THEIR DIVERSE HABITS. 285 



and as they quickly become familiar in a tank, they 

 are quite worthy of being sought after by amateur 

 zoologists. 



We carry ours home, and, committing them to a 

 large aquarium, study their habits. At first they are 

 shy ; hiding under the rocky covers, and inexorably 

 refusing to come into view. We must give them a 

 few days to overcome their timidity ; they will soon 

 become familiar, indifferent, and even saucy. Then 

 they are very amusing. 



The Gunnel always retains, indeed, some traces of 

 its timidity. It habitually chooses for its residence 

 an overarching stone, or some broken shell of a large 

 bivalve, under the shelter of which it can lurk, with 

 its pretty yellow head just peeping out. If driven 

 thence, you will see it gliding along in every corner 

 of the tank, seemingly in all parts at the same in- 

 stant ; but in a couple of minutes you discern the 

 little nose peeping from the old hiding-place just as 

 before. To-morrow you will find it in just the same 

 place, and next day again. Sometimes it swims with 

 much elegance, but with effort, and in a leech-like 

 manner, through the open water near the surface. 



The Tompot bursts and blunders about in an un- 

 couth, headlong way. If you approach the tank he 

 will leave his retreat, and rush up to the glass, as if 

 to challenge your intentions. Then, as if satisfied, 

 he turns round with a swash of his tail, and bustles 

 away into the cavern ; whence he will presently half 

 emerge, and lie close to the ground, with his great 



