Ocean Gardens The History of the Marine Aquarium by Alex Ribeiro

New York State College of Agriculture

At Cornell University Ithaca,

N. Y.

Library

The tine

original of

tliis

book

is in

Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright

restrictions in

the United States on the use of the

text.

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924001904337

Plate V.

Laurencia plnnatifolia.

Polysplionia parasitica.

UlvalaUssima.

Rhodymonia

lacinata.

Graeilaria confervo!dea.

Codium

Crida-a edulis.

bursa.

9. lu.

Zonaria parvula. Ectocarpus tomcntosui.

uoraUina

nffltinalis.

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OCEAN GARDENS f he

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"^lariiic

|iq«m«m,

THE BEST METHODS NOW ADOPTED POE

IIS

ESTABLISHMENT

AND PEESERVATION.

NOEL HUMPHREYS,

AL'THOE OF "BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND THEIR TRANSFORMATIONS; *'

BRITISH WOTHS AND THEIR TRANSFORMATIONS;" *'

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CONTENTS.

CHAPTEE

....

Inteodtjction

CHAPTEE The Flooe

oe ihe Ocean

Aqt7aeit7m

or the

II.

III.

IV.

Maeine AauAEiuM

CHAPTEE

The Zoophytes

CHAPTEE The Molluscs,

CHAPTEE The Vegetation

PAGE .

....

CHAPTEE The

etc

VI.

CONTEXTS.

CHAPTEE

VII. PAGE

The

Ascidians, luscs,

Baes-acles,

Sea-Woems,

Sea-Ctjcujibees,

etc.

...

CHAPTEE The Fish and CRrsxACEAKs

CONCLTJSIOK-

9-1)4-

VIII.

of the AQUAEnjii

CHAPTEE

Mol-

jS'aked

IX.

...

110

LIST OF PLATES.

PLATE

SEA-WEEDS. No.

PAGE

The Crimson

Functaria

Chordaria flagelliformis

Vauclieria suhmarina

Hildenhrandtia rubra

latifolia

Delesseria

The Broad-leaved Punctaria

The

"Whip-like Chordaria

The Submariae Vaucheria

The Eed Hildenhrandtia

PLATE

II.

SEA-WEEDS. 1.

2. 3.

Bamgia fusco-prirpurea Codium tomentosum Bryopsis plumosa

Callithamnion arhuscula

Leathesia Berkleyi

Laminaria pjiyllitia

The Dark-purple Bangia

The

Closely-haired

The Feathery Bryopsis The

The Leafy Laminaria

The Common Porphyra

The Slender Dumontia

Asperococous Turneri

Turner's Asperococcus

RytipluBa pinastris

Dumontia filiformis

3. 4.

vulga/ria

42, 47

47 .

47 47

III.

Porphyra

Tree-like Callithamnion

Berkley's Leathesia

PLATE

Codium

The Pine-like

Eytiphffia

48 .

LIST OF PLATES. 5. 6.

Chrysemenia rosea Peyssonetia

Buhji

The Kose-colouredCkrysemema

Duty's Peyssonetia Tlie Minutely-branching Clior-

â&#x20AC;˘

Choria/ria divaricata

Eetocarpus siliculosus

The Podded Eetocarpus

Nemdleon multifida

The Many-cleft jS'emaleon

The Spotted Nytophyllum

10.

daria

Nytophyllum punctatum

PLATE

IV.

SEA-A^^;EDS. 1.

Chondrus crispus

The Curly Chondrus

The 2.

Oigartina acicuhris

Needle-shaped or Pointed

f . '

[

Ceramium sfrictum

Taonia atomaria

Plocamium coccineum

Gigartina

The Pink Ceramium

The Speckled Taonia The Scarlet Plocamium

PLATE

SEA-WEEDS. f

"I 2. 3.

Poly spjwnia parasitica

Ulva latissima

RJiodymenia lacinata

Gracilaria confervoides

Codimn bursa

Iridcea edulis

Zonaria parvula

Hetocarpm tomentosus

10.

The Pitmate-leaved Lauren-

Lav/rencia pinnatifolia

Gorallina officinalis

cia

The

43, 49

Parasitic Polysphonia

...

The Broad-leaved Ulva The Lace-edged Ehodymenia The Sponge-Hke Gracilaria The Purse-lLke Codium .

The Eatable Iridea The Lesser Zonaria

43, 49

50 .

....

