5704 MoUusks. 



scale, though equally valuable as regards the particular branch of the 

 Invertebrata to which they have relation. Although much remains 

 to be done, and no one district has, as yet, been thoroughly investi- 

 gated in all the branches of Marine Zoology ; yet it is probable that 

 our seas have been more thoroughly searched than those which wash 

 the shores of any other portion of the world. This being the case, it 

 is much to be regretted that those who have been most active in their 

 investigations and who have devoted much time, trouble and money, 

 to dredging and other means of capturing and studying the denizens 

 of our salt waters, should keep all their knowledge to themselves, and 

 that the results of their investigations should have been so very 

 partially made known. 



It is my intention to give somewhat similar lists to those of 

 Mr. Gordon on the Marine Invertebrata of the Firth of Clyde. Will 

 not other naturalists who have carefully examined any particular dis- 

 trict of our coasts give the readers of the ' Zoologist' an insight into 

 the result of their labours, by publishing some account of them in its 

 pages ? I know many of its readers who would warmly welcome such 

 lists, if full and carefully prepared, but the greatest care should be 

 taken that no mistakes be made in the discrimination of species ; I 

 mention this from having not unfrequently found the most egregious 

 blunders in local lists relating to objects of Natural History : above 

 all, if an error be made and afterwards discovered, it should be at 

 once rectified ; all are liable occasionally to fall into error, but it is 

 unpardonable, when others have been misled by us, not to correct 

 them if in our power. 



The district which these notes are intended to include is that 

 portion of the " Clyde Province " which constitutes the " Firth 

 of Clyde " proper. It thus embraces that part of the Clyde Province 

 which lies between the Isles of Bute and Arran and the Ayrshire 

 coast, extending southwards as far as the town of Maybole and 

 the southernmost point of the Isle of Arran. It excludes that part 

 which lies to the west of Bute and Arran, namely Kilbrannan Sound 

 and Loch Fyne, as well as those waters which extend from the 

 southern extremity of Arran to the Irish Coast. In these parts I 

 have never dredged : Loch Fyne is glorious ground ; would that 

 my dredge had formed its acquaintance ! It will be seen that 

 the arm of the sea to which this paper refers is a comparatively 

 limited one, but it will be found to be extremely productive in 

 all branches of Marine Zoology. 



