250 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



we see the Mussel fixing himself by his byssiis to the 

 rock exposed to noonday suns, and another bivalve 

 boring his way into that rock, secure from the " garish 

 babbling day ; " when, in short, we see no constancy or 

 parallelism in the facts, explanation becomes difficult. 

 Let us be ignorant ! Let us acquiesce in mysteries 

 (when we cannot penetrate them), nor vex with noisy 

 questionings the imperturbable reserve of Natm-e ; 

 remembering the words of the poet, that " fools rush 

 in where gentlemen acquainted tvith zoology fear to 

 tread." 



For those who enjoy mysteries and paradoxes there 

 can be no lack of such enjoyment here. We walk 

 amid surprises. Only ignorance keeps us from per- 

 petual wonderment ; as we lift each corner of the veil, 

 more and more marvellous are the vistas which reveal 

 themselves. My vivarium is as pretty a little world 

 of wonders as a speculative man may need. In this 

 small vase behold two serpent-like fish, with the heads 

 of greyhounds. That fish is named Syngnathus by 

 naturalists ; " pipe-fish " by less erudite tongues. — 

 (Plate VL, fig. 1.) You see nothing remarkable in it, 

 either" as to beauty or eccentricity, and wonder why it 

 has a place among my pets. Listen. When a Basque 

 woman becomes a happy mother, her husband straight- 

 way takes to his bed, and lies there in receipt of caudle 

 and congratulations. Mrs Gamp waits on him ; while 

 the wife pursues her household avocations. To him 

 flock village gossips, copious no doubt in " experiences." 

 He does the "lying-in" with all pomp and circumstance. 



