PHILIP HENRY GOSSE, F.ll.S 
301 
endeavoured in the following pages to furnish, to the Sea¬ 
side Naturalist, what the Linnean “ Genera Insectorum ” 
were to me. That such a book is a desideratum I need 
hardly say.” His language in this, as in all his works, was 
always marvellously graceful and accurate; the definition of 
fishes therein is given as an illustration of what is a master¬ 
piece of scientific acumen:—“Vertebrate animals, having cold 
blood ; breathing by means of permanent gills; inhabiting 
water ; furnished with fins for locomotion ; producing eggs.” 
As previously mentioned, “The Rotifera” (one of his 
earliest fields of investigation) was the last work undertaken 
by him, with his accomplished colleague, Dr. C. T. Hudson. 
It is a most exhaustive monograph of immense value to 
Naturalists, and the microscopic drawings by Mr. Gosse, 
executed when he was over seventy, exhibit all the fresh¬ 
ness and vigour of his best work. 
Space will not permit of further reference to his published 
writings, but we think that to the general reader, with a taste 
for natural science, “ The Devonshire Coast,” “ Tenby,” 
“ The Romance of Natural History,” and “ A Year at the 
Shore,” will always be the most acceptable. 
Nearly thirty years ago Mr. Gosse gave lectures on 
his favourite subject, Marine Zoology, and these are still 
remembered with pleasure by those who attended the lectures 
at the Midland Institute in Birmingham. He also for several 
seasons about that time held classes at Ilfracombe and else¬ 
where, for the practical study of that science, aided by the 
microscope. What a real treat it must have been to be 
present at those classes! The writer never had that 
advantage, but he has had the great privilege of being out 
collecting with Mr. Gosse two or three times on the south 
coast of Devon. To see him encased in high water¬ 
proof boots, with hammer, chisel, net, and collecting bottle 
in hand, wading through the retiring waves at low water, 
exploring every crevice in the limestone rock, and turning up 
from its weed-fringed surface a lovely Eolis amethjstinci (one 
of the Nudibranchiate Mollusca), or other delicate organism, 
holding it up to the light in his collecting bottle, examining 
it with the lens, and enthusiastically dilating upon its 
anatomy, physiology, and aesthetic beauty, was an event to 
be remembered during a lifetime. He knew everything 
that came in our way from the algae up to the fishes. 
Not the least among many special characteristics was 
his ever generous kindness and encouragement to young 
Naturalists. The writer of these lines owes him a deep debt 
of gratitude for kindly help in Marine Zoology and the 
