82 
ANIMAL LIFE ON THE 
inches, tapering to a point at one end and terminating at 
the other with a blunt double-headed end. In appearance, 
it was like a string of sixteen cucumbers joined together, 
each with a head on each side of the joints resembling that 
of the seal. With the aid of the lens, no feet nor outward 
means of propulsion were observable; but as the creature 
exerted itself towards any particular point, a fluid, which 
was seen through the thin flesh-coloured skin, ran in the 
direction required, and working itself in worm fashion, the 
fluid was kept oscillating between the two extremities. 
Under microscopical inspection, when beneath the water, 
the outward aspect of the substance presented a wonderful 
appearance. From a heterogeneous mass of particles, largely 
composed of black, sprinkled over with white and grey, the 
most magnificent little walls and caves of grotto work were 
seen, polished and rounded, and shining with a seeming 
varnish of the finest lustre. But after all, the delusive 
mansions were composed of fine particles of cinders and coal, 
and the calcined refuse already mentioned, besprinkled over 
with the dust of crumbling shells. From the presence of 
the ingrained matter on the shell, no doubt the efi"ects of 
being exposed for some years to the influence of the 
substance, and from the accumulation of dust and coal 
particles upon its back, fit for the engendering of worm-life, 
it is evident that the creatures, in the upper reaches of the 
Firth at least, are now doomed to plod over a foul bottom 
that can be anything but a healthy element for their 
existence. 
The last, and probably the most culpable of the causes 
for the disappearance of the scallop, in my opinion, is the 
"beam trawl.'' Wherever this destructive implement goes, 
no living thing will escape that is large enough to come up 
in the bag of its meshes; and trawling as it does all the 
