SLUMBERERS OF THE SURGE 315 



only a short time in any given spot, were all physi- 

 cally adapted and modified for life in and over 

 and around rocks and coral. 



The most abundant of the Villagers were the 

 brown Pomacentrids or demoiselles. They were 

 everywhere and yet each one had its own little 

 domicile — a hole, or crack or crevice where it re- 

 sided and which it defended against all comers. A 

 sight of which I never wearied was to see a big 

 Xesurus^ if not indeed a grouper itself, come barg- 

 ing slowly along, when suddenly out from the very 

 coral rock in its path there would shoot a diminutive 

 demoiselle, fins erect in righteous wrath, and ac- 

 tually rush at the offending giant. The gesture of 

 home defense was so real that the attacked one, 

 if a small fish, usually turned tail and fled at once, 

 or, if the dignity of size had to be maintained, the 

 surgeon or grouper would veer slightly to one side, 

 as if recognizing and acknowledging the excellent 

 motive of irritation, but saving its own face. 



All my life I have had a weakness for gobies and 

 blennies, and now that I was able to sit upon a 

 rock and have them come out like elves and gnomes, 

 and skip and slither about at my elbow, my fond- 

 ness grew to real affection. Of all fish these give 

 the impression of being less completely bound up 

 in fishiness. I am sure that they would make 

 splendid pets, and would do all they could to cross 

 the border line which divides the inhabitants of the 

 realm of water from us elemental mongrels. We, 

 lords of creation indeed! who must needs breathe 

 one thin medium, support ourselves upon a thicker 



