108 ITS FEROCITY. 



sooner was the little creature put into the tank, than 

 presently the Black Gohy caught sight of him, and 

 rushing towards him seized him by the tail, which 

 was in a moment engulphed in the capacious throat. 

 The Blackie glared like a demon as with dilated head 

 he held fast his victim, clutching further and further 

 hold by repeated jerks : the delicate, pellucid head of 

 the unfortunate prey, projecting from the cavernous 

 mouth, panted and rolled its eyes in pain, but there 

 was no escape ; for now nothing was visible but the 

 head, when the ferocious victor shot under an umbra- 

 geous weed, and on my next sight of him all trace of 

 his meal was gone. 



The ferocity of this little fish is manifested even 

 towards its own species ; one can scarcely come within 

 sight of another without the stronger darting at the 

 weaker, and pursuing him with pertinacity for a con- 

 siderable distance, following him in all his doublings 

 and shifts, and through all the crevices and passages 

 which he essays in ilight, for some time. 



The Black Goby habitually loves retirement ; lurk- 

 ing under the shelter of the rocks and weeds, yet often 

 coming into view. He proceeds by starts, as if with 

 effort, shooting a few inches, and resting a while 

 between the strokes, never floating and turning about 

 in the water, like surface-fishes. Near the bottom is 

 his proper sphere ; he never comes near the surface 

 except when, very hungry and eager, he sees a frag- 

 ment of food at the top, and shoots up perpendicularly 

 to seize it, turning instantly downward to his depths 

 again. 



The colours of this fish are subject to great change. 



