236 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



however, we see one kind of Anemone flaunting in the light, 

 and another creeping under a stone ; when we see the Crab 

 impatient of the day, and the Prawn swimming gaily in the 

 brilliant pool ; when we see the Mussel fixing himself by 

 his byssus to the rock exposed to noonday suns, and another 

 bivalve boring his way into that rock, secure from the 

 " garish babbling day ;" when, in short, we see no constancy 

 or parallelism in the facts, explanation becomes difficult. 

 Let us be ignorant ! Let us acquiesce in mysteries (when 

 ■we cannot penetrate them), nor vex with noisy questionings 

 the imperturbable reserve of Nature ; remembering the 

 words of the poet, that " fools rush in where gentlemen 

 acquainted luith zoology fear to tread." 



For those who enjoy mysteries and paradoxes there can 

 be no lack of such enjoyment here. We walk amid sur- 

 prises. Only ignorance keeps us from perpetual wonder- 

 ment ; as we lift each corner of the veil, more and more 

 marvellous are the vistas which reveal themselves. My 

 vivarium is as pretty a little world of wonders as a specu- 

 lative man may need. Li this small vase behold two 

 serpent-like fish, with the heads of greyhounds. That fish 

 is named Syngnathus by naturalists ; " pipe-fish " by less 

 erudite tongues. (Plate VI., fig. 1.) You see nothing 

 remarkable in it, either as to beauty or eccentricity, and 

 wonder wliy it has a place among my pets. Listen. When 

 a Basque woman becomes a happy mother, her husband 

 straightway takes to his bed, and lies there in receipt of 

 caudle and congratulations. INIrs Gamp waits on him ; 

 while the wife pursues her household avocations. To him 



