216 AUGUST. 



with some Actinias and Serpulae, which regularly passed 

 a portion of its time on a stone ; I therefore placed one 

 in the glass. The BUnnius pholis immediately leaped 

 on it completely out of the water. It therefore appears 

 that these changes are necessary to its existence. On 

 going to the front of the house, I perceived that it was 

 near low water. Knowing that it would flow till ten 

 o'clock that night, I watched the movements of my 

 little captive, and as the clock struck, had the gratifi- 

 cation of seeing it plunge again into its natural element. 

 It has now been more than five months in my posses- 

 sion, and has proved throughout that period a regular 

 and correct tide-indicator. I was well aware that these 

 fish are constantly left by the receding tide on the 

 rocks, remaining concealed in small basins or holes, 

 under the weed, till the returning flood ; still I was not 

 prepared to see a fish voluntarily quit the water, and 

 pass so large a portion of its existence in a different 

 element, and by instinct alone time its change of posi- 

 tion so exactly." 1 



This is a highly curious observation ; but, as to Mr. 

 Ross's inference that " these changes are necessary to its 

 existence," I may remark that I have been in the habit 

 of keeping the Shanny for long periods in my tanks, 

 without any opportunity for such alternations. 



1 Originally communicated to a Monmouthshire nev, spaper in Oct. 1847. 



