104 MINUTE CKUSTACEA. 



side, tbe living atoms would presently be seen crowd- 

 ing up to that part by myriads, and studding the 

 glass in the vicinity, just as if it were covered with 

 fine dust. I subsequently availed myself of this ac- 

 quaintance with the habits of the Entomostraca, to 

 provide food for the smaller fishes; for I found that 

 they soon disappeared, not a trace being left of their 

 presence after the Tank had been stocked a few days, 

 doubtless having been devoured by the Wrasses and 

 Mullets. I therefore gathered some tufts of the more 

 bushy sea-weeds, and allowed them to remain floating 

 in the Tank for an hour or two in the evening, a 

 candle being placed outside. The result was the 

 same as I have described ; the vast numbers that 

 swarmed out were really astonishing ; and I was 

 pleased to see the little Mullets flock up to the spot 

 where the light revealed the tiny prey, and pick the 

 atoms from the glass, one by one, as fast as they 

 could seize them ; and yet the hosts crowded on, 

 faster than they could be devoured. 



The animals of which I could take distinct cogni- 

 zance were as follows. 

 1 Fifteen-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus spinachia 



