230 LOCH CRERAN. 



affixed by a byssus to the tangle fronds, which are rich 

 in tone and smooth and bright in surface, so as to reflect 

 the light, and altogether suited to promote the purity 

 and brilliance of the white covering. The young retain 

 their whiteness for a time anywhere ; but after a long 

 sojourn on the fronds of the black seaware, such a.sfuaes 

 serratuS) dark in hue and dull in surface, they gradually 

 assume richer tones and lose their pristine purity. 

 Further out, among the tangles all will be found white ! 



Stumbling along over the stones and seaware we met 

 a fresh-looking crab, that is, nevertheless, quite empty as 

 to shell. It has been thoroughly cleaned out by some 

 skilful operators ; and, concluding that some small 

 crustaceans have done the work, from the neat manner in 

 which the membranes of the joints have been penetrated, 

 we take possession of the specimen and carry it along 

 with us. During the evening we resolve to complete the 

 preparation by soaking in fresh water, so as to remove 

 the corrosive salts, but no sooner had we placed it in the 

 tub than a great commotion ensued, and soon from joint 

 after joint there issued quite a multitude of small 

 Crustacea white, grey, and pink whose energies had 

 been up till then absorbed in cleaning the specimen, 

 until they were forced to enter a protest against the fresh- 

 water invasion. Just as we anticipated, the sea ants 

 whose labours we so rudely interrupted were the small 

 sand-hoppers, of several species, so active among the 

 stranded seaweed, so we will know of a certainty again 

 to apply to them for well-picked marine skeletons. 

 When we consider the trouble involved in properly 

 preparing a specimen of the smaller crustaceans, the 

 value of these still minuter species in cleaning out the 

 limbs is apparent. 



