ka 
426 The American Naturalist. [May, 
the set of the tide, the ripple of the water on the rocks or beach, 
the gun from the distant Gannet Rock, all contribute to a keen 
sense of direction by which these men find their way to their 
fishing grounds and back in a thick fog, when one not skilled 
in this knowledge would lose his way, or, bewildered, would lay 
his course to the distant shore of Nova Scotia, or the broad open 
entrance to the Bay of Fundy. 
Nantucket is known far and wide among naturalists as the 
home of Mr. Simeon Cheney. This gentleman was well called by 
Professor Baird a “natural naturalist.” Heis an acute observer of 
nature, a good collector, a tireless worker, and one whose interest 
in natural history age but increases, and whose energy in his old 
age many younger naturalists have good cause to remember. It 
was my. purpose to spend a few weeks with him on Nantucket 
studying the sea animals of this interesting locality.” My visit 
was not unrewarded, and I have good reason to congratulate my- . 
self that the choice of this island was made. I was accompanied 
and aided in my work by an enthusiastic student of natural 
history, Mr. J. G. Owens, of Bridgeton, New Jersey. 
On coasts where the tides are high, and other conditions favor- 
able, the collecting of the marine life which is characteristic of 
the shore, is, as a rule, very profitable. Similar conditions to 
those which are found at Nantucket exist along the coast of the 
English Channel, and in Brittany on the coast of France. The 
same tidal characteristics are found about Eastport, and at other 
places in Maine. Grand Manan offers many advantages for the 
study of marine animals, while the outlying islands, reefs, and 
ledges left bare by the retreating tide present unparalleled re- 
sources for collecting the varied life of the north-eastern coast. 
As time goes by and as naturalists turn their steps more and more 
frequently to the shores to investigate the marine life, these 
islands will be more and more visited, and it is to be hoped that 
they will acquire an ever-increasing reputation for the many ad- 
vantages which they possess for the study of these animals in 
? I can recommend Nantucket as better than any place on the coast of New England 
for “ show collecting 


