BRITISH ZOOPHYTES. 337 



often be found in good condition thrown up by the 

 returning tide. No locality must be considered un- 

 suitable, be it the stem of a weed or the carapace of a 

 crustacean, for the Le]prali(je and many other polyzoa 

 are ubiquitous. 



Many of the anemones may be kept alive for months 

 in aquaria, and with a little trouble may be maintained 

 in health. They are very beautiful ornaments, to 

 say nothing of their value to the student. When a 

 collection has been obtained, it should be carefully 

 preserved. The best and most effective method of 

 preservation for all the plant-like forms is undoubtedly 

 in spirits of wine. In this medium the branches 

 and pinnge unfold, and the zoophytes look as if in 

 their native element. From this medium also portions 

 may readily be taken for mounting as microscopic 

 objects ; they should, however, be passed through oil 

 of cloves before going into the balsam. It is not con- 

 venient always to keep a large collection in spirits, 

 and where this is the case, such of the specimens as 

 are not absolutely required to be preserved in fluid 

 should be well cleaned, and mounted upon black or 

 white cardboard with the name and locality clearly 

 marked beside them. Such of the polyzoa as are 

 found incrusting shells, stones, &c., should be placed 

 in separate boxes, if possible with glass tops, and in 

 all cases carefully named, as, from the absence of 

 spines or markings, or the usage to which a specimen 

 has been subjected, a great deal of time is often re- 

 quired to be expended for its identification; and in 

 order that this time and trouble should not be wasted, 

 each specimen should be immediately labelled or placed 

 in a labelled box when once its name has been ascer- 