The Hairy Eetocarpus The Common Corallina

50 49 50

LIST OF PLATES.

PLATE

VI.

SEA-ANEMONIES, STAE-FISIE, ETC. No.

PAGE

Oeniaster equestres

Asterina gihhosa

Palmipes memhranaceus

Crilella oculata

Palmmon

Edwardsia

serrattcs

vestita

Pennatuh phosphorea,

104 104

102 56

YII.

The Nailed Sea- Anemone

The Phosphoric Sea-pen

Gtow^ oi Ascidians Shell of the

Common']

specimens of Bdlanus

PLATE &

104

Pra-wn.

"Whelk, on which are two I The Acorn-shell

The Clothed Sea- Anemone

....

Actinia clavafa

Star-fish

The Common

PLATE 1

Star-fish

Bird's-foot Star

The Eyed

104

Scarlet Star-fish

The aihhous

The

The SmaU

VIII.

Actinia mesembrt/an- (The Carnation -like Sea-Ane-"

themum 3.

Actinia gemmacea

4. JDuccrnaria auricula 5.

mone of different colours The Gemmed Sea- Anemone The Auricula-Hke Lucemaria

The Eod-like Sea-Pen

Virgularia mirahilis

PLATE 1

Alyconium ddgitatum sphara

Cucumis hgalinus

IX. 59

The Serpent-haired Sea-Ane-

Actinia anguieoma

3. JEchinus

57 61

mone The Many-fingered Alyconium The Common Sea-Egg

The Glassy Sea-Cucumber

.107

LIST OF PLATES.

PLATE

X. PACK

group of Serpula contortupUoata

â&#x20AC;˘

{

XI.

Design for a Plainly-moiuited Aquarium

PLATE Design

for

1-59

mone

PLATE A

Twisted Serpula

(The Thick-homed Sea-Ane-)

Achnia crassworniB

I The

XII.

an Aquarium mounted in handsome Rustic-work

;

OCEAN GARDENS OE,

GLIMPSES BENEATH THE WATERS.

CHAPTER

rNIEODUCTIOlSr.

HAT the vast majority of our migratory flocks of

idlers generally sea-side,

fied

summer and autumnal do and think

at the

cannot be better exempli-

than by reference to the clever

sketches which are found occupying entire

pages of our illustrated periodicals and newspapers, during the season of marine migration.

But the

habits

and customs of the

annual shoal of visitors to our watering-places

may be

more intimately comprehended through the medium of the sprightly essays which generally accomstill

pany those

And

truly artistic delineations.

there really nothing

better to do

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

^no

OCEAN GAEDENS; better regime to go through, than the daily repetition

of the monotonous

programme of entertainment

thus

playfully described and ridiculed'?

Sm-ely the visitor at the sea-side

in reach of

something more pleasant and profitable than such a routine

not the sublime

sound of

coming of

its its

aspects

deep ceaseless voice

now

waves,

—the

now cliffs

whose white brows are

—suggest

the breeze

"svreathed

other matters

and amusement?

eternal on-

base of those

with perennial

both for

reflection

Surely the very whispering of

that has travelled so far over that vast

moving surface of the fathomless deep, and seems muttering of its

—

•"

has termed

other and higher

wliich

mysteries, while laden

its

sweet sahne odour

Dumas

the

in calm imdulations, and

in hurtling wildness against the

flowers

—

of the ocean

trains

ce it

parfum acre de

—might

lead us

of thought.

mth mer"

towards

Surely those

voices in the wind, mingling with the strange mur-

mur

of the waves as they break in cadenced regu-

larity

upon the

of those

shore,

ought

who hear them

to arouse, in the feelings

for the first time, or after a

long absence, strange sensations of admiration, and curiosity, and wonder. But no to most of the ;

idle

crowd those sights and sounds are invisible and

OE, GLIMPSES

unheard.

Their

BENEATH THE WATEES. have not been tutored

ears

understand the word-music of

Nature's language,

nor to read the brightly written signs on

its

glorious

page.

