HALF AN HOUR WITH PREPARATIONS. 25 



in it. All we can say is, don't try the experiment 

 on yourself. Of course we will suppose the morning 

 on which you make your first expedition is fine and 

 bracing. The sun shines brightly, and the sea 

 breeze tempers its heat to a delicious warmth. The 

 waves come in in long dazzling ripples, and break 

 on the pebbly strand with a murmur that seems 

 sweetest music to your enraptured sense. You 

 stand still a moment to drink in the scene, and to 

 allow its effects to have their full influence. Yester- 

 day, perhaps, you were in London or some other 

 large town, longing for change and rest after a 

 year's toil, as the "hart panteth for the water- 

 brooks !" To-day you have thrown business aside, 

 and you have gone back in life ten or twenty years 

 with the sudden change. It is wonderful the effect ! 

 We take too few holidays, and make too little of 

 them, or we should be, some of us 2 better and wiser 

 men ! 



Away, in the distance, about a mile, perhaps, is a 

 jutting headland, whose form tells you that rock- 

 pools may be expected to be found there. To this 

 you make your way, for these are the choice zoologi- 

 cal collecting places for shore objects. As you walk 

 along, your eyes are well directed to the beach, 

 where you may pick up several species of shells, 

 especially after a windy night, and where the 

 stronger seaweeds, which have been uprooted by 

 the waves, are strewn. About the roots of the 

 latter you may find some valuable specimens of 



