WHALES AND MERMAIDS 309 



wriggling, and struggling with all its might. Thence- 

 forward it fed spontaneously on the green food given it 

 which floated in the water of the tank. Its favourite food 

 was lettuce, but it would also eat cabbage and watercress, 

 and altogether consumed from 90 to 112 pounds of green 

 food daily. Its tank was kept at a temperature of from 

 70 to 74 Fahrenheit, and for six months all went well. 

 But unfortunately, about Christmas, during very cold 

 weather, its keeper accidentally allowed the water one 

 night to drain away, so that it was left dry in a cold 

 atmosphere. Next morning, after being freshly supplied 

 with water, it appeared ill. It refused food, and became 

 thinner and thinner, till it died from exhaustion on the 

 1 5th of March 1879. 



Quiet stolidity and stupidity seem to characterise 

 it in its native haunts as well as in captivity. The 

 Aquarium specimen was noeturaal in its habits, feeding 

 by night. During the greater part of the day it 

 dozed in various attitudes, every now and then rising 

 lazily, and apparently without the slightest effort, to the 

 surface to breathe ; or occasionally it made a move round 

 the tank in a quiet, unconcerned manner. Then it 

 would poke its nose close up to the glass, remaining 

 stationary there for a time without showing either fear 

 of, or interest in, the numerous spectators frequenting 

 the Aquarium. 



A fine, robust young male arrived at Liverpool from 

 Trinidad in September of the same year, and was pur- 

 chased for the Aquarium, at Brighton, where it was kept 

 with a young female that was obtained a few months 

 previously. They are said to have recognised the voice 

 of their keeper, and seemed to enjoy having their backs 

 brushed by him. It is reported* that they habitually 

 * "Proceedings of the Zool. Soc. 1881," p. 456. 



