ANIMAL LIFE IN THE MARINE AQUARIUM. 107 



The Baccimom obsoktum is a good scavenger for the 

 Aquarium. He inhabits all our coasts. 



The Fusus imbricatus is a pretty and useful snail, and 

 can be procured, by dredging, in our bay and harbor. 

 The F. dnerens is called the Drill by oystermen, and is 

 in full possession of the implacable hatred of that class of 

 our industrial population. It is stated to be very destruc- 

 tive in the oyster beds, boring holes in the shells of the 

 luscious bivalves, and helping itself remorselessly, through 

 the orifice, to the body of the helpless animal within. 



The Scollop (Pecten) sometimes called the Cockle, is 

 abundant on our coast. The empty shells always attract 

 attention by their beauty ; but the animals once the occu- 

 pants of these frescoed walls, and who, as they mature, 

 grow fashionable and erect edifices still more imposing, 

 are more prepossessing than their late tenements. The 

 rows of blue eyes, like fine points, which are visible upon 

 the very margin of the shell, when the valves are partially 

 open, give us a faint indication of the royal colors worn 

 by the gaudy and luxurious creature within. 



The Sea Cucumber [Holothuria) can be obtained on 

 our eastern coast, and is a very gay and showy append- 

 age to the tank. There is a great variety of the class, 

 some of which uncommonly resemble a gherkin lying in 

 the water. The tentaculae of many are colored a bright 

 red, of many others a pale brown or yellow, while you 

 occasionally meet them of a dark purple. They always 

 adhere to the surface of rocks by the side on which the 



