265 



pure by its use, its returns to the surface were more 

 frequent, and at last it would remain there conti- 

 nually, till I gave it a fresh quantity. 1 believe I 

 might have kept it for years, but business one day 

 prevented me from giving it clean water in due time, 

 which put a period to the life of my little compa- 

 nion. 



" At first it would not suffer me to come nigh the 

 glass, without the utmost confusion and surprise ; 

 but at last it grew so tame, that if 1 came but ia 

 sight, it would be sure to be at the same side of the 

 glass, and lie gazing at me, until I was weary of 

 observing it. 1 often took the opportunity of look* 

 ing at it by candle-light, which it seemed to take great 

 pleasure iru 



a In the above-mentioned month, I put into another 

 glags, a ruff about three inches long. At first he too 

 appeared mighty reserved, and would not eat, nor 

 suffer me to come nigh him ; but in a short time all- 

 powerful hunger tamed him : for he could not like the 

 dace, live on the small inhabitants of the water, and 

 so was quickly forced to take whatever I provided 

 for him. In awhile it grew so tame that it would not 

 only eat small worms which 1 threw into the glass,but 

 would take them out of my hands. Nay, it would 

 .even rise out above the water for them ; which is con* 

 trary to the way wherein this kind of fish uses to take 

 its food. At last it would come to my hand, when- 

 ever I put it into the glass, and suffer me to handle 

 it. When I had made all the observations I 

 thought proper, after eight months I gave him his li. 

 berty." 



11. It has long been supposed that all shells, as 

 well as the animals in them, arose wholly from the 

 egg. But it is now found by various experiments, 

 that the shells of snails (and probably of all other 

 animals) are formed of a matter which perspires from 

 their bodies, and then condenses round them. 



VOL* i. N 



