OE, THE HOME-CULTUEE OF FRESH-WATEE PLANTS. 



Cray Pish, which, though tameable, is at first shy 

 and shelter-loving. I have kept Cray Pish for a 

 short time myself, and found great interest in watch- 

 ing them take their food generally small pieces of 

 raw liver which I have let down to them at the end 

 of a string. They have at first approached the prof- 

 fered meat very cautiously; hut gaining courage, 

 have come boldly forward at last, and taking hold 

 of the meat with a claw, as ready in its actions 

 as a human hand, have carried it to their mouths, 

 and devoured it with evident relish; occasionally 

 using the other claw to tear off a tough piece, or 

 otherwise assist in the operation. 



One of these creatures is a very pretty minia- 

 ture of a lobster (see Plate VIII.), and is a 

 pleasing variety to the other forms of animal life 

 in the Aquarium. It is a singular fact that, in the 

 representation of this creature, in Basel's beautiful 

 work, he is represented in his living state as of a fine 

 bright scarlet. This can scarcely have been the 

 error of the naturalist, but rather that of the 

 colourist in preparing copies for the bookseller 

 which had not the advantage of the author's re- 

 visal. The colourist, however, commits this special 

 sin in good company ; for I recollect a noble picture 

 of the " miraculous draught of fishes," by no less 



