2i8 LOCH CRERAN. 



exercised, over our captures, and endeavoured to prove 

 to our satisfaction that they were really spider-like crus- 

 taceans ; but it would not do. Sitting on shore ponder- 

 ing over the problem, we noted the vicinity of a veritable 

 spider of a class that is common about the beach, and its 

 very distinct markings being exactly similar to those 

 obtained in the dredge, we secured it and carried it home 

 with us. The most natural thing to do under the circum- 

 stances was to place it in sea-water and see if it would 

 retain its life and activity; but so soon as it was put 

 under water it displayed the utmost helplessness, and 

 soon ceased from troubling or being troubled. Clearly 

 these spiders could not accommodate themselves to an 

 ocean career, and we came at last to the conclusion that 

 a number had been carried off the beach along with the 

 floating gravel, and by a strange coincidence one had 

 been captured as the prey of a sea-urchin, and another 

 perhaps taken from the surface as the dredge came on 

 board ! an instance of the readiness with which we may 

 deceive ourselves by accepting as facts appearances that 

 are capable of being otherwise explained. Have we not 

 all heard of the authentic case of the learned Glasgow 

 Professor, who had discovered a new mullusc of a remark- 

 able character, until a shrewd observer and thorough 

 naturalist, still to be found in the vicinity of Gilmorehill, 

 suggested that a common Limnrea had tumbled into a 

 ditch! 



We have lately been watching a set of key-hole limpets, 

 Fissurella Graeca, in a dish of sea water, but have failed 

 to see that they are other than very lazy and unenterpris- 

 ing. If turned on their backs or sides they are incapable 

 of regaining their feet, nor have they shown any capacity 

 for withdrawing entirely into their shells, as stated by 



