MARINE ZOOLOGY AT OBAN. 
181 
MARINE ZOOLOGY AT OBAN. 
By W. E. Hughes, F.L.S. 
The Sixth Marine Excursion of the Birmingham Natural History 
and Microscopical Society, and the second to Ohan, in the Western 
Highlands of Scotland, extended from 30th June to 10th July last, 
and proved quite equal to its predecessors both in interest and result. 
Twenty-three ladies and gentlemen took part in the Excursion, and 
good quarters were secured at the Great Western Hotel at Oban. 
The weather was very fine, and the time was devoted to dredging in the 
quiet lochs and bays in the vicinity, and to land excursions for exploring 
the botany and geology and the unrivalled scenery of the district. 
For the dredging party an excellent and commodious screw steam 
yacht, the “ Aerolite,” of about sixty tons, was chartered from Messrs. 
Boss and Marshall, of Greenock. Mr. Boss personally undertook the 
management of the vessel, and by his obliging and hearty co-operation, 
and by the willingness of his crew, added much to the success of the 
Excursion. 
Steam gear was for the first time made available for hauling in the 
dredges, trawls, and other instruments, and proved most valuable. 
In addition, Mr. W. P. Marshall, M.I.C.E., had devised two special 
forms of apparatus termed respectively the “ Harrow ” and the 
“ Plough.” These and the other instruments were very ably con¬ 
structed by Mr. A. W. Wills, of Park Mills, Nechells, Birmingham, a 
former President of the Society. A little messenger dredge, measuring 
only ten inches and worked by hand with a thin rope line, was 
extremely useful in ascertaining the nature of the ground. 
The main object of this Excursion was to supplement the captures 
made during 1881 of the Pennatulida (Sea-pens, etc.), and to enable 
Professor Marshall, D.Sc., and Mr. W. P. Marshall (who, it will be 
remembered, obtained the Darwin Gold Medal of the Midland Union 
of Natural History Societies this year for researches on these organisms), 
to determine several interesting points in their life-history. The 
results proved equal to the appliances. Dredging and trawling were 
carried on at various depths from fifteen to one hundred fathoms, but 
generally at a depth of about thirty fathoms, and many most interest¬ 
ing and beautiful specimens were obtained. The “ Harrow ” is a very 
ingenious contrivance, consisting of a series of lines about a yard in 
length, armed with nearly a hundred fish-hooks (without bai’bs) and 
kept in position by short leaden rollers, the whole being attached to an 
axis and supported by two stout galvanised iron wheels. The “ Plough” 
consists of an axis attached to two stout wheels, and carries a few 
strong curved iron bars terminating in spatula-shaped ends for digging 
into the bottom and uprooting certain organisms, the produce being 
carried into a bag-net dragged from the rear. Both instruments 
