THE TEiNSPOET OF FEY AND FISH. 109 



" So we got them safely down to Mr. Francis's, and 

 on the brink of the pond turned them into a trough 

 .- — fourteen little siluri, aU alive and kicking, and as 

 spry and frisky as possible. Their size varied from 

 an ounce and a half to two ounces, for they are not 

 more than three months old ; but Sir S. Lakeman 

 (who is well acquainted with the fish) declares that 

 in a few weeks, when they have had the benefit of 

 fresh water and plenty of food, their increase wOl be 

 rapid and astonishing. When put into the water, 

 they dived down to the bottom at once, with an easy 

 vigorous movement, and waving their long barbels 

 about, quite as if they knew their way about the 

 pond which they then saw for the first time. From 

 their flourishing condition, there is every reason to 

 hope that they will increase and multiply. Indeed, 

 I have now very little doubt that, with ordinary luck, 

 this cotintry has now acquired the Silurus Glanis. 



" This is, so far as I am aWare, the first time that 

 this valuable fish has been brought to our shores ; 

 and the gratitude not only of the Acclimatisation 

 Society, but of the country, is due to Sir Stephen 

 B. Lakeman for the admirable manner in which he 

 has effected the task which he unselfishly, and let me 

 say patriotically, imposed upon himself. That the 

 sUurus is a most valuable fish there is no reason to 



