248 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



which the pond communicates with the sea is a curiously arched 

 tunnel, excavated naturally no doubt, but, curiously enough, 

 almost at a right angle to the stratification of the beds. It is 

 about large enough for a person to walk upright in, wider at the 

 bottom and narrowing towards the top, with daylight coming in 

 for the greater part of its length. Formerly there was an iron 

 grating in the upper part of the tunnel, but now there is simply a 

 wall of loose stones built up across it, close to where it com- 

 municates with the pond ; and this is found sufficient to prevent 

 the egress of the fish, and to admit of the ebb and flow of the tide. 



The level of the water in the pond is of course dependent upon 

 that of the bottom of this aqueduct, and this level is practically 

 3 feet below the level of the highest tide, so that at every average 

 tide a fresh suj^ply of salt water flows into the pond ; but in very 

 calm weather, and at very low tides, the salt water does not reach 

 the level of the pond, sometimes for several days in succession. A 

 small cottage, aff'ording accommodation to the old woman in charge, 

 adjoins the outer wall, and a door close to the cottage admits us 

 through the wall down a number of steps. Your first impression 

 on entering is, that you are going to walk into a well of rather 

 large dimensions; but your attention is immediately monopolised by 

 the inhabitants of the pond, plainly visible in its clear green waters. 



The first thing that strikes you is the intelligent " expectant 

 attitude " of the creatures. It is evident that they can look up out 

 of the water, and at you ; and by the time we have reached the 

 water level, in company with the old woman, they are all assembled 

 in a slioal, like a flock of poultry, each eager for a share of the 

 good things coming. The bowl of limpets with which the woman 

 is provided is no doubt a familiar object to them, and as soon as 

 she stoops down with a limpet, divested of its shell and held in 

 her fingers, there is an eager crowding forward, and the successful 

 candidate takes it out of her hand with a great suck, first with an 

 opening of his upper and lower jaws, and then with a supple- 

 mentary opening of his side-jaws, forming a sort of square abyss 

 into which the tiny morsel disappears. 



To enable the fish to take up their food comfortably, the 

 morsel has to be held an inch or two below the water level. The 

 mouth of the fisli closes upon all your fingers, and by a gentle 

 suckiuir motion tlie morsel of food is withdrawn from between 

 them. If the hand is held gently, and without offering tlie 



