9338 Aquaria. 
viz., shore-collecting, dredging, surface-dipping and home study, 7. e. 
examination and identification of specimens, work with the microscope, 
&c. The first of these can only be well pursued at the spring tides. 
It is, perhaps, the easiest to follow, although sometimes the least pro- 
ductive, but it has the advantage of being economical (needing no 
guide, boat, &c.), and it admits of ladies joining in it who are “ bad 
sailors.” The shore-collecting of Aberystwith is not up to the average. 
Its species of Actinoida seem limited to four, viz., Anthea Cereus, 
Bunodes crassicornis, Sagartia Troglodytes (very scarce) and Actinia 
Mesembryanthemum (as plentiful as blackberries). Of the last-men- 
tioned species I secured a specimen with two disks,—a novel occur- 
rence. Mollusca were rare, except Patella vulgaris, which vied with 
A. Mesembryanthemum for the possession of every conceivable bit of 
rock not previously occupied by Alge; the said Alge being well 
stocked with Littorine, which afforded a fine harvest to the adven- 
turous youth of Aberystwith of that native genus which usually haunts 
the pier and quay of watering-places. I took a solitary specimen of 
the sand-boring Venus. Crustacea seemed limited to the genera 
Cancer, Carcinus, Portunus, Portumnus, Palemon, Crangon, Pandalus, 
Talitrus, &c. Of Echinodermata I saw not a single specimen. The 
Annelida appeared rather plentiful under stones opposite the end of 
Pier Street, but I noticed none beyond common littoral species. Huge 
Chitons—the largest I have ever seen—were also found under these 
stones. Sponges were rare, and the specimens taken unworthy of note. 
It is not an easy matter to account for this paucity of animals, for I 
heard nothing of the ground having been rummaged by either amateur 
or trade collector. Indeed, on my first excursion to the rock-pools I 
had amusing evidence of the soil being virgin, fora young shrimp 
crept out of one of them, and took stock of me with the most provoking 
coolness, not at all offering to dart away, and actually nibbling at my 
finger for nearly a minute. The best reason I can suggest for this 
paucity is that the Rivers Ystwith and Rheidol empty themselves into 
the sea at one end of the town, and doubtless deteriorate the natural 
standard of the water. It may be, too, that the slate and shale rocks 
offer no secure resting-places for the soft bodies of most radiate 
animals. 
The second branch of work at the sea-side—dredging—is more 
abstruse ; it needs a good boat of tolerable size, too, one or more 
dredges suitable for different bottoms, some stout ropes, and, above 
all, an experienced boatman who knows something of the locality. 
Dredging is best pursued at the neap tides, with a breeze just sufficient 
