PREFACE. 



Tms volume is published with the hope of supplying 

 a want often expressed for some seaside book of a popu- 

 lar character, describing the marine animals common to 

 our shores. There are many English books of this kind ; 

 but they relate chiefly to the animals of Great Britain, 

 and can only have a general bearing on those of our own 

 coast, which are for the most part specifically different 

 from their European relatives. While keeping this ob- 

 ject in view, an attempt has also been made to present 

 the facts in such a connection, with reference to prin- 

 ciples of science and to classification, as will give it in 

 some sort the character of a manual of Natural History, 

 in the hope of making it useful not only to the general 

 reader, but also to teachers and to persons desirous of 

 obtaining a more intimate knowledge of the subjects 

 discussed in it. With this purpose, although nearly all 

 the illustrations are taken from among the most com- 

 mon inhabitants of our bay, a few have been added 

 from other locahties in order to fill out this little sketch 

 of Radiates, and render it, as far as is possible within 

 such limits, a complete pictm-e of the type. 



