28 COLLECTING ANIMALS. 



and if forcibly detached, die. I therefore bring the 

 hammer and chisel into requisition, and split off a 

 considerable fragment of the solid stone, which then, 

 ■with the plant adhering to it, is placed in the Aqua- 

 rium. This is often a difficult, always a delicate 

 operation ; the rock is frequently so hard as to resist 

 the action of the chisel, or breaks at the wrong place ; 

 sometimes, on the other hand, it is so soft and friable 

 as to crumble away under the implement, leaving only 

 the isolated plant deprived of its attachment; and 

 sometimes at the first blow, the sea-weed flies off 

 with the vibration of the shock. Often we have to 

 work under water, where the force of the blows is 

 weakened and almost rendered powerless by the 

 density of the medium, and where it is next to im- 

 possible to see with sufficient clearness to direct the 

 assault. 



As the plants are detached they are placed one by 

 one in security. The finer and more delicate ones, 

 as the Delesseria for instance, are immediately drop- 

 ped into a jar of water; for only a few minutes' 

 exposure of their lovely crimson fronds to the air, 

 would turn them to that dull orange colour, already 

 mentioned as the sign of incipient decay. The har- 

 dier sorts are laid in the basket, — a layer of damp 

 refuse-weed being first put in to receive them, — and 

 covered lightly with damp weed. The degree of mois- 

 ture thus secured is sufficient to preserve many species 

 from injury, for hours. Thus they are brought home. 



COLLECTING ANIMALS. 



I . have been speaking of the haunts of the living 



