2 9 o LOCH CRERAN. 



out Loch Creran, it seems unable to obtain a foothold 

 in Etive, and we have never succeeded in obtaining a 

 single specimen of the common pecten, Pecten opercularis, 

 from it. Indeed, during all our dredging experience in 

 it we have never succeeded in obtaining a single speci- 

 men of any of our species of scallops edible or minute 

 except the one species, P. septemradiatus^ which 

 appears to be favourable to lochs with much fresh water, 

 such as Loch Fyne. Even this is rarely taken in the 

 dredge so that it must be a very active species, as we do 

 not believe it to be rare, although to a large extent local. 

 But Etive is great in mud, as all our coadjutors soon dis- 

 cover ; and the courtesy of the hospitable manse is 

 strained severely with tubs and buckets full of most non- 

 artistic material. 



What is there beautiful there ? A rich slime, so 

 tenacious as scarce to pass through the ^in. sieve, may 

 be very good material for the bottom of a loch, but 

 might as well remain there. Gently ! gently ! " I never 

 knew there were any Razor-fish (Soleri) in Etive," says 

 someone. No doubt the fine shell-fish of Ardmucknish 

 Bay could find their way up Etive if so desirous, but 

 Ha ! a Solen ; and here is another, and yet another. 

 We almost hear the smacking of lips at thought of the 

 rich dainty, as the owners hurry over to witness the grate- 

 ful arrival. How many of these would make a supper, 

 we wonder ! The largest about an inch in length (Solen 

 pellucida), the smallest a quarter of an inch ; the im- 

 pudent little imitations of the seven inch by one and a 

 quarter inch we have lately been demolishing seem so 

 afraid of becoming fashionable as a dish, that they con- 

 ceal themselves in the mud at a score of fathoms deep. 

 Quite right, too. There is a soupcon of nightingales' 



