Aquaria. 9337. 
Notes on the Aquarian Zoology of Aberystwith. 
By W. R. Hueues, Esq., F.L.S. 
I HAVE selected the above title to this little paper rather than the 
more pretentious one of “ Marine Zoology,” because my explorations 
have hitherto been chiefly confined to the resorts of animals suitable 
for the aquarium. At the same time I do not neglect to record the 
capture of any marine animal interesting in other points of Natural 
History. The impetus which the writings of Mr. Gosse and other 
modern authors, discoursing pleasantly of Nature and Science, has given 
to excursionists interested in Marine Natural History, who take their 
annual fortnight’s holiday at the sea side, to ransack every available 
part of the coast for specimens, has well-nigh exhausted every British 
locality. Doubtless there are many sheltered spots yet unexplored 
which would yield a rich harvest to a patient investigator, but these 
need to be discovered, and probably most of them are away from the 
conventional routes of tourist’s monthly tickets. For lack of a better 
place, and from the circumstance of its well-known salubrious aspect, 
I selected Aberystwith, on the mid-Welsh coast, as a desirable spot 
to spend my last summer holiday, and as a likely locality to renew my 
aquaria with specimens in place of those given to friends or succumbed 
under the influence of confinement. 
Beautifully situated in a bay of its own, at the bottom of the valley 
of the Rheidol, flanked with hills protecting it from the northern and 
eastern winds, and opening to a western sea unequalled for its boldness, 
Aberystwith (now that railway communication is secured to it direct) 
bids fair to become one of the most popular of British watering-places. 
I wish that I could say as much for the marine zoology of that place 
as I have on other occasions in your valuable serial in favour of Tenby, 
Torquay, &c.; but perhaps my experience has not been of sufficient 
extent to warrant me in pronouncing a definite opinion on it. The 
beach is of shingle of every imaginable size, regularly disposed from a 
pin’s head to a man’s head, and the descent to the sea abrupt. The 
depth near shore varies considerably, from five to eleven fathoms, 
There are bold rocks jutting out into the sea, at either extremity of the 
bay, to the extent of some hundred yards, on which are to be found 
numerous tide-pools not very well stocked with animal life. 
However, three weeks of the latter end of July and beginning of 
_ August were passed most enjoyedly there in every other respect. The 
work of the naturalist at the sea side may be divided into four branches, 
VOL. XXII. oP 
