9132 Fishes. 
two oval spots of a dark purplish colour on the ventral sides of the 
fish, and which, at first sight, might lead the observer to imagine that 
the little fellow had received an injury. No words can describe the 
singular beauty of its eyes; they are perfectly gemmeous, and appear 
like living opals set in burnished gold. Every visitor who for the first 
time sees the little sucking fish is sure to be attracted by these remark- 
able organs, and viewed through a good lens they are indeed a pretty ~ 
object. Unquestionably they are the most beautiful feature of this 
beautiful little animal. They have the remarkable power which some 
other fishes and a few of the reptiles possess, viz., that of separate 
vision ; one eye, perbaps, looking directly in front, while the other is 
directed to the tail, or it may be stationary, or rolling round in the 
most grotesque manner. By and bye the motions may be reversed, 
or they may act in unison. This may be explained by the fact that 
the optic nerve simply crosses, without any commissnral communi- 
cation, as is the case with man and the bigher animals. The eyes being 
on opposite sides of the body, each eye only receives impressions of 
objects situated on its own side ; its nerve fibres therefore pass directly 
across to the opposite side of the brain, without receiving, as it other- 
wise would, the nerve fibres originating from that side of the opposite 
eye. 
Another curious feature of the genus is the singular power of 
attaching themselves and firmly adhering to stones and old shells. 
The inner surface appears usually to be the part selected, and in the 
neighbourhood of the hinge they lie coiled up safely at anchor at the 
bottom of the sea. This power of adhesion continues so pertinaciously 
that they are easily secured by the dredge, through the meshes of which 
it would otherwise be perfectly possible for them to escape. In the 
living state they are exccedingly difficult to detach, without danger of 
injury, from any substance to which they adhere, and after death the 
power of attachment continues for a short time. 
_ My first personal introduction to the species was in the month of 
July last, in the study of Mr. Gosse, at Torquay, who had several 
specimens in a large shallow pan, some three or four inches deep. 
There were no other animals in this aquarium, and the stones and 
shells in it were profusely covered with rich confervoid growth. . The 
sight of my friend’s pets fired my enthusiasm, and, in company with 
my brother-in-law, we dredged most industriously, sometimes for a 
whole day, but without success. In vain did our guide and factotum 
of the genus “salt” endeavour to appease our anxiety by promising — 
that he would take us to a place “ where we could ketch three hundred 
