SMOOTH BLENNY, ETC. 57 



upon a hair-pencil. This attention to their comforts 

 the Blennies will soon learn to appreciate, and will, 

 after a while, display at meal-times the sagacity of 

 larger animals. 



It is extremely interesting and curious to watch 

 the movements of these creatures. There is one 

 peculiarity which I am not aware other writers have 

 observed, namely, the length of time during which they 

 remain entirely out of water. I have seen some of the 

 specimens in my Aquarium lie for several successive 

 hours on the little ledge of rock quite motionless, as 

 if sound asleep. All at once, of a sudden giving a 

 peculiar twist of the tail, they spring into the lake, 

 and roam through its shallow depths as if with a 

 fresher zest for their native element. After a time 

 they again come above water, there to rest as before. 

 Even if not on the alert for their arrival, I easily 

 learn when it takes place, from a peculiar cracking 

 noise they emit, not inaptly represented by that occa- 

 sioned by snapping two finger nails together. 



It is possible, in the case of my Blennies, that their 

 partiality to land over water may be in a great mea- 

 sure due to selfish motives ; in other words, may arise 

 from my attention to their diet. I should in justice, 

 however, to higher motives add, that I have, from 

 the day of admission, endeavoured to gain their con- 

 fidence by other delights than those of the palate. 

 The most sagacious of these schemes appears to be 

 stroking their head and glossy sides with a camel- 

 hair brush. Whenever I approach the tank, if 



