180 ANECDOTE. 



pretty experiment will partly prove it to any spirited 

 aquarian. Following out the above idea of the 

 bridge at Bideford, I managed to build an exceedingly 

 pretty centre piece for my tank. 



Having no ready means of making a rock arch, I 

 collected such pieces of rock, stones, &c., with weeds 

 attached, as I thought would answer my purpose, 

 and then proceeded to fabricate the object of my 

 wishes in the following simple way: First were 

 laid two stones parallel to each other at three or 

 four inches apart. Upon these I placed a large piece 

 of rock in a transverse direction. Between the in- 

 terstices a number of small mussels were then in- 

 serted. When fully satisfied that the bivalves had 

 moored themselves, I gradually piled one piece of 

 rock upon another until the structure reached the 

 desired height, each piece being bound to its neigh- 

 bour by means of the byssus threads of the Mytili. 



Before each block of stone that formed the founda- 

 tions of the arch was placed a splendid frond of 

 Lettuce Ulva, tied by a strand of silk to a white 

 pebble. These verdant fronds, so smooth in texture 

 and so gracefully convoluted, rising up from the base 



sought out the information I desired, relative to the present state of the bridge above 

 alluded to : 



Bideford, January 27, 1859. 



DEAR SIR, I have inquired of the bridge warder, and he informs me that the 

 feoffees of the bridge command mussels to be brought up by the cart-load, to protect 

 the foundation, which is laid on rubble. 



I am pleased that it has been in my power to procure this information for you I 

 am. dear sir, faithfully yours, EDWARD CAPERN. 



