THE AUTHOR AND HIS PET BLENNY. 107 



chamber for my protege. The shell being deposited 

 behind a piece of rock, in such a position that its 

 side rested against the surface of the glass, I was 

 thus enabled to watch what was going on within. 

 Some fronds of sea- weed were trained around so as 

 to form a kind of drapery. The Blenny, I am quite 

 certain, knew perfectly well that all this care and 

 preparation was on her account, for nearly the whole 

 of each day she spent in the novel apartment extem- 

 porized for her accommodation. After a week had 

 elapsed, she grew uneasy and pettish, was ever 

 snapping at her companions, and hunting them 

 about in all directions. On one occasion, however, 

 she seemed to be uneasy, now dashing round the 

 rock, then darting to the top of the tank, and down 

 again upon the pebbles. Scores of times these 

 movements were repeated, until I felt alarmed for 

 her safety, and annoyed at my inability to relieve 

 her sufferings. But aid from me being impossible, 

 I felt compelled, though very unwillingly, to allow 

 nature to take its course. 



On looking into the aquarium one morning, I 

 observed some strange object protruding from the 

 fish. The little creature, too, on catching sight of 

 me, came to the side of the tank, near to where I 

 stood, and by her movements asked me, as plainly 

 as any dumb animal could ask, to give her my 

 assistance. After a few minutes spent in a ' brown 

 study', I resolved to grant her petition, and imme- 



