280 EDWARD'S SEA-TRAPS. CHAP. xiv. 



observers. To this extensive field of observation, 

 Edward now proposed to devote his special atten- 

 tion. 



, He had considerable difficulty to encounter in pro- 

 ceeding with this branch of scientific work. He had 

 no dredge of any sort. He had no boat, nor could he 

 obtain the loan of one. How then did he proceed ? 

 He gathered together all the old pots, pans, pails, 

 and kettles, which he could procure in his neigh- 

 bourhood. He filled these with straw, grass, bits 

 of old clothes, or bits of blankets. A coat and 

 trousers cut down were found very useful. These were 

 Edward's sea-traps. Having put a heavyish stone at 

 the bottom of the trap to weigh it down, and attached 

 a rope to the upper part, he lowered his traps into 

 the deeper rock-pools along the coast. Some of them 

 he threw into the sea from the point of a rock, attach- 

 ing the rope to a stone, or to some strong Algae. 



When the traps were drawn up, Edward obtained 

 from them small fishes, crustaceans, molluscs (with 

 or without shells), starfish, worms, and the smaller 

 kinds of sea-mice. He took them to a shallow pool, 

 and shook out the contents ; and when he had picked 

 out what he thought might be useful, he packed the 

 traps again, and set them in their old places. He 

 usually visited his sea-traps once a month ; but in 

 winter he visited them less frequently, as he rarely 

 took anything at that time of the year. 



Edward visited the rocky shore for many miles east 