Nature or Art, the mind

appreciate either

requires a special education, without which the eye

and

the

ear

perceive

observer,

but

passing before them.

the

miracles

the eye of the

common

little

landscape

the farthest field in

green as the nearest, in the scene outspread before

him

while to the practised glance of the accom-

;

plished

artist,

tone

its

new

herbage,

till,

every yard of distance lends

colour to

the

tints

the

through a thousand delicate gradations, the brightest verdure at last mingles with the atmospheric hue,

and

eventually lost in the pervading azure.

then, the ordinary aspects of Nature

interpreted

the untutored eye,

may how

If,

not be fully

should her

more hidden mysteries be felt or understood, And, ia fact, they are not, guessed af?

or even

the

visitor to the sea-side, looking over that wide tremu-

lous expanse of water that covers so

would

feel,

like the

chUd taken

many

mysteries,

for the first

time

within the walls of a theatre, an intense anxiety to raise

scene

the

dark green curtain which conceals the

of fairy wonders he

greedily longing

;

OCEAN GARDENS behold and enjoy.

But the lounger

does not guess

the wonders

at the sea-side

concealed by the

dark green curtain of the ocean, and, consequently, never dreams of wishing to peep beneath its waving not

gratify a curiosity which, in fact,

folds,

he does

feel.

When, however, learnt,

mur

the

language

the

and her voice

Nature

but becomes a brUliant

ear,

no longer a confused murseries of

eloquent words, full of deep and exquisite meaning,

then the student will see as well as hear; but tUl then, in his intercourse with Nature, he

and

blind.

" Speak," said Socrates to a

something, that I

may

see you."

man; and

not see a silent

youth

;

" say

Socrates could

who do

those

both deaf

not hear

and understand Nature's language, cannot see her wondrous beauty.

The mill-Hke

repetition of worldly affairs brings

on a torpor of mind, in regard to aU without the narrow circle of selfish interests and easily purchased pleasures, which

But

very

difficult to

wake

would Avarn the suff"ering victims of that baneful, though secret, presence for with the

up from.

;

consciousness of

its

been taken towards I

existence, the first step will its

have

eradication.

would remind aU those thus

suffering

from inac-

;

OR, aLIMPSES tivity of

BENEATH THE WATEES.

mind, of the wholesome dread of that kind

of mental torpor entertained by the Gymnosophists

who, as Apuleius

tells

us,

when they met

at meals,

required that each should be able to narrate the

some

particulars of

good

action, in default of which, it

he did not exhibit a to

discovery, or original thought, or

was deemed that

sufficient claim for

being allowed

consume a share of the viands, and he was conse-

Were

quently excluded from the repast.

most

idle sea-side loungers to

each of our

impose upon himself

the necessity of a discovery, or an original thought, before he

considered himself entitled to dine, that

torpor, so deadening to the natural capacities of his

mind, would soon give way to a which, were trast,

state

of activity,

only from the brightness of the con-

would be found highly agreeable,

to say

nothing

advantages, or of the elevating and refining

its

trains of

thought to which

would

necessarily give

rise.

know

mind

of nothing more likely to stimulate the

to healthy exertion,

and take

immediate track of commonplace sures, the

monotony of which

interests

fields

;

especially those

and

plea-

so oppressive, than

the study of natural history in some of

plored

out of the

its

least ex-

which recent discovery

and investigation have rendered

attractive

OCEAN G-ABDENS; connection with

how few

who

there are

made by

known

social

life,

the routine of fashion or habit natural history, even in

popular love of divisions,

in fact,

is,

yet,

seek that charming mode

monotony of

dissipating the dreary as it is

And

waters of the ocean.

tlie

such !

A best

its

of quite recent growth.

Indeed, the very existence of such a science has been, till

recently, altogether ignored in our great national

The

of learning.

seats

have done so much either openly

respect

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

lay bare

its

wonders, were

or treated with but small

ridiculed,

as useless

who

earnest investigators,

dreamers upon very smaU and

The very names

insignificant matters.

of such true

labourers in the mine of science as our glorious old naturalist

Ra)-,

indefatigable

Ellis,

his

follower

the

nature of Zoophytes,

first

Pulteney,

detector

the

of the true

who measured pens with

the

giant LinuEBus, received no academic honour; and those

their

rarely heard,

yet

undiscoiuraged

cither

our general public,

till

successors

our imiAersities

were

among

the vast discoveries of geo-

logy and other allied branches of science, in our own times, at last aroused attention to the importance of their investigations.

popular knowledge of that branch of natural

history

which

especially

concerns

our

seas

and

OE, GLIMPSES

BENEATH THE WATERS.

shores, is indeed of very recent date.

in fact,

now beginning

but even

The

subject,

to develope itself

beneath the pens of an enterprising band of marine naturalists,

with such leaders as Johnston, Harvey,

John Edward Gray, the

and the

indefatigable Gosse,

revered shade of the lamented Forbes at their head.

knowledge even of the more

truly popular

accessible

regions of our woods and

more ancient

little

;

for,

till

Gilbert

fields,

but

White had

m.ade the story of such knowledge as attractive as

romance, in his " Natural History of Selborne," few guessed what an arena of ever discoveries

new

interests

and

presented.

