PREFACE. 



THIS 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 localities in order to fill out this little sketch 

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

 such limits, a complete picture of the type. 



