72 THE SEA-SIDE AND AQUARIUM. 



demand for basins, jugs, tumblers, saucers, and all 

 sorts of ware, rendered the operation rather formi- 

 dable I began to empty the Aquarium. Having 

 removed fish, molluscs, weeds, and the like, I com- 

 pletely withdrew all the water by the syphon (a 

 simple tube of gutta percha), and at length came 

 upon the object of my search, who did not submit 

 to be caught without his best attempt at revenging 

 himself, by nipping my fingers with his claws. 



I now resolved to try the effects of solitary con- 

 finement, and I made up a cell for him in a tumbler, 

 at the bottom of which I placed a few spoonfuls of 

 sand and some Ulva latissima. I at the same time 

 subjected him to a course of corporeal punishment, 

 and had persevered in this for a few days, when, on 

 looking down to my tank, now filled as before with 

 its old occupants, I was astonished to see that one 

 Pholas had entirely disappeared (with the exception 

 of his beautiful articulated shell), and that another 



PHOLAS SHELL. 



was nearly empty. It was clear the poor Pholades 

 had other enemies besides the Fiddler. In conse- 



