MAEINE BIOLOGICAL STATION ON PUFFIN ISLAND. 17 



beach, where one can land — in the dark. On striking a 

 match it is seen that the sides of the cave are closely en- 

 crusted with various kinds of colonial and sessile animals, 

 especially with sponges, the characteristic feature of the 

 place. Here Dr. Hanitsch revels in P achy mat isma joJin- 

 stoni, Dercitus hucklancli, PhtmoJialichondria atrosan- 

 guinea, and other many-hued slimy-looking Tetractinellids 

 and Monactinellids. Here he first found, a few years ago, 

 the rare new genus which has been named " Seiriola,'" in 

 honour of our sainted predecessor on the isle (probably a 

 good biologist according to the lights of his day and 

 generation), who lived, as the naturahst always loves to do, 

 beside the sea, the rocks, and the Puffins, and who possibly 

 shoved his coracle on a cahn evening into the sponge caves 

 and saw in the dim light those curious white masses on 

 the rock which some thirteen centuries after were dedicated 

 to his memory. 



The calm weather also enabled us to land upon the 

 Beacon rocks and explore their recesses and fissures. By 

 the way, why has this beacon, standing on a dangerous 

 rock surrounded by strong currents and eddies, in a 

 channel frequented by fishing boats, flats, and other small 

 coasting craft, not got any means by which a man reaching 

 its base might cling on for a time or even chmb to the 

 top ? A close-fitting iron ladder and a few rings and hooks 

 would probably offer but little opposition to the flow of 

 water over the smooth rounded masonry, and might at 

 any time be the saving of the occupants of a boat carried 

 against the rocks or upset in the immediate neighbourhood 

 of the beacon. 



Wliile suggesting improvements, I may be allowed to 

 point out the excellent opportunity which the walls of our 

 biological station would offer to an art teacher, and say 

 half a dozen students, for the planning and carrying out 



