Proceedings of the British Association. 273 



position was illustrated by examples from the various families of 

 mammalia. He thought, that in our usual systems of zoology, a too 

 exclusive regard had been given to the structure and form of the 

 teeth. 



Prof. E. Forbes read a ' Notice of Additions to the Marine Fauna 

 discovered by Mr. R. M 'Andrew since the last meeting of the Asso- 

 ciation.' — He also read the Report of the Dredging Committee. This 

 Report consisted of a tabulated list of depths at which above ninety 

 species of marine animals, chiefly the later British Mollusca, Radiata, 

 and Zoophytes, were taken by Mr. M 'Andrew during a series of 

 dredgings from the Scilly Isles to the Hebrides, since the last meeting. 



A letter was read by the Secretary from Capt. Portlock, replying 

 to the remarks made at York by Prof. E. Forbes on the results 

 of his dredging at Corfu. — The account then read, he had not 

 wished to be considered a complete Report, but as an indication of 

 progress. In conclusion, Capt. Portlock stated, that, " in dredg- 

 ing, a conclusion from a very limited range of research is as 

 dangerous as similar conclusions have been in geological inquiries. 

 For example, a hasty deduction from the appearance of an animal at 

 a particular depth of water is evidently imperfect, as the nature of 

 the bottom and the description of the marine vegetation are more 

 likely to modify such appearances. I see, for example, that Prof. Bell 

 quotes the discovery of Eurynome aspera by Prof. Forbes in the 

 deep water of the Egean as a proof that the species is essentially a 

 deep water one, both in the Mediterranean and the Northern Seas. 

 Here, however, I have found it just at the verge of the rocks, where 

 sea-weeds prevail, and therefore in comparatively shallow waters — 

 i. e. from ten to sixteen fathoms. Other northern species, such as 

 Ebalia Pennantii, Achceus Crouchii, (if I am right in my identifica- 

 tion of them,) I have found under similar circumstances ; and I am, 

 therefore, the more inclined to ascribe their existence to the local 

 peculiarities of vegetation than to the depth." 



Prof. E. Forbes stated, in reply, that he had remarked at the last 

 meeting that Capt. Portlock' s Report was not drawn up according to 

 the forms of the Dredging Committee ; and that he had described, 

 for want of books, as new, genera and species which were known. — 

 Prof. Ansted commented on the importance of the contributions of 



