SAND-LAUNCE. Ill 



dark bands, and the pupil surrounded by an edge-line 

 of ruddy gold. The iris projects into the pupil with an 

 angle, making it crescent-shaped. The eyes move quite 

 independently of each other, and very curious it was to 

 look down with a lens upon the quaint little face, and 

 see one eye quickly turned up towards the beholder, 

 while the other remained still, or presently turned in 

 the opposite direction. 



Now and then it curved the head and tail down- 

 wards, and leaped out of water, clearing the side of the 

 saucer in which it was confined ; then, when put back, 

 it lay some seconds on its back (or rather on its wrong 

 side), with the dorsal and ventrals incurved, and thus 

 the whole body concave, as if in tetanus; but when 

 turned over it soon recovered. 



What is this writhing, wriggling thing, that looks 

 like a narrow tape of burnished silver ? It is a Sand- 

 launce, 1 and very slyly is it endeavouring to make its 

 way down to the rippling edge of the wave, to liberty 

 and life. But not so fast, pretty Launce ! we want to 

 have a look at you, and to introduce you to a very 

 jolly set in our aquarium at home. Now don't flounce 

 and dart round the jar so angrily : you can't get out, 

 and may as well be philosophic. 



1 Ammodytes lancea, for which see the centre of Plate xn. 



