190 



when there is not a ripple to disturb the sea, these exquisitely 

 formed creatures may be witnessed in hundreds, like a vast fleet of 

 fairy ships, lying upon the surface. Such are the Beroe and the 

 Cydippe. Let specimens, captured carefully in a gauze net, be 

 transferred to a vessel of water, and, low as they are in organization, 

 they will not be dismissed without commanding surprise at the 

 delicacy of their structure and at the facility with which they 

 traverse their allotted space. 



116. It remains only to add, after the above general view of inverte- 

 brate life, that in the various bays and inlets around Arran, almost 

 every kind of fish, common to our northern seas may be procured. 

 It would be superfluous to name the species familiar to every person. 

 But we must not omit to mention that the Lancelet Amphioxus 

 lanceolatus has been dredged at the north end of Holy Island, 

 where it seems to be restricted to a gravel bottom in depths of about 

 ten or fifteen fathoms. Until recently this fish was regarded as 

 extremely rare. It is now, however, known to be more common. 

 Several specimens have been captured near Millport, in the island of 

 Cumbrae, as well as in Lamlash bay; and, probably, it will be 

 discovered to have a wider range than at one time was expected. 

 The interest attached to it arises from its anatomical and physio- 

 logical peculiarities. Its spine is a cartilaginous thread-like column, 

 without joints ; it has no ribs, no pectoral or ventral fins ; and, in 

 short, although claiming rank with vertebrate animals, the skeleton 

 is rudimentary and the brain absent. The Amphioxus is an excellent 

 illustration of the law that, even where there is the greatest departure 

 from uniformity, the typical characters are rigidly preserved in the 

 development of creation. 



117. In concluding our notices of the marine zoology of Arran, 

 the subjoined tables may advantageously be added for the informa- 

 tion of naturalists not practically acquainted with the Fauna of 

 the Clyde. The species marked with an asterisk were dredged 

 by the late Rev. Dr. Landsborough and Major Martin ; and 

 the other species were obtained by Dr. Greville and myself in 

 our examination of this part of the coast. The list, so far as com- 

 pleted without the assistance of the former gentlemen, appears in 

 the Annual Eeport of the British Association for the Advancement 

 of Science for the year 1856. Dr. Landsborough and Major Martin 

 were indefatigable in their investigation of these localities. There 

 yet remains, however, much work to be accomplished by future 

 inquirers especially among some of the remarkable groups, as the 

 Cirripeda, Annelida, Acalepha, Zoophyta, and Poriphora as also 



