Notes at Brighton. 149 



some of them are five feet in length, they dart about 

 graceful as a swallow flying .to the eaves, now skimming 

 the ground, then with a turn of their strong rudder-like tail, 

 shooting swiftly to the other end of the tank. If you have 

 a chance, observe how they dispose of the herrings with 

 which they are fed ; you may then believe anything of the 

 sanguinary shark, to which they are allied by family ties. 



The ever-popular octopus may be seen to excellent advan- 

 tage in the table tank. A comrade was put there, but the 

 bulley brother drove it out. Mr. H. Lee, in his interesting 

 work on " The Devil Fish of Fiction and of Fact," gives a 

 very vivid description of the peculiar amiabilities of 

 these bandits, and all one's observations lead one to the 

 conclusion that at close quarters it would be wise to refuse 

 their friendship on any terms. 



From fishes we pass to birds. About a couple of miles 

 out of Brighton, on the Dyke road, may be noticed, on the 

 right hand, a long, solid, newly-erected building, lighted by 

 sky-lights only. It might from its appearance have been a 

 drill-hall, a windowless schoolroom, or a mysterious place of 

 worship ; it is, in reality, the private museum of a gentleman 

 of independent means, who, from his Harrow days to the 

 present time, has spent his time in the shooting and preserv- 

 ing of birds. Curiosity was naturally excited in Brighton 

 by the gradual progress of the strange-looking building, and 

 there was quite a rush for the admission cards which were, 

 in process of time, by favour granted at certain hours of 

 certain days to inspect the wonders it contained. 



To say that this is an exhibition of stuffed birds is not 

 enough, for it is the largest and best set up collection of 

 British specimens that has ever been made. Mr. Booth, who 



