92 



CELTIC PROVINCE. 



large star-fishes, and peculiar worms. And, deeper 

 still, there appears to be another region, in which 

 none of these animals are known to be found. The 

 energetic and philosophical naturalists, who, record- 

 ed these phenomena of distribution, foresaw how 

 important such studies would become eventually 

 through their geological bearings. " La distinction 

 des divers niveaux qu'habitent exclusivement, et 

 quelquefois d'une maniere fort tranchee, les animaux 

 marins, nous a paru d'autant plus importante a 

 faire ressortir, que cette 6tude, poursuivie avec 

 quelques soins, pent etre un jour d'un grand secours 

 a la geologie, et jeter une vive lumiere sur plusieurs 

 theories fondamentales de cette science." 



In a catalogue of the marine testacea of the de- 

 partment of Finisterre, by M. Collar d des Cherres, 

 published in the fourth volume of the " Transac- 

 tions of the Linnsean society of Bordeaux," are some 

 interesting indications of the southernmost limits of 

 the Celtic province. The general assemblage of 

 mollusks and radiate animals in this locality is de- 

 cidedly Celtic. Interspersed, however, are a few 

 well-marked southern forms, either Mediterranean 

 or Lusitanian, which do not reach to the British 

 Channel. Thus we find in this list the names of 

 Purpura hcemastoma, the whelk, which takes the 

 place of Purpura lapillus, more to the south, 

 though, in this district, the two species are together ; 

 JVassa neritea, a curious little whelk, resembling a 

 Nerita in shape, abundant on sandy shores in the 



