FAUNA OF THE CLYDE SEA-AEEA. 



463 



the case of the Kilbrennan Basin. These groups must there- 

 fore be left out of account in comparing the different basins 

 with each other. Furthermore, the Worms and Sponges have 

 been very incompletely studied. Many specimens I was only 

 able to refer to their generic position, and hence it seems advi- 

 sable to omit these groups also from consideration for the 

 present. 



Deducting the figures corresponding to them, we have the 

 following modified list of the total numbers of species from each 



basin ; — 



Brodick Basin 62 



Ealbrennan Basin 96 



Inchmarnoch Basin 123 



C umbrae Basin 63 



Total from Arran Basin 197 



Upper Loch Fyne 60 



Loch Striven 40 



Dunoon Basin 87 



Loch Groil 44 



Tipper Loch Long 36 



Gareloch 32 



This revised series of totals proves beyond all doubt that the 

 richest fauna is in those basins which are in closest proximity to 

 the sea, and that it diminishes as we proceed into the more land- 

 locked portions of the district. An exception, which is, however, 

 more apparent than real, will be noticed in the fact that a larger 

 number of species has been found in the Inchmarnoch Basin 

 than in either the Brodick or Kilbrennan Basins. This is, I 

 believe, to be explained partly by the fact that the Inchmarnoch 

 Basin is much larger than either of the others, and descends to 

 a greater depth, and partly by the circumstance that more 

 dredgings have been carried out in it. If we take the Arran 

 Basin as a whole the truth of the above proposition is obvious. It 

 is, of course, just what might have been anticipated beforehand in 

 view of the marine origin of the whole fauna, but it is satisfactory 

 to have the matter established by actual investigation. 



It will be of some interest to consider the relationships of this 

 fauna as a whole, and particularly to ascertain which of the 

 neighbouring faunas it most closely resembles. 



