XV11. 



The collection, including a fine series of Mollusca, 

 was partly the cause that Mr. Rufford directed his atten- 

 tion to this section of Natural History, and to further 

 illustrate the section many shells were added by him. 

 The fishermen took to him specimens which were usually 

 thrown back into the sea after the day's dredging, and by 

 this means a fine collection of Hydroids and Polyzoa 

 was formed, to which the energies of his later years were 

 specially directed. At one time an effort was made to 

 start Aquaria in the Museum. Mr. Rufford did 

 his share of the work with ability, but the difficulty 

 of keeping the water fresh marred his efforts in this 

 direction. It is not necessary to detail the quiet work 

 which Mr. Rufford carried out during the years between 

 1893 and 1899, making descriptive labels and displaying 

 specimens ; the Museum tells its own tale. But mention 

 must be made of the pictorial work of illustration which 

 he carried out during this period with prints gathered 

 from the British Museum Catalogue of his Wealden flora 

 at the British Museum, and other kindred sources. This 

 was an improvement on the usual methods of labelling, 

 and one much encouraged by the Committee. A recogni- 

 tion of Mr. Rufford's services was made by the Committee 

 during this period by the gift of a standard work on shells 

 which Mr. Rufford much appreciated. 



In June, 1899, Mr. Rufford finally presented to the 

 Committee the results of his labours. The letter was 

 brief which announced the gift, it contained this passage : 



''Dear Crake, 



Thanks for your note, it may be well to specify 

 the collections which I have the pleasure to offer to the 

 Museum as a gift, viz. : 



1. The Geological Collection from the Wealden 



formation of Hastings and neighbourhood 

 at the Museum up to the present date. 



2. Local recent Sponges. 



3. Local Hydroids. 



4. Local Echmoderms. 



5. Local Polyzoa. 



6. Local Mollusca. 



7. Land and Freshwater Mollusca. 



(Local and from other Districts British.) " 



We now approach the last years of this life full of 

 study and joy in the search of the hidden secrets of the 

 earth. Since 1899, Mr. Rufford had been engaged in 



