CLOSE OF THE DAY S WORK. 35 



■vvieldy. I quickly discarded all but the smallest, and 

 bought half-a-dozen glass jars of nearly a foot high, 

 which have proved very serviceable. When an animal 

 dies, and the mortality is great, it is easier to discover 

 and remove the corpse, and change the water from a 

 small jar than from a tank : moreover, in jars you can 

 keep your animals separate ; and animals are not more 

 amiable to each other than men ; the strong devour 

 the weak without any religious scruples. To the jars 

 were added shallow earthenware pans, for Actiniae, 

 and some animals which the Actinias would not 

 molest. 



Our day's produce fakly sorted, the work of identifi- 

 cation begins. It is not enouo-h to know that we have 

 got a Polype, an Eolis, or an Annelid before us ; we 

 also desire to know what species of each ; and this is 

 sometimes a work of lono- and troublesome investio:a- 

 tion, because even if the species is not one hitherto 

 undescribed, we may have great difiiculty in identify- 

 ing it by descriptions. This tries the patience, but it 

 exercises the faculties, and greatly sharpens knowledge 

 by forcing attention upon details. 



And here a word respecting the books you ought to 

 put in your box. For reading, properly so called, the 

 naturalist has little time while at the coast; but certain 

 books will be constantly referred to. All the books on 

 Natural History, or Comparative Anatomy, you can 

 buy, beg, or borrow, will be found of use ; but if your 

 portmanteau refuses the burden of many volumes, it is 

 well you should know what will be most ser\4ceable. 



