THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 47 



The twinkling stars, the ruffled water, and the misty shores, 

 looking dark in the distance except where the lights from farm- 

 houses shone forth, all made up as lovely a scene as could be 

 imagined. 



Next morning we started on the full tide about 7 a.m., and 

 went merrily before the wind until we were just opposite Fisher- 

 man's Point. The point consists of gentle undulating grassy 

 country with occasional trees, interspersed with isolated houses, 

 which make up the village of Rhyll, all terminating in a spit 

 of land and a long wooden jetty. The main channel runs past 

 the point, and so south past Cowes. In this channel we com- 

 menced operations by throwing out the dredge. The force 

 of the outgoing tide dragged the iron blade of the dredge along 

 the bottom, tearing up not only seaweeds, but sponges and 

 shells, as well as all manner of animal life, into the net. After a 

 few minutes the dredge was hauled in with its mixed cargo, 

 which was emptied into the bottom of the boat. Then com- 

 menced the sorting. The best seaweeds, polyzoa, &c., were 

 carefully bottled ; the larger seaweeds put to one side for 

 drying ; while the refuse shells and seaweeds were kept for 

 manure. Sponges, crabs and other animal life were thrown over- 

 board. We got a useful lesson at the very first haul, for amongst 

 the seaweeds were some small fish, and whilst we were busy 

 handling the seaweeds, the fish let us know they were there by 

 their sharp spines. A sharp spine is no joke, as it penetrates to 

 the bone, 



Crustacea are well represented in Western Port, many species 

 having been taken by Mr, Gabriel from time to time and handed 

 over to others for identification, and probably many forms new 

 to science may yet be found there. The Hermit Crab is there in 

 its glory, and it is very interesting to watch. Volute shells seem 

 to be their favourite retiring places, but they do not confine them- 

 selves to these alone, for they are frequently found in holes 

 in stones, and in one instance it was related that one had 

 so far degenerated as to choose a tobacco-pipe for its home. That 

 interesting species Ibacus peronii (M'Coy's " Zoology," plate 

 199) has also frequently been obtained. Asteridse are also in 

 great variety, notably Asterina calca, A. gunni, and the common 

 but beautiful Twelve-plated Shield Star, Pentagonaster aurata. 

 Sea Urchins are very numerous, and the prickly forms assert 

 themselves while we sort out the dredgings. Goniocidaris tuharia 

 (figured in M'Coy's "Zoology," plate 100) are found literally 

 in hundreds in 5 to 8 fathoms of water. An occasional young 

 Cuttlefish, Sepia apania (?), may also be found. 



Western Port has long been known by conchologists as a happy 

 hunting ground, and the variety of molluscs to be found there is 

 great indeed, some evidence of which you can see exhibited on 



