heir island home is portrayed
as existing strengthens the conclusion that the strange music of the
sea belongs not to Ceylon or Florida or the Mediterranean alone. It
affords us another instance, by that common enjoyment of sweet sounds,
of the chain of sympathy between all intelligent creatures, and better
prepares us for familiar acquaintance with the beings which people the
sea. We have prejudices and preconceived ideas to get rid of, whose
strength has crystallized into aphorisms. "Cold as a fish" and
"fish-eyed" are ordinary expressions. Then the touch of a fish, cold,
slippery, serpent-like, causes an involuntary shrinking.

But the submarine diver has a new revelation of piscine character and
beauty, and perhaps can better understand the enticings of a siren or
fantastic Lurlei than the classical scholar. In the flush of aureal
light tinging their pearly glimmering armor are the radiant, graceful,
frolicsome inhabitants of the sea. The glutinous or oily exudation
that covers them is a brilliant varnish. Their lustrous colors,
variety of crystalline tints and beautiful markings and spots, attract
the eye of the artist even in the fish-market; but when glowing with
full life, lively, nimble, playful, surely the most graceful living
creatures of earth, air or sea, the soul must be blind indeed that can
look upon them unmoved.

The dull optic seen glazing in the death-throes upon the market-stall,
with coarse vulgar surroundings, becomes, in its native element,
full of intelligence and light. In even the smaller fry the round orb
glitters like a diamond star. One cannot see the fish without seeing
its eye. It is positive, persistent, prevalent, the whole animate
existence expressed in it. As far as the fish can be seen its eye is
visible. The glimmer of scales, the grace of perfect motion, the rare
golden pavilion with its jeweled floor and heavy violet curtains,
complete a scene whose harmony of color, radiance and animal life is
perfect. The minnow and sun-perch are the pages of the tourney on the
cloth of gold. There is a fearless familiarity in these playful
little things, a social, frank intimacy with their novel visitor, that
astonishes while it pleases. They crowd about him, curiously touch
him, and regard all his movements with a frank, lively interest.
Nor are the larger fish shy. The sheeps-head, red and black groper,
sea-trout and other, familiar fish of the sportsman, receive him with
frank bonhommie or