MALACOSTRACA FROM THE WEST OF IRELAND. 161 



up to the supernatant water, and were taken by pouring 

 it through muslin. In this manner I procured, among 

 other species, several specimens of Phoxocephalus pec- 

 tinatus, Walker. 



In his Presidential Address to Section D of the British 

 Association at Ipswich (Kep. B. A., 1895, p. 702), Dr. 

 Herdman expressed his dissent from Dr. John Murray's 

 opinion that a greater number of species of marine 

 animals is to be found in the mud at a depth of about 100 

 fathoms than at lesser depths. Dr. Herdman's examples 

 to prove the contrary were from hauls on various, but 

 chiefly sandy or stony, bottoms. It has struck me that 

 Dr. Murray might fairly object to the hauls in shallower 

 waters on bottoms other than fine mud (as it usually is, I 

 believe, at 100 fathoms) being compared with his captures 

 on such ground ; and as the mud south of Valentia pier 

 was very fine mud, free from sand, I offer the following 

 figures as showing the difference in the number of species 

 taken there and in equally fine mud at about 45 fathoms 

 between the Isle of Man and Ireland. It is, however, 

 quite possible that the composition of the two muds is 

 different. 



1. 45 fathoms, 7 miles west of Niarbyl, July 8th, 1894. 

 Steamer "John Fell." Large dredge with tow -net 

 attached to bag, and small brass dredge with cheese-cloth 

 bag. Duration of haul probably one hour. 



Crustacea taken — 



Podophthalmata (Gonoplax and Calocaris) 2 sp. 

 Amphipoda ... ... ... ... ... 1 ,, 



2. H fathoms, S.S.E. of Yalentia pier, August 26th, 

 1896. Tow-net attached to iron rake. Two hauls about 

 ten minutes each. 