Through the fascinating interpretation of the good Gilbert, many now understand the attraction of those branches of natural history which he so curiously investigated it is

as easy to

;

but few are willing

make

the

admit that

natural features of some

obscure fishing village, with no herbage on rocks,

and no bush, no blade of

grass,

seen or heard, equally interesting

them, that by

lifting

;

its

no bird

bare to

yet I can assure

even the mere border of that

great green curtain of the ocean, or by awaiting

unveihngs, as the retiring tide bears back

its

folds,

a host of wonders will be revealed, sufficient to stir

the most torpid

mind of the most

inactive idler

OCEAN GAEDENS, to

earnest and deeply inquiring

arouse

him

to their

ETC.

contemplation, and

devout admiration, as

among

the

most exquisite miracles of that creative and sustaining

Power which

the source of their existence.

CHAPTER

II.

THE FLOOR OF THE OCEAN.

The wonders

of the ocean floor do not reveal them-

selves to vulgar eyes. to sacrilegious listeners,

the oracle was inaudible

and

none but poetic ears

heard the cadenced beating of the feet that danced

haunted by the

to unearthly music, near the fountain

Muses of

classic fable

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

so,

none but the

initiated can

see the myriad miracles that each receding tide reveals

on the ocean mysterious

;

The

floor.

however,

initiation,

there are no dark rites to observe

Herculean labours

before entering upon

accomplish,

the noviciate,

have

which

not

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;no said,

once

opens a large area of unexpected pleasures, and an

ample

field for

admiration and investigation.

elementary works carefully present

the

first

little

book

studied,

attentively perused,

helps towards seeing, at

A few

even

this

would supply

all events,

a portion

of the " wonders of the shore," as the brilliant author

of " Glaucus" has eloquently termed those revelations of the retiring deep. It is the seeing that is

everything.

But

let

none

;

OCEAJSr

despair of acquiring

wrote

The name of Colonel George Montague" Professor Edward Forbes),

that power.

the Devonshire squire, (thus

GARDENS

the late

become one of the greatest in the whole range of British science, had his whole career been devoted to marine physiology;" and that mainly be" might have

cause,

from a sincere devotion to a favourite pursuit

of his leisure, he acquired the art of seeing

sought by so few, though open to earnestly seek

aU who

art

will

it.

Each department of distinct

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;an

kind of

sight.

science requires a separate and

The

astute

at a glance the precise state

merchant deciphers

of the most intricate

accounts, in the midst of thousands of seemingly conflicting figures

;

but of the thousand interesting and

wonderful things connected with the existence of the little

beetle

walk, he

that

crosses

his

path in his country

incapable of seeing any single particle.

But the despised entomologist, Avhom he has contemptuously observed turning over the stones at the road

side,

and peering curiously beneath them, could

him a tale of wonder, could preach him a sermon upon that tiny tjqoe, such as would assuredly develope many latent and unsuspected powers in his mind, that Avould enable him to see wonders where aU had previously been blank, and teach him that tell

BENEATH THE WATERS.

OR, GLIMPSES

there are things well worthy of investigation beyond

the region of money-making, and the attractive but

narrow

circle

racters,

ÂŁ

distinguished by the fascinating cha-

Those who cannot see Nature, who cannot

more than an unclean thing beetle, are like

obelisk,

who

see

in the Httle creeping

one gazing at the carved record of an

perceives, in the hierogl}'phic scarabaeus,

simply the sculptured figure of a beetle, and no

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;they

as regards fields

"Egyptian darkness"

are in a state of

one of the highest and most enchanting

human

research.

But

acquired this rare though easy see Xature, even

are

art

to a

infinite

to those art,

who have

and learned

moderate extent

(for in that

number of degrees and grada-

tions), the aspect of the

ocean floor must present an

appearance as beautiful and strange, and seemingly as supernatural,

the wildest imagination could

depicture.

