72 THE SHORE 



matic zoology at home, and has a peculiar interest of 

 its own. It has seldom been S3'stematically attempted 

 on a proper basis. A small area — a single pool, per- 

 chance — should be intensively studied in its every 

 aspect. It should be sounded and measured ; its 

 temperature should be taken under different con- 

 ditions ; the effect of the ebb and flow of the tide should 

 be noted ; a plan should be drawn of the position of 

 each single animal and plant ; and all notes should be 

 written with the pool at one's feet. Whether the 

 individual animals and plants are known to one or 

 not does not matter, because a sample of each has to 

 be taken. In the case of sedentary animals, the 

 upper and lower surfaces, as well as those against 

 and remote from any tidal or other currents which 

 enter the pool, should be carefully marked. Nothing 

 is too small to be recorded, and the more thor- 

 oughly the work is carried out, the greater will be its 

 value. 



Such collections from a single pool are, however, of 

 little direct use to the systematist at home. They are 

 too scrappy by far for his purposes, and he cannot from 

 them venture to attempt any of those broader de- 

 ductions on the distribution of plant and animal life 

 which make much of his work of interest. Some 

 naturalists, also, are more disposed to collect and 

 accumulate specimens of different forms of life, liking 

 to wander over wide areas. To them w r e say, let them 

 collect by all means, but confine their attention to 

 one or a few classes of animals, or to plants alone, 

 unless they have at their disposal at least three or 

 four months at each place, and can set up permanent 

 laboratories on shore, conveniently arranged. In 

 giving suggestions as to what groups to select or what 

 groups would be of most value to the marine biologist, 



