Animal Life by the Sea-shore. 



The animals alluded to are designated bj/ their popular 

 English names in addition to their scientific, Latin denomina- 

 tions. The figures consist of original photographs and of out- 

 line drawings ; some of the latter have been prepared from 

 actual specimens, while others have been copied from the works 

 of reliable authorities, the source, in every case, being duh' 

 acknowledged. 



Who, among those interested in natural history, does not 

 remember his joy, when wading for the first time among the 

 remote beds where tangle grows, accessible only for a short time 

 at the spring tides, on finding a multitude of creatures new to 

 him, such as large sea-slugs, crabs covered with seaweed, large 

 or brilliantly coloured sea-squirts, etc., and his regret at not 

 having at hand a little book through which to obtain some 

 information regarding these strange things ? To supply his wants, 

 as well as those of less enterprising explorers of the seashore, the 

 authors have often been compelled to enter into details which 

 may at first appear a little too scientific to some of those in 

 whose hands this book may fall ; but he may be assured that, 

 with a little attention, and having before him the animals 

 themselves, all difficulties will soon be surmounted, no scientific 

 term having been employed without its being first explained 

 in simple language. The numerous figures, needless to say, 

 will be of great use, not onlj' to the beginner, but to many a 

 zoologist who, not specially versed in all groups of marine 

 natural history, desires to utilise his holiday in making himself 

 acquainted with the denizens of the seashore. The authors have 

 themselves experienced all the difficulties of the beginner and 

 felt the want of such a guide ; in endeavouring to supply it they 

 have appealed to their recollections in view of the requirements 

 of an educated layman interested in the marvels of Nature, 

 but without any previous knowledge of zoology. 



Minute forms of life, which cannot be examined without 

 a microscope, are entirely left out, or are merely alluded to 

 in order to give some idea of the hfe-histories of the larger 

 creatures. Nor has it been attempted to refer, even by name 

 only, to all the very numerous species of our fauna ; but the 

 more striking have tjeen mentioned. 



