Loch is a little to the west, and has a good flat weedy margin on the south side, rich in Microzoa. Still a little further westward is what is called the "Blind" or "Spectacle Loch." It is rather deep round the edges, and overgrown with water-lilies; and I am much inclined to support Dr. Brady's opinion, that where lilies are plentiful Ostracoda are scarce. On the eastern side, close to the village, we have "Kirk Loch," said to cover 50 acres. It did not seem to promise well on the side we were on, and only a few trials were made, which did not yield much. A little to the east is "Castle Loch," which is of considerable extent, being said to be three miles in circumference, and to cover above 150 acres. Like other large lochs, the margins are too much dashed by the waves to favour the growth of weed suitable to harbour Ostracoda. At some little distance to the north east is "Broomhill Loch," or, as it is called by some, "Loch Broom." This is also a large loch, but, unlike some of the others, has a great extent of low weedy margin favourable to the growth of Ostracoda. Amongst the gatherings from this loch were Cypris cinerea and Darwinella Stevenstoni, new to Scotland. The following were obtained from the six lochs on 16th July, 1879: Candona euplectella, Sp. nov. B. & R. G. O. Sars. Callum's Tarn.-This is on the south-east end of Bute, about a quarter of a mile northward of Callum's Bay, on the eastern side of Callum Glen, 380 feet or so above the sea-level. The tarn is about 200 yards long, and 50 broad, and is well filled with vegetation. The greater part of the eastern side is firm turf, the two ends and western side are softer, but can be worked with little difficulty, and are the richest in Ostracoda. There are three other smaller tarns on the same ridge towards the south, and another, a short distance from the first, towards the north. These I have found of little consequence-still they are worth a trial, for different seasons gave different results, as below: Craigengower Tarn, on the hill-side, south of Craigengower farm, Cumbrae. This patch of water may be about 30 yards long, by about 15 broad. It is well covered with vegetation. The tarn is tolerably firm round the margins, and may be 2 or 3 feet deep towards the middle. Spiders and beetles are in abundance, and at all times it may be calculated upon to yield a gathering of Ostracoda of more or less interest, such as Lewis and Skye.-These islands, so far as can be judged from a brief excursion, are far from being good hunting ground for freshwater Ostracoda. Although lochs and tarns are in abundance they are mostly in peat, which, from its acidulous properties, does not favour the development of those animals possessing a calcareous covering. Besides, there is a great sameness in the character of the lochs, the product of one being nearly like that of a dozen others, and it is only now and again that we happen to find one of a different mineral character. It is chiefly to the flat ochreous marshes and roadside ditches that we owe our best results. Bardia fulva, Brady. Monog. Recent Brit. Ost., p. 474, pl. xxviii., fig. 21. Brady & Robertson. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. iv., vol. iii., p. 365, pl. xviii., figs. 1-4. Potamocypris fulva, Brady. Nat. Hist. Trans. Northumberland and Brady, Crosskey, and Robertson. Monog. Post-ter. Rather rare-Garnock old water-course, Kilwinning (J. Smith); Montrose Basin; Scarpa Floe, Orkney (D. O. Drewit); Hillerhurst Old Quarry, Kilwinning; side of Glasgow and Paisley Canal; the islands of Lewis and Skye. CYPRIS FUSCA, Straus. Cypris fusca, Straus-Durckheim. Mem. du Mus. d'Hist. Nat., vol. vii., p. 59. -pilosa, (?) Müller. Entomostraca, p. 59, tab. vi., figs. 5-6. -oblonga, Brady. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (1864), vol. xiii., p. 59, Candona hispida, Baird, Brit. Entom., p. 161, tab. xix., fig. 4. Not uncommon in ponds, lochs, and shallow ditches, all the year round. Common in Frankfield Loch, near Glasgow, and in brackish ponds in Cumbrae. In a ditch in a plantation about a mile from Bothwell, on the Bellshill Road, the species was found in great abundance, together with a few of a long variety. Common in the lochs of Lochmaben. In confinement they are occasionally very active, swimming about, and sometimes coming up and resting on the side of the vessel. At other times, although plentiful in the gathering, scarcely one is seen till they have been a day or two in confine ment. CYPRIS INCONGRUENS, Ramdohr. Cypris incongruens, Ramdohr, Ueber die Gattung Cypris; der naturforsch. Cypris aurantia, Jurine. Brit. Entom., p. 159, tab. xiv., fig. 13. ruter, Jurine. Op. cit., p. 172. Found not unfrequently on bottom mud of lochs and ponds; common in Lochend Loch and Gartcosh Loch, east of Glasgow; very abundant in a brackish lagoon on Hunterston shore, Ayrshire; moderately common in a greenhouse tank, Cumbrae; also in the bottom mud of a mill cooling pond, Paisley. Where the water issued into the pond, the temperature was 90° Fahr. and the surface water 80° Fahr., and they were found in the mud furthest from the heat. The only other Ostracod seen was Cypridopsis vidua, which was abundant at a grassy margin where the heat was 85° Fahr., none being found in the cooler mud. On the other hand, none of C. incongruens were found at the margins in the greater heat with C. vidua. C. incongruens swims briskly through the water in confinement. When brought to the side with the brush, it shuts its valves and ceases to move, making no attempt to escape, and seldom resuming action for some time. CYPRIS VIRENS, Jurine. Cypris virens, Lillj. De Crust. ex ord. trib., p. 117. Brady, Crosskey, and Robertson. Mon. Post-ter. Ent., p. 124. A common species in ponds and ditches, sometimes in ponds more or less brackish, above high-water mark. In confinement it swims with great briskness, yet it is easily brought to the side with a camel-hair pencil, and lies motionless for a time before resuming its activity. When left on the surface of the water it seems to have little power to go down again. When attempting to swim on the surface, it goes round and round in a very circumscribed circle, appearing at times as if turning on a pivot; yet when under water it makes frequent curves and deflections. It can swim in straight lines, but apparently not with the same speed. When swimming, all the feet, as well as the antennæ, appear to be in motion. The colour is generally green, but subject to much variation from that colour to greenish drab-in some cases banded or mottled with greenish black. CYPRIS OBLIQUA, Brady. Cypris obliqua, Brady. Mon. Rec. Brit. Ost., p. 364. Common in tarns and ponds. In great abundance in a tarn on the hill above Callum's Bay, south-east end of Bute; abundant and dark in colour in an old quarry hole, subject to the spray of the sea, Cumbrae; but when the gathering was taken, the water was nearly dried up, and the weed all in a state of decay. Common in a tarn on a hillside on Craigengower farm, and all bright green. In a gathering at Glen Helen, Isle of Man, the colour being a fine brown; Isle of Skye moderately common. |