1890.] 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



217 



disc completely disappear. It is exceedingly voracious, and, like 

 Bunodes gemmacea, reproduces from ova which are hatched within the 

 body of the parent. The species will thrive wonderfully well in the 

 aquarium, remaining fully expanded for days together, and, unlike 

 many of its congeners, digests its food without assuming for any 

 length of time the " button " condition. It is necessary for the com- 

 fort and well being of these polyps, that they be furnished with a 

 regular supply of suitable food, which, however, should not be ad- 

 ministered with undue frequency. The internal parts of the Mussel, 

 Mytilus edulis are very proper for the purpose, small fragments being 

 given every alternate day, and it will be found, in nearly in every case, 

 to have been totally digested. Beef is never entirely absorbed, but is 

 evacuated in fit condition for fouling the water. 



The rapidly advancing tide puts a speedy stop to further ex- 

 ploration, and we therefore retreat hurriedly, with abundance of ma- 

 terial to occupy the whole party, until dinner terminates study, replac- 

 ing scalpel with carver, and microscope with cruet. We must not, 

 though, omit to mention a specimen of Nereis pelagic -a, found when 

 crossing the broad stretch of sand where the bathers are wont to 

 congregate at more seasonable periods of the year. In the same spot 

 also are seen the exposed siphons of Ensis siliqua, commonly known 

 as the Razor shell, but a hasty footfall is sure to alarm the timid 

 creatures, and result in their prompt disappearance. At low tides, 

 when the particular portion of the beach affected by the Ensis is left 

 dry, the fishermen are accustomed to capture them with barbed spears, 

 with which they transfix the animal and draw it triumphantly forth. 



An expedition having^been planned with a view to visiting some of 

 the caves perforating Brada Head ; we took a small boat and leisure- 

 ly pulled in that direction, poking into holes and cracks, and inspect- 

 ing from a respectable distance, dark and forbidding recesses, wherein 

 the heaving waters splashed and reverberated with hollow cadence, 

 The tide was much too high to attempt a nearer approach, and as it 

 wanted a full two hours to low water, we were unanimously agreed 

 that the interim might be profitably and pleasantly passed in the ex- 

 ploration of a certain old and disused mine, whose sinuous galleries 

 we had visited on a former occasion. With difficulty running our 

 boats on the pebbly shore, we were soon engaged in clambering 

 amongst rotting machinery and crazy woodwork, There was naught 



