Mr. J. Gwyn Jeffreys on Dredgmg-Repw^ts. 449 



The colour of shells in their living state is, I believe, more 

 affected by temperature than by light ; and the former of these 

 conditions must also have a considerable influence on the 

 quantity as well as on the variety of animal life. The cases 

 I instanced of bright hues from deep water were by no means 

 exceptional, and might be supplemented by many more. In- 

 deed, while I am writing, there are on an adjoining table 

 specimens of Venus ovata (the shell referred to by Mr. M^An- 

 drew), lately procured by Carpenter and Thomson in the 

 North Sea at depths of 189 and 550 fathoms, the colour of 

 which is, as usual, reddish -brown, some specimens being va- 

 riegated — also, from 189 fathoms, a bright-red Tectura fulva 

 and a pink-rayed Tellina jpusilla. Milne-Edwards noticed, 

 in the case of the Mediterranean electric-telegraph cable, Pecten 

 opercularts^ var. Audouimij as '^ fortement color^e " from be- 

 tween 1010 and 1530 fathoms ; and Sars, in his further re- 

 marks on the distribution of animal life in the depths of the 

 sea, has now recorded the occurrence oi Pecten septemradiatus^ 

 Astarte sulcata j Natica Montacuti^ and EuUma hilineata from 

 250-300 fathoms, having the same coloured markings as in 

 specimens from shallow water. We do not know the extent 

 to which sea-water is penetrated by the sun's rays ; but as 

 cephalophorous mollusks which live at considerable depths are 

 provided with eyes, it may fairly be assumed that light exists 

 there. Carpenter and Thomson got several specimens of 

 Pleurotoma carinata in 189 fathoms, and one of Columhella 

 haUceeti in 530 fathoms : all these were living, and had con- 

 spicuous eyes. In a letter just received from Professor Lov^n, 

 he says that, in the last Spitzbergen Expedition, " not a few 

 forms " were brought up from over 2000 fathoms. When the 

 collections have been examined, we shall know something 

 more on this interesting subject. 



My proposition founded on the casual occurrence in our seas 

 of exotic and oceanic shells had no reference to the distribution 

 of the MoUusca. 



The important explorations of Carpenter and Thomson 

 (which it is hoped will be renewed next year) have produced 

 another addition to the list of recent species which had been 

 called " extinct." A specimen of Pleurotoma galerita was 

 dredged about fifty miles from Cape Wrath, at a depth of 

 189 fathoms. Philippi described and figured this species as a 

 very rare Calabrian fossil. 



