18 THE SEA-SIDE AND AQUAEIUM. 



last-mentioned author declares, that by no article of 

 food were the luxurious habits, which afterwards 

 proved so fatal to his nation, so greatly enhanced as 

 by the use of shell-fish. " Of all the elements that 

 exist," he adds, " the sea is one that costs dearest to 

 the telly." Nor will the classical reader fail to recall 

 the powerful verses of Juvenal, to the same effect. 



I may mention, that since I have had an Aquarium 

 I have lost all desire to look upon Periwinkles as 

 articles of food or luxury. I admire them more than 

 ever, but it is on account of their form, and not for 

 their flavour. Eugh ! 



Mr Sowerby, treating of the Buckie, pleasantly 

 observes : * 



" The pleasures of a sea-side ramble are much 

 increased by an intelligent observation of the various 

 forms of animation that are met with among which 

 the Periwinkles are often prominent, not only for 

 their numbers, but also for their activity. They dot 

 and stud the slimy rocks with their turbinated shells, 

 or creep through the tiny corallines, or slide among 

 the overhanging fuci in search of food 



1 Part single, or with mate, 

 Graze the sea-weed, their pasture ; 

 And through groves of coral stray.' 



"Let us examine the nature of these interesting 



objects by taking an example ; here is one at rest. 



We see a rather solid-looking shell, of a dark colour, 



perhaps distinctly banded; at the base, on which it 



* "Pop. Brit. Conchology," p. 143. 



