290 The Scottish Naturalist. 



antennina), on the chimney-piece in the parlour of the inn at Wey- 

 bourn in which he lived, excited his interest, and turned his tastes 

 towards Natural History, and he began to collect the marine pro- 

 ducts, and the peebles, around Weybourn, attracted by their beauty. 

 He was soon transferred to Sherringham ; where he became ac- 

 quainted with the Rev. J. Layton. This gentleman lent him books, 

 and assisted him in beginning those studies in which he afterwards 

 distinguished himself. Among the books was a work on British 

 Zoophytes, the descriptions and engravings in which Mr. Peach 

 copied for his own use. He also assisted Mr. Layton to explore 

 the cliffs and forest-bed of the. Norfolk coast, and to collect the 

 series of elephants' teeth and bones from that locality now in the 

 British Museum. 



He had various removes from place to place ; and when about 

 30 years of age, while at Cley, he married. He had by this time 

 risen to have charge of the station. Soon he was sent to Lyme 

 Regis in Dorsetshire ; and thereafter successively to stations in 

 Devon and in Cornwall. He constantly pursued his investigations 

 of the marine fauna and flora ; and added much to earlier records. 

 Dr. Johnston, in the second edition of his "History of British 

 Zoophytes," bears frequent testimony to the assistance he received 

 from Peach ; and works by various other writers upon the marine 

 fauna bear evidence to his assiduity and success in this field, not 

 a few species bearing his name. Charles Darwin, in his work on 

 British Cirrhipedia, quotes his observations on points in the life- 

 history of the Acorn-shells (Balani) of the Cornish coast. While 

 stationed in Cornwall, he examined the rocks along the coast at 

 east and west Looe, Polperro, Fowey, and elsewhere. It had 

 previously been supposed that they were non-fossiliferous ; but he 

 found numerous fossils in them belonging to the Old Red Sand- 

 stone period ; and correctly determined these to be fish remains. 



In 1 841, he attended a meeting of the British Association at 

 Plymouth ; and read a paper " On the Organic Fossils of Cornwall." 

 In later years he frequently attended the meetings, and took part 

 in the proceedings. He soon gained recognition by the value and 

 accuracy of his scientific labour. He was promoted to the position 

 of Landing Waiter at Fowey, with a salary of ^100 a year. 

 While there, his scientific merits were recognised by his election 

 as an honorary member of the various scientific societies in Corn- 

 wall, and he added extensive series of Devonian fossils to the 



