INTERESTING ANECDOTE. 105 



worn-out Wentletrap, and strove to lift his quivering 

 body into the aperture, alas ! without success. His 

 strength failed him, and he fell dead at the very 

 threshold of his new-found home. 



While watching thus far the above transaction, 

 the writer felt almost inclined to waver in the faith 

 he had long held with others, namely, that fishes and 

 other marine animals are insensible to pain. But the 

 movements of this poor Hermit-Crab were as indi- 

 cative of severe suffering as anything he ever wit- 

 nessed in bird or quadruped. 



Wishing to examine the remains of the crab, I 

 stepped aside for a few moments to procure my 

 forceps, but when I again reached the vase, to my 

 intense surprise the defunct animal was nowhere to 

 be seen ! I could only account for so singular a 

 circumstance by supposing some of the larger crus- 

 taceans had taken advantage of my absence to com- 

 plete the work of destruction, and therefore took no 

 further notice of the matter at the time. 



I had often wished that some of my finny pets 

 would deposit their spawn in the tank, and felt very 

 anxious, if such an event did take place, that I might 

 be near to witness it. But I was most anxious to 

 watch the gradual development of the ova, and, if 

 practicable, to become the fond owner of a host of 

 infant 'fishlings.' 



Guess the thrill of pride, then, which i an through 

 my veins when, on peering into my mimic rock-pool, 



