*34 



HARD J VI CKE >S S CI EN CE-GO SSI P. 



( Pagurus Bernhardii ) were also inclosed. On more 

 closely examining some of the sea-weed, I found 

 several specimens of Caprella linearis, a most 

 grotesque-looking animal, its movements very much 

 resembling the walk of the looper caterpiller (Brim- 

 stone Moth), also a specimen of Nympkon gracilis, 

 very few shells, and those very common ones. 



On looking over the result the next day, I found a 

 great quantity of foraminifera. I also found a few 

 sponges and zoophytes : of the latter, Laomedea 

 genicidata was the most common ; also two specimens 

 of Luccrnaria, and, of course, any quantity of 

 Membranipora pilosa. 



The next day's work was undertaken in company 

 with Dr. Battersby, who kindly gave me the benefit 

 of his knowledge of this coast, of which he is a 

 resident, and we judged it wiser to commence lower 

 down the coast, off a small coast-guard station, called 

 Kells ; but although the water was considerably 

 deeper and more sheltered, we found very little more 

 to reward the trouble : a few shells, all dead and 

 containing Pagurus, a dead specimen of the "shoul- 

 der of mutton " shell {Aporrhais pes-pelicani), and 

 one living A T atica. In the cavities of some of the 

 roots of the Tangle {Lai/iinaria bulbosa) brought up, 

 -a few specimens of Patella pellucida were found. We 

 also obtained a few specimens of Ophiocoma ncglecta 

 and one of O. rosida ; but on the whole, probably 

 because of the sharp currents running along the 

 •coast, the conditions conducing to animal life were 

 not very favourable. 



Before concluding, perhaps a few words respecting 

 the method of preserving specimens collected would 

 not be out of place. The best methylated spirits of 

 wine and ordinary sea-water mixed in the proportion 

 of one part spirit to five water, is as good as any for 

 the majority of forms. In first mixing, the spirit, 

 owing to the resin in it, is apt to throw down a cloudy 

 precipitate. This may be got rid of by adding to the 

 mixture about an ounce of bicarbonate of soda to each 

 quart, and filtering the whole through paper. Sea- 

 weeds may be simply spread out and dried. If it be 

 wished to get the shells of foraminifera from sand 

 dredged up, a good plan is to dry the sand 

 thoroughly in a moderately warm oven, and when 

 perfectly free from moisture, allow them to cool, and 

 gently place the whole in a vessel of water, when the 

 sand will sink to the bottom, whilst the foraminifera, 

 containing air in their chambers, will float. The now 

 separated foraminifera may be easily selected under 

 a lens by simply picking them out with a camel-hair 

 brush, to which they will adhere, if it be drawn 

 through the lips : they may be afterwards mounted 

 dry or in balsam. Before throwing any of the dredge 

 contents overboard, it is a wise plan to place the sea- 

 weed, or at least the feathery forms, in fresh water, 

 as unexpected discoveries are revealed by this means — 

 minute forms, whose very existence was unsuspected, 

 are compelled to declare themselves. 



To briefly sum up, the dredger must have plenty of 

 patience, must not mind wetting, evil smells, although 

 on a sandy coast this is not very bad, and must trust 

 as little as he possibly can to a boatman's assistance 

 in soiling over his spoil, else half his treasures will 

 be lost. A few good books for identifying his results 

 are, I need not say, invaluable. The ones I have 

 found very useful are Gosse's "Marine Zoology:" 

 this will give the genera of the animal spoil, while 

 "British Sea-weeds," by W. H. Harvey, will supply 

 the botanical want. If, however, the latter is too 

 expensive, there is a small shilling book by Mrs. Lane 

 Clarke that is veiy useful. One, however, of the best 

 general books, embracing a good deal, in fact, of nearly 

 every class of sea plunder that the beginner is likely 

 to come across, is "Half-hours at the Sea-side," by 

 J. E. Taylor. 



In conclusion, I can assure my readers that if any 

 one of them care to devote his holiday to dredging, 

 he will not only make a great acquisition to his 

 marine knowledge, but also to his health ; and I only 

 wish that he may have as lovely surroundings in 

 scenery as I had. H. A. Francis. 



HOW TO MAKE AN HERBARIUM. 



A CHAPTER FOR YOUNG COLLECTORS. 



By John W. Buck, B. Sc 



AS the summer advances doubtless many young 

 lovers of nature will begin again gathering 

 wild-flowers, and bringing them home in nosegays, as 

 they have often done before, to be looked at for an 

 hour or two and then, when withered, thrown away. 

 Some may have tried ere this to dry them, and so 

 to keep a record of their industry and their love for 

 flowers, but may not have succeeded to their own 

 satisfaction for want of a little help or instruction to 

 begin with. It is for such that I intend this paper. 

 To make an herbarium may sound a very imposing 

 task, but such it need not be, for it can be done 

 slowly and gradually — a plant at a time, if need be — 

 and the flowers, when thoroughly dried and mounted, 

 if taken care of will keep an indefinite time and be a 

 lasting source of enjoyment. Nothing is so condu- 

 cive to a knowledge of our British wild-flowers as to 

 make as complete a collection as possible of them ; 

 although those who take my advice and make the 

 attempt will probably be surprised to find how few 

 flowers they already know, and how many there are 

 hidden away under the hedges or in the woods which 

 they never saw before. An object such as this gives 

 a new zest to our country walks, besides making us 

 find out new ones ; gives us pleasant associations 

 with particular spots as being the places where we 

 first found such and such a new flower, fern, or moss ; 

 and above all gives us new and brightened views of 

 nature and of nature's God. 



