48 . 
S.A. NAT., VOL. XVI. 
Life at the Edge of the Sea. March 24, 1937. 
Harbour and Semaphore, were practically barren, the moderately 
packed, more coarsely grained sands of Henley, where estuarine 
weed was still in evidence, gave only a small return; but from 
West Beach to Brighton, where the sands, although varying in 
texture and density, were flanked by weed rich in iodine, the 
life was abundant and varied. 
Collecting further down the coast, Mr. H. M. Hale has found 
that granite sands, such as occur at Chiton Rocks, Port Elliot, 
etc., are barren, while the Miocene sands of Sellick’s Beach are 
particularly fertile; a representative new Cumacean genus, 
Gephyrocuma pala Hale, a new Amphipod genus, Urohaustorius 
halei Sheard, together with new species of both orders were 
discovered, with Copepods, Ostracods and Marine Worms in be- 
wildering variety. 
On the rock edged shores come the reef zones. First, the 
H.ormosira meadows, barely covered at average low tide, un- 
covered at the lowest, reputedly barren, but actually with a sur- 
prisingly large population, some members apparently permanent, 
Molluscs, Copepods, Amphipods, Isopods, Tanaids; and others 
transient, Crabs and Blennies. Further out are the smaller rock 
pools and more varied seaweeds, and here the real richness of 
sea life begins. Every crevice in the peaceful pools teems with 
life, every piece of seaweed, the sand on the bottom, the loose 
pieces of rock and the thin film of algae and sand they carry. 
Lastly, for the low-tide collector, are the permanent pools 
at the edge of the reef, placid and empty of everything but some 
waving weed, an anenome or two, or a prickly sea urchin, but 
at a touch giving the material for many hours of thought and 
wonderment. 
With these zones in mind you decide to explore. Necessary 
is: a bucket, a small spade, a little formalin, tubes or jars ready 
filled with spirit, some labels, an enamel dish, a strainer of 
muslin or butter cloth (a tin with the bottom out with the cloth 
held in place by a rubber band answers admirably), a coat with 
many pockets and an old pair of leather-soled shoes, a shelving 
beach flanked by a reef, a low tide, and a companion. 
From the sea you half fill your bucket with water, and at 
the very tide’s edge you scoop up three or four spades full of 
sand, tip them in the bucket and stir vigorously. Before the 
mixture has settled, it is decanted through the. strainer, loose 
sand is carefully washed out, , and the catch is ready, either for 
bottling in spirit and labelling, qt for examination in sea water. 
