FAUNA OF THE CLYDE SEA-AREA. 
463 
the case of the Kilbrennan Basin. These groups must there- 
fore he left out of account in comparing the different basins 
with each other. [Furthermore, the Worms and Sponges have 
been very incompletely studied. Many specimens I was only 
able to refer to their generic position, and hence it seems advi- 
sable to omit these groups also from consideration for the 
present. 
Deducting the figures corresponding to them, we have the 
following modified list of the total numbers of species from each 
basin : — 
Brodick Basin 62 
Kilbrennan Basin 96 
Inchmarnoch Basin 123 
C umbrae Basin 63 
Total from Arran Basin 197 
Upper Loch Fyne 60 
Loch Striven 40 
Dunoon Basin 87 
Loch Gfoil 44 
Upper Loch Long 36 
Gareloch 32 
This revised series of totals proves beyond all doubt that the 
richest fauna is in those basins which are in closest proximity to 
the sea, and that it diminishes as we proceed into the more land- 
locked portions of the district. An exception, which is, however, 
more apparent than real, will be noticed in the fact that a larger 
number of species has been found in the Inchmarnoch Basin 
than in either the Brodick or Kilbrennan Basins. This is, I 
believe, to be explained partly by the fact that the Inchmarnoch 
Basin is much larger than either of the others, and descends to 
a greater depth, and partly by the circumstance that more 
dredgings have been carried out in it. If we take the Arran 
Basin as a whole the truth of the above proposition is obvious. It 
is, of course, just what might have been anticipated beforehand in 
view of the marine origin of the whole fauna, but it is satisfactory 
to have the matter established by actual investigation. 
It will be of some interest to consider the relationships of this 
fauna as a whole, and particularly to ascertain which of the 
neighbouring faunas it most closely resembles. 
