60 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
where utilized directly or indirectly for the food of fishes at 
various stages of growth, the minute young capturing the larve, 
and the older forms feeding, for instance, on the boring shell- 
fishes scattered by the breaking up of the honeycombed slabs on 
the floor of the ocean. Thus the ultimate result of all these 
processes would not appear to be wholly disadvantageous to 
man. 
In connection with the perforations of marine animals in 
hard materials, it is to be hoped that fresh and careful observa- 
tions will by-and-by be undertaken in every group available on 
our shores, not primarily for the sake of avoiding the compara- 
tively slight erosions thus caused on the coastal rocks, or of inter- 
fering, even were that possible, with the beneficial action on sub- 
merged driftwood and wrecks, but for the purpose of increasing 
knowledge. Quite recently the country has embarked on an outlay 
which will not fall far short of £100,000 for marine investigations 
which, if for the moment the pleasant international camaraderie 
is put aside, experience knew from the inception were on the 
main point futile, or, at best, could only substantiate what already 
had been proved. It might be well if the Government considered, 
in this light, whether in the past it has done its duty to scientific 
marine investigations at Marine Laboratories. 
