248 
PROPOSED HANDBOOK to the BRITISH 
MARINE FAUNA.* 
By W. A. Herpmay, D.Sc., F.R.S. 
[Read 11th December, 1892.] 
THE admirable monographs issued under the auspices of 
the Ray Society, and in Van Voorst’s series, by such 
well-known authorities as Forbes and Hanley, Alder and 
Hancock, M‘Intosh, Allman, Hincks, Brady, Norman, 
and others, are amongst the most creditable and useful 
productions of British Zoology, and all naturalists must 
devoutly trust that there are still others of a like classical 
nature to follow, and that, for example, Prof. M‘Intosh 
will soon be able to complete his long-expected work on 
the British Polycheta. 
But many Marine Zoologists feel that, quite apart from 
such exhaustive and expensive monographs, and only 
aspiring to occupy a very much humbler position, there is 
pressing need of a “pocket” or seaside “ Invertebrate 
Fauna,’ which could be used in much the same way as 
the botanists’ ‘“‘ Field Flora.” It has been suggested to 
me more than once during the last few years that I would 
be doing useful work in compiling such a book; and as 
no one else seems ready or willing to do so, I feel inclined 
to make the attempt. Some material has already been 
accumulated for the purpose, but before going further I 
wish to lay my views before my fellow zoologists, in the 
hope that they will be kind enough to criticize the scheme 
and give me the benefit of their advice. 
The only existing work of the kind is Gosse’s well- 
* This proposal was first brought before the Liverpool Biological Society, 
at the meeting held on November 11th, 1892, 
