1913.] REPORTS. 23 



Mr. Ross says that he was able to tell whether it was high 

 or low tide by observing a Blenny he had in his aquarium. At 

 high tide it was invariably in the water, and at low tide reclin- 

 ing on a rock out of it. He kept it for five months " during 

 which time it proved to be a regular and correct tide indicator." 

 Well ! I have kept several dozen Blennies — I had 16 at one 

 time — and I failed to notice anything of the kind. Some of 

 them frequently climbed — they don't jump — on to a mass of 

 rock, and one in particular spent more time out of the water 

 than in it ; while others appeared never to leave the water. 

 I could, however, never detect that their movements synchro- 

 nized in any way with the state of the tide. They, however, 

 seemed to leave the water more during the night than in the 

 day-time. 



The Goby — Gobius paganellus — another denizen of our 

 rock pools, also became very tame, but was not so interesting 

 as the Blenny. 



The little Sucker-fish — Lepadogaster cornubieusis — which 

 can be found on turning over stones at low spring tides during 

 the winter, also easily became reconciled to captivity. They 

 reminded one very much of tadpoles when seen swimming. 

 Owing to their habit of adhering by their ventral sucker to 

 the glass of the tank they could easily be examined. They 

 appeared to be intensely inquisitive and explored minutely 

 any change in their tank. You could distinctly see them 

 watching your movements. They had a peculiar habit of 

 floating for a considerable time on the surface of the water, 

 belly upwards, so that several times I thought they were 

 dead. Small specimens of the Wrasse — Labridce — or Bock- 

 fish soon became tame, but never displayed much intel- 

 ligence. A peculiarity about the Blennies and Wrasses is 

 that they can move their eyes independently of each other. 

 It is very peculiar to see them intently looking at you with 

 one eye, while the other is fixed on some object at the other 

 side of the tank. 



For hideousness the Father-lasher — Cottus bubalis— would 

 be hard to beat. He proved a fearful bully, and would 

 rush out furiously at any fish which came near his lair. At 

 times he seemed to be possessed of fits of uncontrollable 

 temper, and would send the sand flying in all directions. 

 He was also very greedy, and would drive the other fish 

 away from food till he had eaten as much as he possibly 

 could, and would then remain, with a piece of fish hanging 

 out of his mouth, which he was unable to swallow, still 

 keeping the other fish from their dinner. 



