Lk 

 PREFACE. 



THE story of the life of animals and plants in 

 the sea is one with so many aspects, that it is 

 difficult to choose the points that may be included, 

 and those that may be omitted from a book in- 

 tended for the general reader. To some the 

 story of the food Fishes and the Whales is of 

 the greatest interest; to others the beautiful 

 shapes and colours of shells have a predominating 

 fascination; and to those who have devoted 

 themselves to geological study, the history of 

 the animals that contribute to the formation of 

 the reefs and the ocean-bed present features of 

 special attraction. To many, then, the perusal 

 of my book must lead to disappointment as no 

 one of these aspects has been treated adequately ; 

 but if some new interest is awakened, some new 

 train of thought quickened into life, one of the 

 objects I had in view will have been gained. 



The book is only intended to be a sketch of 

 some of the most important lines of scientific 

 researches which are now being pursued by 

 zoologists in many parts of the world. Dis- 

 coveries, which are of the deepest interest to 

 all intelligent minds, are in many cases described 

 in books and periodicals that do not come within 

 the reach of the general public. I have tried, 



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