LOCH CRERAN. 



and awaiting the return of the water that never before so 

 left them in the lurch? " Encrinites," we exclaim, as 

 for the first time in our experience we come upon quite 

 a haunt of the beautiful Comatula rosacea, the only 

 British species of crinoid. How beautiful they look thus 

 at home, although restless under their waterless condition ; 

 quite a score of them among the rock oysters, the lovely- 

 tinted Zisyphinus shells, and the other wonders that 

 embellished the little cave; while close alongside, 

 attached to the tangle stems, grew masses of purple dulce, 

 richly toned and glancing in the light. 



We suddenly make a plunge at an object that especially 

 interests us, wedged in at the bottom of a pool. This is 

 a scallop or pecten of a particular species. Should we 

 meet with certain species we know, the chances are they 

 are from a considerable depth, while another is generally 

 attached by its mussel-like byssus to the tangle fronds at 

 low water of springs ; and another small species is a free 

 swimmer from whatever depth our dredge can reach. 

 But we did not know exactly whence to say Pecten pusio 

 came. Unlike all the other pectens, it attaches itself 

 like an oyster to the rock or some other hard attachment, 

 and grows its commonly rough, twisted, and contorted 

 shell, while remaining firmly fixed in some secure corner 

 where it is not easily got at. We no sooner find one 

 than others are forthcoming, and we discover that it is 

 not uncommon even so far up towards the foreshore as is 

 reachable this day. The wide range of action of the 

 Pecten family is thus remarkable, from the active, beauti- 

 fully-shaped deep-water P. Maxitnus and opcrcularis to 

 the lightly attached P. Varius and the securely anchored 

 P. Pusio the most degenerate in appearance and 

 character of all the tribe. 



