90 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



it is highly probable that this shell may be found to be 

 widely distributed throughout - the Irish Sea. Scrobicu- 

 laria has been found mostly in the stomachs of Plaice, 

 Dabs, Haddock and Flounder. 



Mactra stidtoricm and M. elliptica : — These two shell- 

 fish which have been taken in large numbers off the Zebra 

 buoy, K. Mersey, and also off the Eibble Gut Bar in com- 

 paratively shallow water — 2 or 3 fathoms, constitute a 

 not inconsiderable element in the food of Plaice and Dabs 

 of small size (up to 12 inches) which are found in the 

 territorial waters. Their young afford also a considerable 

 amount of food to the very young fish stages from If in. 

 upwards. 



Tellina balthica and Cardinal eclule : — these two shell- 

 fish are put together as they generally occur together, the 

 Tellina being extremely abundant on the extensive cockle 

 beds of this district, and both are of very great importance 

 in furnishing food to the fry of the flat-fishes at a time 

 when they first become ground feeders and leave off 

 eating copepods. 



Gorbida gibba: — This small shell-fish, notable for having 

 its two valves unequal, has been found to furnish food to 

 considerable numbers of flat-fish on certain grounds where 

 it is found, especially in a locality off Morecambe Bay, 

 Blackcomb bearing N.E. f E., at 14 fathoms, where it 

 must be extremely abundant. 



Philine aperta : — This soft mollusc is to be found in 

 great numbers off the Bibble, Gut Bar, at the seaward side 

 of Blackpool closed ground, and also at the bottom end of 

 the Horse Channel on the mud, in a moderate depth of 

 water. It has so far been taken chiefly in the stomachs 

 of skate. 



Pecten opercidaris and one or two other species of the 

 genus are to be found in large numbers on the deep 



