66 THE SEA-SIDE AND AQUAKIUM. 



vide for their own safety and that of their offspring ! 

 It is not an old weather-beaten Scallop that it takes 

 possession of, but one that is fresh without and 

 smooth and pure within. After it has entered, it 

 certainly has some way of glueing the valves together, 

 for it is not without difficulty that they can be torn 

 asunder; neither is it imprisoned, though the apart- 

 ment is thus shut against intruders : for, closely as 

 the valves adhere, there are some little apertures 

 about the ears of the shell, through which it can make 

 its exit with its numerous family, or by which such 

 little creatures as they feed on may in their simplicity 

 enter." 



I shall conclude this chapter, by stating that the 

 pool containing a Blenny and Goby may very pro- 

 bably be at the same time occupied by two other 

 animals well deserving notice. These are the Gun- 

 nel-fish, remarkable for its graceful motions, its 

 beautifully spotted and riband-like figure, but, un- 

 fortunately, not adapted for the Aquarium; and the 

 Five-beard Rockling. The latter is of more robust 

 constitution than the Gunnel-fish, and thrives admir- 

 ably in the tank, where its docility will soon render 

 it a favourite. 



