Marine Zoology. 2521 



Almost every animal renders support to some object, displaying a mutual dependance 

 unknown to the same extent in land zoology : even the inanimate polypidoms of the 

 numerous zoophytes are loaded with parasites in the shape of little worms and shells, 

 and sustain hunches of ' sea-grapes,' a term applied by the fishermen to the eggs of 

 the cuttlefish (Sepia). But amidst these promiscuous obligations, which owe their 

 existence more to accidental contact than harmonious feeling, there is given an occa- 

 sional proof of maternal care, or, to modify the expression, an apparent interest by 

 one animal for the safety of its own species. The mollusk living in the common 

 spindle-shell (Fusus antiquus) illustrates the truth of this remark, by its singular habit 

 of building layers of spawn on the roof of its tenement to the height of three inches, 

 and roving through its native element with the weighty charge. This self-created 

 burden is firmly cemented to the shell, and consists of numerous cells regularly placed 

 over one another, each containing the germs of three young shells, which in due time 

 become fully developed. On a shell of average size, I counted, after opening all the 

 divisions, upwards of two hundred, and each of these had attained a size larger than 

 a grain of barley. Although the spawn of the Fusus is frequently lodged in this 

 manner, yet I believe its general habit is that of depositing it in clusters at the bottom 

 of the sea, at a depth of thirty fathoms and upwards, as I have found in such a situ- 

 ation compact masses as large as a man's head. It may be presumed that lumps 

 like these were the labours of a community, and not piled by one individual. 



The long-clawed lobster is not common at Dunbar ; but a species nearly allied to 

 it, Galathea strigosus, is very frequently taken in crab -cages, along with a small 

 spider-like crustacean named by Pennant the ' Weymouth crab.' Cancer Norvegi- 

 cus of the same author is most abundant : many are got on the fishing-lines ; but the 

 best specimens are to be had from the fish-curer's, who often find more than a dozen 

 in a cod's stomach. Its ordinary length, from the tip of the claws to the extremity 

 of the tail, is about eight or nine inches, although occasionally it is seen double that 

 size : it is never, I believe, used as food. Notwithstanding its numbers, no one ever 

 finds it near the shore in the holes of rocks, as in the case of others of different spe- 

 cies, which in summer shift their position : it appears, therefore, to be a constant 

 resident in deep water. Lithodes arctica, a large spiny crab, proper to the Northern 

 seas, becomes very common, close to the shore, in April, for the purpose it is said of 

 depositing its spawn ; but it is somewhat singular, that out of twenty or thirty obtained 

 from March to May I found only one female. It is sometimes met with at low water, 

 wedged in narrow crevices of rocks, beside the large edible crab (Cancer pagurus), and 

 in deep pools amongst Fuci leaves ; but during the entire winter it abandons the 

 shore, and is seldom got within ten miles from land. 



Halichondria palmata is the only sponge from deep water which is familiar to the 

 fishermen: they do not often take notice of any others, as from their smaller size they 

 escape general observation, or, if seen, are shaken off their lines without a glance of 

 inquiry. The ' sea-fyke,' however, as H. palmata is termed, is carried home, and 

 sometimes — when the specimen is large — made use of by boys at school for washing 

 writing slates. This fine production does not always grow upright, nor are its 

 branches always compressed. It is found growing in broad spreading shapes, forming 

 a union of branches without any stalk. Various pieces procured from the usual 

 fishing-ground had this form ; and all the points of the ramifications, as well as the 

 entire surface, were finely rounded, and of a closer texture than is seen in its most 

 common growth like a plant. When taken from the sea the colour is reddish brown ; 



