252 The Incoming Wave. [cHAP. XIV. 
a great deal of trouble and occupied a considerable time to 
capture the fish. “If it had not,” says he, “ been a rarity, 
I should most certainly have given in and acknowledged 
myself beaten long before my object was accomplished ; for, 
between water and perspiration, I was in a pitiable plight 
before I gained the victory. As it was, however, I was 
well repaid in the end, besides the fun; that is, if there is 
any other person than myself so foolish as to call splashing 
up to the shoulders and eyes among brine, sea- weed, and 
slippery rocks, ‘fun.’ Although the fish is not large, mine 
is a splendidly marked specimen. In the water, and while 
shooting across and athwart the pool, its bright colors had 
a most beautiful appearance. The spot on the first dorsal 
is rather of a dark-purplish color than black, and very con- 
spicuous when the animal is swimming. IJ am not aware 
of this species ever before having been detected on this 
part of the coast.” 
Knowing from observation that many marine objects are 
cast on shore at the rising of each tide, especially when the 
weather is stormy, Edward walked along the margin of the 
incoming wave, ready to pick up any thing that might be 
driven ashore. Sometimes he would observe some object 
in the water—a fish or a shrimp of some unusual kind— 
which he desired to capture. He followed it into the sea 
with a piece of gauze tied on a small hoop; and fished for 
it until he had caught it. He discovered many new objects 
in this way. 
It is almost incredible what may be got along the sea- 
margin by carefully searching the incoming wave. This, 
however, required unwearied assiduity. Edward discovered 
many of his rarest insects among those driven ashore by the 
wind. It was thus that he obtained most of his rare crus- 
taceans. He himself had no doubt that, had his health 
been prolonged, he would have discovered many more. 
Besides these methods for collecting marine objects, he 
found that tangle roots were a special hiding-place for many 
