436 KEroRTS. 



younger workers — Messrs. E. W. Sharp and F. Wright. 

 One of these, Mr. Wright, has now, unfortunately, left 

 the Island ; and, as I have found it impossible this year to 

 devote much time to work on the sea-shore, we are reduced to 

 one member Avho seriously takes up this field of research. 



This condition of affairs is greatly to be dei)lored when 

 we consider the wealth of material waiting to be investigated, 

 and the almost unrivalled opportunities for carrying it out 

 which are presented by the Islands in the Bailiwick of 

 Guernsey. I fear that there is far too great a tendency 

 at the present day, not oidy in this, but in all branches of 

 nature study, to rest satisfied with obtaining our knowledge 

 from books instead of going to nature itself and investigating 

 for ourselves ; or at all events attempting to prove the 

 correctness or otherwise of the facts and theories presented 

 to us by the numerous writers on this subject. 



If only a hundredth part of the time and energy which 

 are expended upon various forms of athletics were spent 

 in some form of field or sea-shore work, what a mass of 

 information we should soon possess ! ! I do not wish for 

 one moment to minimise the value of the excellent natural 

 history works, with their splendid plates, with which we 

 are now so lavishly supplied, but it is a great mistake to 

 think that these can ever take the place of practical outdoor 

 work. 



The number of species of Guernsey Sea-anemones recently 

 identified, which last year advanced from 12 to 18, has now 

 reached 19 by the discovery of Peaclda hastata by Mr. E. 

 W. Sharp at Havelet Bay, though it was previously recorded 

 by Mr. Sinel for Herm. 



I discovered in Sark during last August a lovely little 

 emerald green anemone Avhich so far I have been unable to 

 get anyone to identify for me ; so whether it is a distinct 

 species, or only a rare variety of one already on the list, I 

 cannot yet say. Mr. E. W. Sharp has commenced the 

 tabulation of the varieties of the different species of sea- 

 anemones recently discovered, so far as they have been 

 identified, with their localities. This is a very good beginning 

 and I hope he will be able to continue it. The result of his 

 researches will be published in these Transactions as a 

 separate paper. 



The Devonshire Cup Coral ( Caryophyllia Smithii), whose 

 occurrence was, previously to 1906, doubtful, is now reported 

 from several new localities. More than 40 specimens are now 

 known. 



