefully-shaped pecten or scallop. These, too, are 

 darker and more richly coloured on the one side, and a 

 few delicate and minute whirls of serpula? (Spirorbis) are 

 attached to the side least subjected to friction. 



The lamp is lit and the tub lifted on to the table while 

 we examine carefully the various heaps of trash, lest 

 something of interest may have been omitted in our rude 

 prior examination. Only a little fellow, but a welcome 

 one, for you are the second we have met in Loch Creran 

 of the " web footed " starfishes (Pahnipes) ; so you are 

 carefully transferred to a roomy aquarium. Again the 

 search is rewarded by the discovery of a sea-mouse of 

 moderate dimensions, and with its irridescent "hairs" 