When

poets

woidd

travel,

their

inventive

flights, to other floating and revolving worlds !han

ours, they describe rosy skies, instead of azure,

Uke branching ghttering on every trees

pictures, in short, in

crystals,

with jewel-like

and

fruits

They present us vsdth which aU the ordinary aspects

stem.

of our planet are reversed, or metamorphosed, in the 11

;

OCEAJSr

aAEDENS

region of their invention; yet in their wildest and

most fanciful pictures they do not surpass in strangeness the wonders of the world beneath the sea.

the land,

have, as the ordinary aspect of

Nature, the green herbaceous mantle of the earth

below the

and the azure sky above; while a on the ocean

eye,

spectator, standing beneath the water floor,

woidd

would

see these features

see above

him a

more than reversed he :

liquid atmosphere of green,

and below, an herbage of red or of purple hue, exhibiting strange yet exquisite forms, such as no terrestrial vegetation

Roseate shrubs of

displays.

jointed stone, and arborets of filmy glass, and creatures fiUl of active, energetic

stranger

still,

life,

whose forms are

both in structure and in appearance;

mere worms, whose colours are gorgeous

as the tints

of the butterfly's wing, or the peacock's

tail,

or the

humming-bird's breast.

What

scenery

formed by those miniature

forests

of Delesseria sangttinea, so lovely in their tones of soft* rich

crimson;

and those

fan-like

shrubs,

crisply graceful tufts of the brightly tinted

gularly formed

Padma pavonia

Callithamnion arbuscula,

and

the sin-

the tree-like masses

the

delicate

JPtilota

plumosa, and the purple-tinted Corallines, forming themselves into those

OR, GLIMPSES

BENEATH THE

"WATERS.

"Arboreta of jointed stone,"

by a recent poet. And then there are the high waving fronds of the grandly SO exquisitely described

graceful

Torphyra

vulgaris, the deep carmine of the

Iridcea eduUs, the nacreous tinges of the Chondrus crispus,

and the blood-red of the splendid JRhody-

menia lacmata, with

its

embroidered and lace-hke

edges- these, with the gorgeous tufts of the rich

purple Bangia, and other objects which form the elements of

still life

in a submarine landscape, surely

cannot be siirpassed, either for magnificence of colour or variety of structure.

But

to these features

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

extraordinary

must be added others more

^forms that the elder naturalists ima-

gined to be links between the animal and vegetable creation, but

which are now known

have no

affinity

whatever with plants, though they exhibit, under

many

aspects, all the appearance of

expanded flowers

of various hues, displaying the forms of the Carnation, the

Anemone, the Mesembryanthemum, and the

blos-

soms of other beautiful flowers whose names they These curiously beautiful Zoophytes, the wonderful Actiniae, exhibit every tone of colour, from purple and scarlet, to green and white, and might be

bear.

taken in their picturesquely placed groups for rare exotic flowers, planted among the rosy-tinted shrubs

OCEAN GARDENS; expressly to add the last touch of richness and effect

an ocean flower-show. Yet they are not flowers, but animals

to the scenery of

sters,

whose

—

are

seeming dehcate petals

sea

mon-

but their

thousand Briarean arms, disguised as the petals of a flower, as

and expanded

to seize the

unconscious victim

—

he passes near the beautiful form

the crater of a -solcano

by the closing

And

;

in which he

fatal to

him

soon engulphed

tentacles of his unsuspected enemy.

he pass not near enough for that deadly

floral

embrace, and escape the fatally beaiitiful petals, those pretty crimson tubercles that dot so gracefully the

seeming

stalk,

beneath the seeming flower, can shoot

forth a thread, armed, like the fisher's line, with a

barbed hook, which strikes and secures the distant prey; and so the unwary Annelid or lyifusory

captured and devoured.

this capacity the

actinea has been compared to Pope's spider, " Feels at each tTiread,

But then

and

Syren

who

along the Line."

lives

the lining thread of the Actinia (or of the

Cirriped, AAhich has a similar power)

the sensitive gossamer of the poet

But notwithstanding

these

fact,

while

a fiction.

ogre-like

attributes,

the lovely Actinia long deceived even our naturalists as to its true nature

—and of course the poets—from

OE, GLIMPSES

whom

his

BENEATH THE WATERS.

flower-like

disc

and petaloid tentacles

completely concealed his grosser nature.

