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rock, the elbows pointing outward, giving a little spring, and throwing the 

 chest on to the rock as you scramble up. 



A towel in the hand, or a thick pair of Pdngwood gloves is useful in climb- 

 ing rocks, as it enables the hand to be placed on a rock with sharp points 

 without injuring the skin ; it is well to keep the skin as unscratched as 

 possible, as scratches make the hand stiff. Slippery slopes of rock, if not 

 too steep, may be descended with short outward steps, scraping the feet 

 along the surface. These may, if short, be ascended with a rush. 



When collecting, always keep the bottles out of the sunshine, in a shady 

 place ; if possible, sink them in a pool where the water is not quite high 

 enough to run in, this keeps them cool. Take care to mark the spot by 

 some conspicuous object, or it may be difficult to find it again. 



Take the specimens home while alive and examine as soon as possible. It 

 is impossible to make good mounts unless it is known what the living 

 creature is like. It is like drawing the human figure from a mummy. 



Next as to the best collecting places, and the period for work. The best 

 collecting is done at the lowest tide. Every foot that can be got is of the 

 greatest advantage. Everyone knows that there are two high and two low 

 tides in the lunar month — the spring and the neap. The spring tides are 

 the highest and the best for collecting. Those at the equinox are the lowest, 

 but they often come with wind, and therefore a fairly low tide should nut 

 be neglected in hopes of getting a better one at the equinox. The difference 

 in the run of the tide in a rough sea and a calm sea is considerable ; a calm 

 sea is necessary to get to the lowest mark. Follow the tide down, and 

 finish at the lowest point. Keep a good look out and take care not to be cut 

 off by the returning tide. 



Do not waste valuable time in collecting at the low tide what can be got 

 just as well higher up. Practice will soon enable one to distinguish the 

 forms found only on the lower rocks. 



As to places. — There are several modes of collecting, excluding dredging. 

 First, reefs of rocks and the caves. Secondly, rock pools. Thirdly, wreck- 

 age. Fourthly, floating stuff of various kinds. 



On a reef of rocks observe if there is a ridge running out into the sea a 

 long way with caves or chinks in the sides, a little protected from the sea. 

 It must not be where the waves sweep over every part with their full force at 

 every sea. The further out the ridge extends, and the greater difficulty there 

 is in getting to it, the more will probably be found upon it. . 



A large rock may sometimes be found fallen down, and partly supported 

 by two others, forming a species of cave, with a few stones in the opening 

 partly blocking it up. The waves run through, but except at low tide the 

 whole is under water. At low tide it is a pool below and a cave overhead. 

 Its sides may no doubt be troublesome to get at, but extremely prolific. 

 Hanging from the roof, and sticking to the sides, will be found all sorts of 

 creatures. Partial caves of that kind, where the sea is continually running 

 in and out, are extremely good. There are caves at Sark which are only 

 open at the lowest spring tide ; such places furnish specimens not to be found 

 elsewhere. As a rule caves high up the shore are not good places. 



