242 IMPRESSED BY A ZOOPHYTE. CHAP. xvi. 



was particularly impressed by a splendid specimen, 

 which was placed on the parlour chimney-piece of 

 the little inn where he stayed at.* The appearance 

 of the zoophyte strongly excited his curiosity. He 

 determined to know what it was, and where he could 

 find a specimen for himself. This little object had the 

 effect of turning his attention to the study of Nature. 



He began to make a collection. He had no book on 

 the subject. He collected, more for the beauty of the 

 forms and the colours of the agates. He would know 

 more by and by. Men in the Coastguard service were 

 in those days turned rapidly about from place to place, 

 for no particular reason, but generally at considerable 

 expense to themselves. After being at Weybourn for 

 a year, Peach was removed to Sherringham, also in 

 Norfolk. 



It was while at this station that he met the Eev. J. 

 Layton, then living at Catfield. The reverend gentle- 

 man, finding that Peach was an enthusiastic collector of 

 zoophytes, asked him if he should not like to know the 

 names of the objects he collected. " Certainly," was the 

 reply. The clergyman then invited him to his house, 

 and showed him a book containing the history of British 

 zoophytes. He was delighted with the book ; but, as it 

 was expensive, and he could not purchase it, he went 

 boldly to work, and copied out the greater part of the 



* It proved to be the Antennularia antennina. The description of 

 this zoophyte is accompanied by a brief sketch of Mr. Peach's career, 

 in the second edition of Dr. Johnston's work on The British Zoophytes, 

 p. 86, Ed. 1847. 



