278 GOBY HUNTING. 



available way of escape lies ; so that we almost despair 

 of securing him. At last, however, he has taken 

 refuge under the edge of a stone which bars up 

 egress. Cautiously we bring both hands to bear, 

 placing one on each side, so as to make a sort of 

 basin ; then inserting the fingers under the shelter to 

 probe the retreat, out darts the little hider, but finds 

 himself environed in the hollow of our hands. 

 " Quick! the jar! or he'll escape yet!" No! he's 

 all right ; safely dropped in ; and we hold up the 

 glass vessel, half full of clear water previously 

 provided, and gaze in triumph at our little cap- 

 tive. 



An elegant creature it seems as we now behold it, 

 gliding round and round the bottom of its crystal 

 prison ; now turning lithely on itself, like a fold of 

 narrow ribbon, now swimming through the clear 

 water with the most elegant undulations, but sinking 

 to the bottom again the instant the undulatory effort 

 ceases (for it is strictly a ground fish) , and manifesting 

 in every movement the perfection of agile grace and 

 elegance. 



It is, as I said, a fish of a somewhat serpent-like 

 form, or rather ribbon-shaped, for its height much 

 exceeds its thickness. It is a ribbon set upon its 

 edge, with a fringe above and below, and each prettily 

 marked with regular chequered spots. But I must 

 jot down a more methodical description of him, that 

 you may recognise him again when you fall in with 

 him ; and this you will probably do every time you 



