-fish, more crabs, fishes, &c., &c.

Blennies are quaint, intellectual-looking little fish; friendly too,
and easy to be tamed. In one of Major Holland's charming papers in
_Science Gossip_ he speaks of a pet blenny of his who was not only tame
but musical. "He was exceedingly sensitive to the vibrations of stringed
instruments; the softest note of a violin threw him into a state of
agitation, and a harsh scrape or a vigorous _staccato_ drove him wild."

In Tank 34 are gurnards, fish-gentlemen, with exquisite blue fins, like
peacock's feathers.

No. 35 contains dragonets and star-fish. The dragonets are quaint,
wide-awake little fish. I saw one snap at a big, fat, red star-fish, who
was sticking to the side of a rock. Why the dragonet snapped at him I
have no idea. I do not believe he hurt him; but the star-fish gradually
relaxed his hold, and fell slowly and helplessly on to his back; on
which the dragonet looked as silly as the Sultan of Casgar's purveyor
when the hunchback fell beneath his blows. Another dragonet came hastily
up to see what was the matter; but prudently made off again, and left
the star-fish and his neighbour as they were. I waited a long time by
the tank, watching for the result; but in vain. The star-fish, looking
abjectly silly, lay with his white side up, without an effort to help
himself. As to the dragonet, he stuck out his nose, fixed his eyes, and
fell a-thinking. So I left them.

In Tank 38 are some Norwegian lobsters; red and white, very pretty, and
differing from the English ones in form as well as colour.

The green anemones in Tank 33 are very beautiful.

The arrangement of most of these tanks is temporary. As some
sea-gentlemen are much more rapacious than others, and as some prey upon
others, the arranging of them must have been very like the old puzzle of
the fox, the goose, and the bag of seed. Then when new creatures arrive
it necessitates fresh arrangements.

There is not much vegetation as yet in the tanks, which may puzzle some
people who have been accustomed to balance the animal and vegetable life
in their aquaria by introducing full-grown sea-weeds. But it has been
found that these often fail, and that it is better to trust to the weeds
which come of themselves from the action of light upon the invisible
seeds which float in all sea-water.

The pools are also kept healthy by the water being kept in constant
motion through the agency of pipes, steam-engines, and a huge