12 



of jioi'fcH'tioii, :iii(l spent ciiuriuous sums in nijikiuj;' cliiiiiuels IVoiu their villas at Baiit ami >.'a|)les 

 to the sea-sliore, in order to lead the fresh salt water every tide to the intricate system of ponds 

 whicli existed in connexion with tlieir houses. Advantage was also taken of the habits of those 

 fish which enter fresh water to s])awn, as small rivulets were sometimes turned into the channels 

 to simulate a natural river, and the fishes used to go u]) these clianuels to spawn, thus stocking 

 the ponds, as the exit of tiie fry would he stopped by sluice-gates. It was a common feature to 

 have a pond in tlie han(pieting hall, so that guests could see the fish caught before being prepared 

 for the feast, and anuise themselves by watching the dying agonies of their greatest dainty, the 

 Red Mullet, whicli, in its death, takes the varied hues of the rainbow. The cultivation of this 

 fish at one time liecame a nuinia. which must have resembled tlie tuliji fever whicli occurred early 

 in tliis century, as in the reign of ( 'aligula we read that as nuich as £'J4i_l was given for a single 

 Mullet, and that the fish pouds of (J. Herius were sold for an amount greater than £30,000. 



AVheu the visitor has examined the contents of tlie various tanks, and muses on the infinite 

 variety of marine life here jnit before him, their difference of form, nature, construction, habit, and 

 being, he may perlia])s be induced to say, with Lord Bacon — 



" I Iiad rather lielieve all tlie failles in the legend and the Talmud and the Alroraii than that this universal frame 

 is without a mind, and, therefoi-e, (Jod never wrought miracle to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince 

 it. It is true that a little philosophy inolineth men's minds to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds 

 about to religion ; for while the mind of man looketh upon second c:iuses scatteretl, it may sometimes rest in them and go no 

 further ; but when it beholdeth the chain of them cnnfeilerate and linked together, it must needs fly to Providence and 

 Deity. If this be true of science generally, ssurely it must be emphatically as regards the animal creation, so vast in its 

 extent, exhibiting at each step such close relationships, and yet such infinite variety, such countless manifestations of 

 supreme design, unspeakable wisdom, of limitless beneficence and omnipresent agency, all pointing out with finger 

 unmistakable the power, the goodness, and the majesty of God." 



" There .Science, veil thy daring eye, 

 Nor dive too deep, nor soar too high 



In that divine abyss : 

 To faith content thy beams tolend, 

 Her hope assure, her steps liefriend, 



And light her way to bliss." 



THE SEALS. 



{I'lioca rifiiliita.) 



These anini;ds, wjiicli belong to the genus carnicora, ;uid are often misnauied fishes, are 

 louiid along the sea-coasts of all the temperate parts of tlie globe. The specimens shown in tiic 

 Aquariiun are the hnir Seal in coutradistinction to the far Seal of commerce, whicli only exists in 

 the colder regions. The term ivtnlhnt arises from their calt-likc bellowing, and is ajiplicd to this 

 species on account of the bleating noise made by the young Seals. Seals are strictly amphibious ; 

 they exist equally well on land or water, and only frequent the latter element because their limbs 

 are lietter adapted for swimming than walking, and because their food is found entirely in the sea. 

 Their marine life is not absolutely necessary for their existence. All members of this family are 

 piscivorous, and the amount of fisli a Seal can devour is astonishing ; and, notwithstanding the fact 

 tliat they must do enormous ihinnige to the fisheries, they are now jirotecteil by law. They cannot 

 breatlie lielow water, but inflate tlic lungs as does the human animal. The power of the lungs is 

 larger in comjiarison tliaii in man, ;uid the Seal, taking a bigger breath, has the power of comjiress- 

 ing a large quantity of atmosplieric air, and so remaining a longer period under water. Tlie 

 nostrils Inive a beautifully arranged valvular construction which enables an alisolute cdosure of 

 the air 2)assages, and so pi'cveuts the pressiu'C of water entering tlie lungs and causing suffocation. 

 It may not be generally known that pearl-divers and others who do not use the diver''s dress, in 

 order to attain this object, tire obliged to close the nostrils with tin instrument resembling the 

 common (dothcs-peg. The eye is also specially protected, luiving a secondary transparent lid 

 which covers the pupil when below water. The ears are also j^rotected with valves. The senses of 

 smelling, hearing, and vision are extremely acute. In the water the fore and hind fli2)pers are used 

 in the same manner as the fins of fishes, and their rate of progression in the water i« very swift, as 

 visitors can see for themselves. When they come on land a complete metamorphosis takes place, 

 as their hind legs are tucked under them, as in the .iccompanying sketch, and the arching of the 



