5876 



Mollusks, 



the Ardrossan sands, in Ayrshire ; a similar but smaller one is also com- 

 mon in Lamlash Bay, Isle of Arran, where it is gathered alive at low 

 water to feed pigs (Alder)," F. H. Dr. Landsborough tells us that 

 the name " Aikens," applied to Mactra subtruncata, is confined to the 

 Lowlands ; " in the Highlands it is called ' Mureck-baan ; ' baan de- 

 noting the colour, which is white ; and Mureck, it is probable, being 

 the Celtic origin of the Latin Murex, the shell-fish which yielded the 

 Tyrian dye or imperial pui^Dle." — Lands. Excur. p. 218. I must 

 confess that my powers of imagination are at fault, and that I fail to 

 see any connexion between Murex trunculus and Mureck-baan ! 



Mactra Stultorum [Mactra cinerea). This species, together with 

 its variety cinerea, is said by Dr. Landsborough to occur in Lamlash 

 Bay. I have not myself met with it there, or elsewhere in the dis- 

 trict. Ayr, Smilh. 



^Lutraria elliptica. During very low spring tides a sand bank is 

 laid bare at Fintry Bay, Cumbrae, extending along the shore, from 

 w hich it is separated by a belt of water a foot or so deep ; at such 

 times fishermen and others go to the bank for the purpose of pro- 

 curing " Spout-fish " and the Lutraria, which they take there abun- 

 dantly and of great size. I have likewise taken young specimens 

 with the dredge between Clachland Point and the Corriegills, Arran. 



Fam. XII. VeneridcB, 



*Tapes decussata [Veiuis decussata). This local, but for the most 

 part, where present, abundant shell, must, I think, be regarded with 

 some doubt as a native of the Clyde. Dr. Landsborough mentions it 

 twice (at pp. 337 and 362) in his ' Excursions,' but he does not give it 

 in his more recent lists ; nor has it been met with by Mr. Smith or 

 myself. 



* „ pullastra {Pullastra vulgaris, Venus pullastra). Common 

 here as everywhere. Very good examples of the variety perforans, 

 with the shell strongly laminated, especially at the posterior end, 

 occur in crevices in the masses of shale on the shore of Lamlash Bay, 

 and in old Pholas burrows. 



* „ virginea ( Venioriipisvirginea, Pullastra virginea, Venus 

 virginea). Ayr, Bute, Clyde, Smith. 1 have taken unusually large 

 specimens, measuring two inches and four-tenths long, and one and 

 a half inch broad, off the west of Cumbrae. It is frequent in the 

 coralline zone in all parts that I have dredged. 



„ aurea [Venus attrea, Venus (snea). Mr. Smith records 

 this shell from Ayr, and Dr. Landsborough from Arran. At Loch 



