186 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 



are to be found on many parts of our coast. When swimming 

 about they maintain a vertical position, but the tail is ready to 

 grasp whatever it meets in the water, and this is the means by 

 which the creature appears to obtain rest. The tail will quick- 

 ly entwine in any direction around weeds, or other supports ; 

 and when fixed the animal watches the surrounding objects in- 

 tently and darts at his prey with great dexterity. They raise 

 thjmselves to higher positions on their supports by the aid of 

 the hinder part of their cheeks, or chins, when the tail entwines 

 itself afresh. We do not think those at the museum performed 

 in public but their keeper t(T while away leisure time made them 

 very tame and taught them several little tricks, among others 

 to perch in a row on his finger. The four little fellows, each 

 only about four inches in length, presented a most comical ap- 

 pearance. The system of training in this case was very similar 

 to that which we have described as having been practiced in the 

 .3ase of the " learned seal." 



We cannot say that we ever had any personal experience 

 with oysters in the capacity of pupils, but in at least one case 

 has a bivalve been made subject to the tamer's art. In an 

 English paper of 1840 we find a curious account of a gentleman 

 at Christ Church, Salisbury, England, who kept a pet oyster 

 (.f the largest and finest breed then known. It was fed on oat 

 ni >al, for which it regularly opened its shell, and was occasion- 

 ally treated to a dip in its native element; but the most extra- 

 i-rJinary trait in the history of this amphibious was that it 

 5? roved itself an excellent mouser, having killed at least five 

 nj'ce, by crushing the heads of such as, tempted by the lucious 

 meal, had the temerity to intrude their noses within its bivalvu- 

 liir clutches. On oije occasion two' of these little intruders 

 Buffered together. 



