38 



Specimens of as many kinds as possible of Star-fish and Sea- 

 urchins should he wrapped up separately and preserved in 

 spirit, dried specimens being insufficient for the examination 

 of all parts of their structures. 



Sea Anemones are difficult to preserve satisfactorily. If 

 possible, cut away with a hammer and chisel a small, piece of 

 the rock to which they are attached ; place them in salt-water 

 until they expand; then suddenly transfer them to spirit while 

 so expanded. When dead, it will be well to fold each speci- 

 men that is so attached in linen, to prevent damage from 

 chafing, rendered more probable than i^sual by the piece of 

 adhering rock. 



Allied to the Anemones, though very much lighter and more 

 graceful in form, are those beautiful, delicate, little, slender 

 shrub-like objects so familiar to all who visit the sea-coast at 

 low tides, where, though not frequently met with attached to 

 the rocks, they are yet found in great abundance left in heaps 

 by the receding tide. Careful examination will show to the 

 naked eye, in many cases, that these objects are serrated like 

 the teeth of a .saw. The use of a pocket lens will reveal 

 the fact that each of these serrations is a little cavity, and if 

 placed under a microscope, in a little water, when fresh from 

 the sea, each cavity will be found to have its own tiny occu- 

 pant, whose structure and movements it will be most interest- 

 ing to watch. A few observations like these will enable any 

 person not previously familiar with these little creatures, to 

 distinguish them from sea-weeds, with which they are not 

 seldom confounded by ordinary observers. These zoophytes 

 should be carefully collected and preserved. For this purpose, 

 preference should be given to those found attached at the base, 

 to rocks, stones, &c. These will be alive. They should be 

 carefully removed from whatever they may be fixed to, and 

 plunged immediately into small phials of spirit, which, if 

 neatly done, will generally result in the little occupants being 



