18 
SAGAETIAD^. 
can unhesitatingly affirm, both that the species travels as 
freely as any in captivity, and that it may be removed from 
its attachment with the utmost ease and impunity. In “ The 
Aquarium” (p. 192) I had given evidence of both these 
facts, and experience has since confirmed them in number- 
less instances. Instead of repeating my own observations, 
however, I will fortify them with the authority of my friend 
Mr. Merriman, of Bridgnorth, who has favoured me with 
the following remarks on this subject : — 
“ Dr. Johnston’s statement is not confirmed by my 
experience any more than yours. I have a very fine speci- 
men of dianthm, which persisted in crawling up the side of 
my glass, — a circular one, — until part of its disk was actu- 
ally above ‘ high-water level.’ A few days ago it became 
necessary to empty my glass. Accordingly I drew off the 
water, and the dianthus hung in the most disconsolate way, 
looking very like an old wet kid-glove. Finding I could 
not finish my operation without entirely removing him, I 
worked him off with the back of my nail. Of course, at the 
first rude touch on his base, he shrank up into a ball, in 
which shape he continued, when I dropped him into some 
water to remain until I could restore him to his own home. 
While here he became quite like a ball of cotton, so many 
were the nettling-threads that he threw out on all sides. 
In two hours’ time I put him back into the glass, having 
taken the precaution to place a bit of slate upright behind 
him, that I might not have the same difficulty again. In 
less than six hours he had stuck as firmly to the slate as he 
had previously done to the glass, and he has continued 
most magnificent ever since.” 
In spite of Sir John'Dalyell’s assertion, that this species 
is “ less hardy than most,” the fuller aquarian experience of 
the present day enables us to affirm that no British species 
is more readily preserved in confinement than dianthus. 
