DR. m'intosh on bettish salpje. 45 



The very progress of the boat appeared to be impeded ; and on 

 looking along the still expanse of the sea, their quivering bodies 

 roughened its surface like a myriad tremors on molten glass. 



Towards the mouth of the bay, drifted masses of Euci formed 

 long transverse lines across the surface, and at these parts not only 

 were the Salpa-masses increased ia density, but a number of other 

 swimming jellies of a different subkiagdom accompanied them, 

 such as Felagia cyanella, jEquorea, Oceania, Beroe, SLn.dI>iph'i/es, the 

 cavities of the two former contaiaing many Salpse. Some small 

 fishes also skimmed the surface, apparently feeding on the latter ; 

 and with the hand net young Sand-launces, Brills, and numerous 

 Mackerel Midges {Mofella {CoticJiid) glauca) were captured. In 

 such circumstances there was no need of a towing-net ; and indeed 

 it was practically useless, becoming filled in a few seconds with a 

 solid mass of the surface forms. JSTumerous gulls and guillemots 

 that had been at work at these seaweed lines amongst the Salpa- 

 hordes, or seizing the small fishes so engaged, took wing on the 

 approach of the boat. The Salpse extended outwards into the 

 Minch in almost as great numbers. The sea was so calm that the 

 Dunvegan packet had to be towed by its own boat from Skye to 

 Lochmaddy — not a very common occurrence in these wild waters. 



At this time not a scrap of a Salpa or a Medusa was found at 

 the western side of the island ; so that the Salpse must have passed 

 through the Sound of Harris with the westerly winds in the be- 

 ginning of August, or else were originally resident in the Minch, 

 and had been driven westwards by the easterly gales. 



The chains of Salpa runcinata in sight varied from two and a 

 half yards downwards ; and the deeper ones may have been 

 longer. Those near the surface were generally less than a yard 

 long. As before mentioned, there was neither coiling nor un- 

 coiling, nor the " regular serpentine movements " described in the 

 various text-books ; but the bands moved slowly through the 

 water, seldom altering their curves to any appreciable extent. 

 They varied in bulk according to the size of the component indi- 

 viduals. The mode in which they were attached to each other in 

 these chains was not so easily made out as at first sight might 

 appear ; they separated into pieces when lifted from the water 

 either with hand or net ; and there is thus good excuse for the 

 rude outline of Dr. McCuUoch — an outline, however, that will 

 at once be recognized by any one who has seen them in their 

 native haunts. The figure by the late Professor E. Forbes*, 



* Brit. MoUusca, vol. i. pi. E. fig. 6. 



