40 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Feb., 



same material as the net, was substituted. These were 

 made 3 in. in diameter, cut round like chemical filtering 

 papers, and used in a similar manner; and they proved 

 very satisfactory. They are carried between the pages 

 of the note book, or otherwise kept clean and smooth ; 

 and, when required, one is suitably folded (/) and placed 

 in a little tin or copper funnel (e) 2j or 3 in. in diameter, 

 from which, for convenience, the tubular portion below 

 has been melted oif, only the conical portion being use- 

 ful. Through the strainer thus made, held ov^er the edge 

 of the boat, the contents of a bottle of washings from the 

 net can be poured more rapidly than would be expected. 

 When the material is very abundant, the organisms ac- 

 cumulating on the filter by the teaspoonful, as much as 

 is required is to be transferred to one of the numbered 

 vials of alcohol, and the filter is thrown away ; but if the 

 quantity be small, it and the filter are put, together, into 

 the vial for future examination, taking care not to crush 

 the objects by careless handling. By pouring from the 

 wash-bottle immediately after stirring it, nearly all the 

 organisms can be transferred to the filter, and most of 

 the sand, if any, left in the bottom of the bottle. 



All the apparatus required for a week's collecting may, 

 except the net, be carried in one's pockets, and when in 

 the boat be spread out upon or under the seat; but it is 

 very convenient to have a suitable case, such as a small, 

 satchel of leather or canvas, the latter being less liable 

 to defacement by a slight wetting, arranged to hold 

 safely and display easily the following apparatus : — 

 (a) the net, complete, with tow-line (6) and sinker (c) at- 

 tached ; {d) three wash-bottles, corked ; (e) the funnel ; 

 (/) a supply of filters, twice as many as the numbered 

 vials, to allow for emergencies; (g) an adequate supply, 

 numbered in regular series, of vials for the specimens, 

 each being half or three-fourths full of the required pre- 

 servative fluid ; {h) a pair of small forceps to assist in 



