248 BY THE DEEP SEA. 



catching a weasel asleep. But for some reason perhaps to 

 thoroughly ventilate his shell, or for the submarine equivalent 

 for ventilation the limpet occasionally lifts his shell so that 

 there is about an eighth of an inch clear space between the 

 edges of his shell and the rock. He still retains his hold by 

 means of his powerful sucker-foot, but the wily Shanny, 

 creeping silently up seizes the shell in his strong lips, and 

 before the limpet can exercise his muscular powers by pulling 

 down the shell and pinching the shanny's lower jaw, the fish, 

 with a shake of his head, has wrested it off the rock. He 

 carries it about for some time, biting at the flesh and gradually 

 reducing it in quantity. 



Each Shanny occupies his own private corner or crevice of 

 the pool and shuns the company of his fellows. In this 

 matter he appears to be a very morose fish, and further he 

 resents anything in the way of a friendly call. Should the 

 Shanny, who lives in the grotto about half way along the 

 southern side of the pool, seek to call upon his neighbour who 

 lives in that delightful retreat at the bottom of the west end, 

 the latter will rush out at him like a mad bull and effectually 

 put the visitor to the rout. 



In every pool there are a number of juvenile Shannies of 

 various ages and sizes, but of these the adults do not appear 

 to take much notice. One of the most noteworthy things 

 about the Shanny shared I admit with many other fish, but 

 still worthy of observation is the rapidity with which he can 

 make himself practically invisible. It is not easy to describe 

 the Shanny's coloration and markings, because it varies so 

 much in different individuals, and even in the same individual 

 at different times; but it may be said to be a mottling of 

 greenish-grey or brown marks, of which the strongest elements 

 are a series of dark broad stripes, running from the back to 

 about half way down the sides. The whole of the upper 

 surfaces are liberally sprinkled with small black or grey dots, 

 and larger ones are scattered over the dorsal fin, which is 



