348 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



samples : — Pecten, Cardium, Nucula, Emarginula, Trochus, 

 Dentalium, Area, Solen, Buccinum, and one specimen of 

 Eulimella scillae. 



Other organic constituents are echinoid spines, polyzoa 

 (free and encrusted on the stones), serpulid tubes on the 

 stones, a few terebellid tubes, Balanus, Echinocyamus pusillus, 

 and zoophytes adhering to the larger shells and stones. 



A fact worthy of remark is that, although the stones, in 

 these samples from the " Hole," have no sharp corners nor 

 rough edges, none of them are rounded and smooth after the 

 manner usually associated with water-worn gravel. Add to 

 this the fact that the great majority of them are absolutely 

 encrusted with polyzoa, serpulid tubes, zoophytes, &c, and 

 we have proof, I think, that in this particular area the currents 

 and tides are not sufficiently strong to affect the heavier 

 particles of the sea-bottom ; and as many of the smallest 

 stones support the growth of various organisms, it seems 

 likely that at this, the deepest portion of the Eastern half of 

 the Irish Sea (20-23 fathoms), there is practically no disturbance 

 of the sea-floor at all. 



IY. [24.] 11/6/13. 23 miles W.N.W. of Piel Gas Buoy. 



In contrast to the samples obtained at the station " 25 

 miles W.N.W. of Piel Gas Buoy," which were fairly coarse, 

 this sample obtained only two miles away is very different. 

 It is almost wholly composed of a very fine quartz sand in 

 which minute pieces of some delicate molluscan shells are 

 disseminated — probably some species of Solen or Tellina. 



This sand, as seen under the microscope, consists of very 

 angular quartz grains for the most part, though a small pro- 

 portion of rounded particles are also present. Magnetite is 

 common in small specks. Many echinoid spines, a few annelid 

 setae, and one or two " turnings " of polychaets were also 

 found. Two samples were taken at this station on the above 



