136 FISH HARVESTING. 



plants : for in these gardens dwell jellyfish, 

 tender little crustaceans, soft-bodied chitons, 

 crisp shrimps, and juicy annalides all dainty 

 viands, on which this gay lounger delights to 

 regale himself. 



At low-tide, when strolling over the slippery 

 rocks that everywhere gird the eastern side of 

 Vancouver Island, in the larger rock-pools I 

 was certain to see lots of these fish imprisoned, 

 having lingered imprudently at their feasts. 

 This indulgence constantly costs the idler his 

 life: gulls, herons, shags also prowl over the 

 rocks, well knowing what admirable preserves 

 these aquariums are. Once spied out, it is 

 of no avail to hide amidst the seaweeds, or cower 

 under the shelving ledges draped with coralines. 

 The large pincer-like beak follows, nips him 

 across the back; a skilful jerk gets the head 

 first then down a lane he goes from which no 

 chirus ever returns. 



We might as reasonably attempt to describe, 

 the flushing changing colours of the Aurora 

 Borealis as seen in high latitudes, or the phos- 

 phorescence of a tropical sea, or the wing of the 

 diamond -beetle, as to hope by word-painting 

 to give the faintest conception of the colourings 

 that adorn the chirus : red, blue, orange, and 



