[96 LOCH CRERAN. 



here, the usual contents being Crustacea and mollusca, 

 no doubt a good proof of the dearth of fishes in the loch. 



We had recently sent us the contents of the stomachs 

 of a number of sea-trout taken in salt water, away from 

 rivers, and these proved to consist mainly of small cuttle- 

 fish (Loligo media ?) with a few annelids and half-digested 

 fry. The presence of these small cuttles in such numbers 

 on our coast was unknown to us, as we have rarely 

 captured them, but no doubt they frequent the laminarian 

 zone more than the deeper water usually traversed by 

 our dredges. 



When examining a number of large ascidians lately 

 in order to extract the Modiolaria or delicate mussel-like 

 shells that take up their abode in the thick surrounding 

 integument, and live upon the juices of this low-class 

 pseudo-vertebrate, we were surprised on two several 

 occasions to find a crustacean quite three-eighths of an 

 inch long make its appearance, upon pressure, from the 

 entrance orifice. These proved to belong to the family 

 of Gammaridct, not unlike in general appearance to the 

 familiar shore-flea. The sluggish organisation of the 

 ascidians seems to present especial facilities to unwel- 

 come guests to quarter themselves upon it. 



The familiar green lintie of the south ( Coccothraustes 

 Moris) is by no means a common bird here, but we were 

 sorry when we lately came upon a nest in our garden 

 most skilfully concealed, and with the five dainty eggs 

 we know so well, to find them cold and evidently deserted. 

 We hope the little mother was more successful elsewhere, 

 and that it had not paid the penalty of over-familiarity, 

 and fallen a victim for we keep no cold-blooded assassin 

 in feline shape about our premises. In consequence of 

 this all birds are friendly, and we had the pleasure this 



