118 HINl TO THE YOUNG AQUARIAN. 



Fishes, Buckles, Hermits, &c., were speedily placed in 

 safety in an extemporaneous tank nothing else 

 than an old pie-dish. This receptacle, when partly 

 filled with sea-water, admirably answered the re- 

 quired purpose. 



The water in the large vase was gently run off, 

 and on approaching the base I found, as I expected, 

 the dismembered carcase of the crab. One leg lay 

 here, and another there, while the body was snugly 

 esconced beneath a stone, on which sat my favourite 

 limpet with its curiously formed shell, profusely 

 decorated with a plume of sea-grass and infantile D. 

 sanguinea. Here, then, I thought, was the mystery 

 explained. It was from this spot that the noxious 

 vapour must have emanated. Of course, the body of 

 the crab was removed; but in performing this neces- 

 sary act I tilted the stone, and so disturbed the 

 Limpet. Guess my surprise at observing the over- 

 turned shell of the Patella to be quite empty, and its 

 former occupant lying before me a mass of putrefac- 

 tion.* It now began to dawn upon me that I must 

 have libelled C. Mcenas. A few moments served to 

 confirm this opinion, for on lifting the stone, there 

 darted out a I could scarcely believe it was the 

 crab, who instantly went through a circus-like per- 

 formance around the circumference of the vessel. 



* This affords an important hint to the young aquarian to watch the Patella, and 

 occasionally to touch its conical house, to make sure the proprietor is alive and 

 well 



