PREFACE. 



The following pages may be considered a census of the col- 

 lection of the Author, and therefore of little more than local 

 value. 



The synopsis of the Fauna is far from being complete, 

 since circumstances have prevented much addition to obser- 

 vations made many years ago, when, perhaps, experience in 

 such investigations was less matured, though opportunity 

 might have been more ample. It may be regarded, indeed, 

 as a list of the more conspicuous forms in each group ; for 

 with so wide a field nothing like an exhaustive catalogue 

 could be attempted. The latter circumstance, however, may 

 prove an encouragement to those who may be interested in 

 the subject, from the facility with which additions can be 

 made to the lists. 



The beach at St. Andrews has afforded a harvest to numerous 

 zoologists. The late Dr. John Reid, Professor of Medicine, 

 made many original observations on the Nudibranchiate 

 mollusks, molluscoids, and Polyzoa. The genial and dis- 

 tinguished Prof. Edward Forbes also knew the value of the 

 specimens thrown ashore on the West Sands. The late Dr. 

 < i. E. Day (the accomplished successor of Dr. J. Reid), aided 

 by Miss Otic, always encouraged his students to cultivate a 

 knowledge of the riches <<t' the bay. The late Dr. Fraser 



