276 LOCH CRERAN. 



is readily pounced upon, however obscured by mud and 

 hidden in a corner. 



Having obtained our supply of scallops, we leave their 

 ground and strike across the loch, and as the rope 

 lengthens out to a score of fathoms on softer ground, sly 

 allusions are made to the little palmipes that disappeared 

 from the boat on a certain occasion, the first that had 

 met our gaze in our loch. Why ! the fairies are about 

 to be sure. The next haul of the dredge in the middle 

 of the loch, and from the depths of another half pecten 

 pusio we drag another little web-footed starfish, neatly 

 ensconced, and exactly similar to the former much- 

 mourned individual. A little wobbling fish, too, among 

 the debris so we chuck it carelessly into a dish. Only 

 one or two edible scallops here, and grumbling deep 

 proceeds from the utilitarians; but the dredge is once 

 more at the bottom, and the oarsman toiling slowly for 

 the Appin shore. There is something in it this time, 

 that is certain, but the disgusted expression oi the toiler 

 at the rope tells at least of no pectens, and we are 

 greatly amused to find that into the comparatively small- 

 mouthed dredge a large sea-urchin, five inches in 

 diameter, has been entrapped ; and a splendid fellow he 

 is. What a delicate morsel he would have proved in the 

 Mediterranean, where the roe is more especially prized. 

 We have only once taken one of similar size at low tide 

 outside in Loch Linnhe, and the splendid set of grinders 

 he has to show explains his facility in filling his capacious 

 body, which will hold quite 21^ oz. of water. 



Here are quite a row of little pea crabs that have 

 gradually succumbed since their withdrawal from the 

 water, and if you look at them carefully you will be sur- 

 prised to find that a proportion of them indeed a 



