336 NATUEAL HISTORY OF 



ZOOPHYTE COLLECTING AND PEESERYING. 



In a previous chapter I have pointed out the zones 

 or areas in which the principal species of zoophytes are 

 to be foundj and the method of collecting very much 

 depends upon the species desired. For the littoral 

 species^ the best course is to select a day when the 

 tide will be far out, and to follow it in its ebb^ searching 

 all the rock-pools and crevices, and turning over the 

 sea- weeds carefully to see if any of the desired treasures 

 are concealed there. Much may be done on the spot 

 in the way of collecting, but it is always desirable to 

 take away small quantities of the weeds and shells 

 which come in the way, and reserve them for micro- 

 scopical investigation at home, as many of the minute 

 species easily escape observation made merely on the 

 coast itself. A good way to discover many of the 

 delicate species is that recommended by the Eev. Thos. 

 Hincks, namely, to lie down at full length beside the 

 rock-pools, and look for the shadows cast upon the 

 sides. By this means very delicate species may be 

 sometimes easily detected. Many of the species may 

 be found attached to the long floating leaves of Lami- 

 naria, and the roots of that weed are sometimes perfect 

 museums of both hydroids and polyzoa. It is remark- 

 able how different species appear to be localized even 

 in a very narrow area. For instance, in such a narrow 

 space as the Menai Straits, I have found A. pluma in 

 abundance in one part, and nowhere else, and other 

 species appeared to be localized in a similar manner. 

 For the Medusae, a hand-net is the readiest means of 

 capture. The Sertularians and larger species must be 

 dredged for to be taken alive, but the polypidoms may 



