FISHES. 283 



more of his shoulders, supporting the elevation by stiffen- 

 ing out the first rajs of his fins, and rolling his eyes about 

 with a cunning and cautious aspect, he prepares to follow 

 the example. Presently the vessel is alive with sportive 

 flat-fish, now rising perpendicularly, now scudding along 

 horizontally, now sidewise, now edgewise; first showing 

 the dark, then the white disc. This lasts but a few mi- 

 nutes. One by one they slacken their motions and drop 

 down ; not settling finally without taking another survey 

 with lifted shoulders. One by one they flatten on the sandy 

 bottom, till the last lies " flat as a flounder '' at rest, and all 

 is over. The tank is dark and empty as before. 



GOBIUS NIGER. 



The Gob// is a small fish, distinguished by his shape, 

 which is broad at the shoulders, tapering off towards the 

 tail, so as to give him a tadpole appearance. This fish soon 

 ■familiarizes itself with its situation, and tamely but greedily 

 feeds from the hand. In saying " tamely,^^ we must be 

 understood as towards the fish's proprietor, and Jiot as to- 

 wards his companions in tlie tank. Towards these, even 

 of his own species, he is most ferocious, and will swallow 

 another Goby not much smaller than himself. The Goby 



