20 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. 



however, and at the expiration of two months one was found to have 

 become developed into a perfect but very small actinia. It is now 

 (after six months) alive, but has never increased in size ; it continues 

 closely shut up, when there is a fresh supply of water, for some days, 

 but after a week, and from that to a fortnight, fully expands again, 

 For this reason the water has not been changed more than six times 

 since it has been in my possession. No pabulum of any kind has 

 ever been given. It seems to make no difference whether the stopper is 

 kept in the bottle or not, so far as the animal's health is concerned. 

 These creatures were shy of expanding during the day, and then were 

 as flat as a coin. I used always to pay them a visit before bedtime, 

 knowing that I should be repaid by a view of their full-blown expan- 

 sion during the previous darkness. The stimulus of candle light used 

 to set their tentacula in active motion, without making them " retire 

 for the night." 



Mr. Byerley is still, and we trust may long continue to 

 be, with us ; more cannot, therefore, be said than that the 

 author of the Fauna was more anxious for justice to be done 

 to the labours of his friends than to his own ; a proclivity 

 which may account for the following sentence in the preface 

 to the Fauna ; — 



" These remarks are made as an apology for any short-comings in 

 this first attempt at a Fauna, the materials for which must always be 

 receiving additions, and thus it never can be perfect. Much as I may 

 feel on my own account, I must not dilate upon its imperfections, in 

 justice to several industrious workers who have kindly assisted. Whilst 

 dredging, the Rev. H. H. Higgins, Messrs. Webster, Samuel Archer, 

 Marrat, and Cameron, afforded the greatest help ; without their efforts 

 much of the information relative to the creatures in the neighbouring 

 waters could not have been obtained. The last-named gentleman 

 undertook, single-handed, the not over agreeable or safe duty of 

 dredging the Mersey." 



That Mr. Byerley still continues to take a lively interest 

 in our Local Marine Biology, is evident by a note the writer 

 received from him, January 23rd, 1886 : — 



"I should be very glad if you will keep a good look out for 



