15G COLLECTING OBJECTS TO 



always best to gain the point of* shore we intend to search 

 about half an hour before lowest tide, and follow the 

 water down, thus securing many creatures that otherwise 

 would, very soon, make their escape into the water. 



Take care how you step upon those flat rocks, formed 

 of gneiss and covered with a dark olive-colored seaweed, 

 called bladder-wrack (Fucus vesiculosus), for it is a very 

 treacherous and slippery standing-place, and if you slip, 

 perhaps you will be thrown on some sharp, hidden edge 

 of a rock, or have your leg twisted, or, indeed, broken by 

 being forced suddenly between the upright masses. Do not 

 step upon that loose-looking mass of weed, for it ouly 

 covers a hole, which, most likely, is pretty deep, and would 

 be dangerous to fall into ; besides, it may contain something 

 that we want. Instead of stepping on it, let us turn up the 

 Fuel, and we shall find a little inland sea, termed a rock- 

 pool. Hallo ! there's something wriggling in it ; a good- 

 sized eel, by all that's fortunate ; where's the net ? We'll 

 have him and put him into our can, with some water. 



Turn over that stone. Sec ! away scamper four or five 

 crabs. We won't take them, as they arc extremely vora- 

 cious, and are not so pretty as our friends, the "hermits," 

 that we shall get anon. 



What are those little white cones covering (he rocks? 

 Those are Balani, barnacles, or sea-acorns ; and if we take 

 some home. and place them in a vessel of sea water, after 

 a time we shall see them open and project their tentacles 

 in search of food, and the action of which reminds us of 

 a fisherman throwing his nets — it being done with a swing- 

 ing motion. They arc pretty creatures, but will nut live long 



