
290.] A Zoblogical Reconnoissance. 427 
their native haunts.* If it may be permitted me to speak with 
enthusiasm I may say that marine zodlogists have hardly begun 
to appreciate the wealth of life round about this island, which 
lies comparatively speaking at our very doors, and simply awaits 
an investigation. 
The opportunities for work at Grand Manan with the dip-net 
in the study of free-swimming animals are also very great. The 
student of these forms of life is particularly recommended to visit 
the so-called “ Ripplings” or tide eddies, several miles from the 
shore, near the line where the platform of the islands sinks to the 
deeper sounding of the Bay of Fundy. These eddies are favorite 
feeding places of many marine animals, from the whale to the 
minute Medusz and Crustacea, and at a proper. time of the tide 
afford most profitable collecting places. The distance from the 
shore and the difficulty of access is the only drawback, but if 
possible they should be visited by every naturalist who is in- 
terested in the study of marine life in its natural habitat. A 
world for investigation here awaits the attention of the naturalist. 
Of those who have visited Grand Manan, and left valuable 
publications adding greatly to our knowledge of the marine life 
of the place, prominent among all should be mentioned the 
name of Dr, William Stimpson. Many others have worked here, 
but as the group of animals which it was my purpose to study 
had been more particularly considered by him I mention his name 
with especial indebtedness. I went to Grand Manan to study the 
lower Invertebrata, and my studies of this group found in this 
locality were greatly aided by his previous studies. It does not 
detract from my appreciation of the value of the works of others 
that I have singled out his work as of greater use to me, and his 
paper is recommended as one of many valuable companions for 
those who would visit this island for a purpose similar to my own. 
My object in spending a vacation on Nantucket was to study 
the Coelenterata and Echinodermata, more especially the changes 
3 Grand Manan had last summer a tri-weekly communication with Eastport by the 
mall steamer Flushing. Eastport can be reached from Boston by the steamers of the 
- International Line, also called the St. John’ssteamers. The trip to Eastport by rail from 
Boston to Calais, and then by steamer down the St. Croix river, gives the visitor much 
scenic beauty. 
