43 COWSLIPS AND HYACINTHS. 



were unusually fine, and the former species, which is 

 generally found with the summit of the shell worn 

 away so as to expose the nacre, was almost univer- 

 sally perfect and unworn. 



A slanting ledge farther on, dipping down into the 

 tide, and well covered with matted Fucus, had some 

 narrow fissures, which we examined. In these we 

 found the little Shanny (Blennius pholis), or Tansy, 

 as it is called here, a fish rarely exceeding five inches 

 in length, which delights in such restricted limits ; it 

 is remarkable for the variety of its colours, scarcely 

 two being found alike ; these are often pretty, and 

 its brilliant scarlet eyes make it attractive. It is one 

 of the most suitable fishes for an Aquarium, as it 

 is readily procured, bears handling with impunity, 

 quickly becomes reconciled to imprisonment, and will 

 continue healthy with a far lower supply of oxygen in 

 its water than many others could tolerate for a single 

 day. I may have occasion to speak of this little 

 fellow again. 



As we saw no probability of finding here anything 

 that we could not procure any day under the Nothe or 

 Byng CUfF, we at length deserted the shore, and roamed 

 a little way up the hill. It was near the end of April; 

 the Cowslips were shooting up their erect yellow tufts 

 in great profusion through the short turf, and the air 

 was loaded with their sugary fragrance. Where the 

 ground was broken, the blue Hyacinth was also in 

 blossom ; and the two elegant flowers mingled their 

 tall succulent pillar-like stalks in gentle rivalry : both 

 being remarkably fine of their kind. The Spinous or 

 Burnet Kose {Rosa spinosissima) wasjust clothing its 



