2 THE SEA-SIDE AND AQUARIUM. 



thusiasm so natural to beginners. Nor was my zeal 

 unrewarded. In spite of numerous slips ankle-deep 

 in water, a fall that broke the bottle containing 

 several Gobies a mishap of which these little fish 

 immediately availed themselves to regain their liberty 

 coming away from a pool and forgetting my chisel 

 (a common occurrence, good reader, as you will find 

 by experience), I managed to procure, among other 

 prizes, several beautiful specimens of Anemones, or 

 " quilled Dahlias," as a certain author aptly names 

 them. Partly from the good humour resulting from 

 such success, and partly from the tempting appear- 

 ance of the water, I determined to cool myself by a 

 bath, before moving off townwards. 



" Above me was the sky, beneath the sea, 

 I stood upon a point of shatter'd stone : 



The ocean spray 



Quiver'd beneath my feet, the broad heaven shone 

 Around, and in my hair the winds did play, 

 Lingering, as they pursued their unimpeded way." 



Being almost as ignorant of swimming as of that 

 department of natural history in which I had just 

 been taking one of my earliest lessons, I determined 

 to take advantage of the neighbourhood of a boat 

 riding at anchor, a little distance from shore, for a 

 practical lesson in natation. I had often heard it 

 recommended as an excellent exercise for a novice in 

 swimming to climb out of the water on a boat's sides. 

 Accordingly I had no sooner undressed than I waded 

 to the skiff, which I found in about a depth of four 



