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The Museum Gazette 



sea-shells ; designed to enable those who collect them to assign 

 their names and classify them. A chapter on sea-fish from 

 the pen of Mr. Pycraft, one on sea-birds from that of Mr. 

 Dixon, and another on Marine Aquaria by Mr. Sibert 

 Saunders, a gentleman of great practical experience, are also 

 given. Respecting the last named, we may remark that 

 although professedly written for use after returning home, it 

 is equally suited to afford guidance to the yet more numerous 

 class who may incline to add to the interest of their sojourn 

 by fitting up temporary collections whilst staying at the 

 seaside. 



Other papers in our present pages offer some memoranda as 

 to the Moon ; notes as to the Natural history of various Sea- 

 side Resorts, and that we may not be too merely tantalising 

 to those who have not had the good fortune to get to the 

 seaside, we offer at unusual length our Seasonal Notes. 



So large an amount of seaside material has accumulated on 

 our hands, that we propose to continue this somewhat 

 special character of the Gazette in our September number, 

 and may take this opportunity to remark that September is 

 for the naturalist a much better month for the seaside than 

 either of its predecessors. Many more objects are likely to 

 come ashore with the better tides and somewhat rougher 

 weather, and the sea-birds — waders especially — have returned 

 in their numbers. The cooler weather also favours industry. 



Not only to the naturalist, but also to the health-seeker, 

 September and even October, are better months for the sea 

 than July and August. It is a great pity that the fashionable 

 seaside season cannot be prolonged. The exigencies of the 

 school terms make, we are aware, this for many an impossi- 

 bility, but those who are not under compulsion in this direc- 

 tion cannot be too strongly advised to take their seaside 

 holiday late in the year. The air is far more invigorating 

 and favourable to exercise. The crowd is less and the 