Then, as

the tide recedes, he so meekly closes his beautiful

much

with so

oubliette,

like those

slirinking flowers

though they dared not of the night, that

it is

and looking

grace,

to look

that

much

eve,

on the black darkness

no wonder poets were beguiled,

and that the romantic Southey sings of the Actinia as of

some

lily

of the deep that, on the retiring of the

ocean, " Sinks

To add

down within

to the

its

purple stem to sleep."

wonders of

this strange landscape

come the creeping Nudibranchs and Tectibranchs, gliding over the gracefully waving Algce ; their elegant forms decorated with their external breathing

hke a

apparatus, so delicate and fragile, that

spectral star gliding above them,

hke the pale

skeleton of some

looks

deHcate flower, so fine are its milk-

white filaments, arranged nearly always in a symmetrical and star-like form. singular

And

and shadowy Medusce

then there are the

fioating past, in the

form of parachutes, vnth low suspended

cars, just as

though the science of ballooning had been carried to perfection under the sea; and that they were made of elastic glass, instead of

silk,

though richly fiushed

with iridescent and varying tinges, 15

sometimes of

OCEAN aAEDENS;

and anon of emerald green hues that seem added by some delicate process which the glassmetallic azure,

;

blowers above the water have not yet discovered.

Some

of these creatures are fragile as a soap-bubble,

which

their transparency

and prismatic

flashes of

them a curious resemblance and their ephemeral existence, dependent upon the will of exen an angry ripple of the element in which they live, is colour give

;

doubtless as brief.

The deep has even

its butterflies,

as well as the

land: for the fluttering of the fins of some small and brightly coloured fish has been compared to the action

of the wings of moths

—

have

also the locomotive

membranes of some of the animals of the univalve shells. Then there are minute phosphorescent animals, which represent the fire-flies of the south, pouring a living flood of light through the water as they

—some emitting

glide along

flashes, like floating

silvery,

and others golden

lamps that seem hurrying

to light

up the darkness of the far ocean depths. Even the worms are gorgeous and wonderful this

subaqueous world.

The

Serpulce,

radiating coronets of crimson braticMce

naria, with

its

;

with their the Fecti-

golden comb, glittering in burnished

brightness; and the Nereis, with white and crimson stripes

—

are all wonderful as well as beautiful objects.

OR, GLIMPSES

But the Salithea,

named

Lamarck has

or sea-goddess, as

from the extraordinary beauty and the

it,

gorgeous

BENEATH THE WATERS.

that

colotu's

with which

from the

radiate

clothed, surpasses

it is

them

silky hairs

all.

These, and other wonders of stUl greater beauty,

wUl reward the persevering student who learns to see them but then he must learn. Even the intellectual ;

giant, Shakspeare, could not see clearly

many

of the

In his linQ upon the

minuter things of Nature.

slow-worm, for instance, vulgarly called the blind-

worm, which he describes "

The

are concentrated

eyeless,

venomed worm,"

two mistakes

in the first place, the

this little creature are brilliant in the

minute eyes of

extreme, and not very diificult to discover, to the naturalist

who

has learnt to observe Nature

the second place,

perfectly harmless.

has no venom,

and, in

tiny bite being

In another place he speaks of

"The blind-worm's

But

its

;

useless to multiply

siological errors of great

stinff."

examples of the phy-

men who had

not learned

MUton's errors in regard to the leaf of the Banyan-tree, and many others, might be to see

Nature

readily cited.

;

OCEAJif

There

aAHDENS

have endeavoured

are, as I

show,

glorious things to he seen in the ocean, but to learn to see

see with their

them

own

;

many

ha^"e

and those who find they cannot

eyes,

gifted sense of others.

must do

through the more

—how

To many

guided by an able cicerone

—the

fields

many, un-

round Selborne

would appear common and uninterestiag enough but ;

guided by a Gilbert White, whose searching eye knew

where

seek the hidden forms of plants, whose

ear at once distinguished and classified the song of bii'ds,

and even the buzz of

him, thiags assume a far

diff'erent

insects

aspect

— guided ;

like another

Prospero, he waves his wand, and every object begins to brighten,

tures

fea-

develope themselves under the magic of his

descriptions as

and a thousand new and beautiful

;

crowds of marvels springing up around,

from enchanted ground.

In like manner, guided

by the fascinating science of a Johnston or a Harvey, or the persuasive industry of a Gosse, or the elo-

quently glowing descriptions of a Kingsley, students,

who have not

the energy or leisure to

selves, will find the

work

for them-

dark ocean glow with an unex-

pected light ; and the charmed explorer will long for the power to renew the impressions of his sea-side

rambles after his return to his inland home, perhaps in the heart of a densely populated city.

Even

this

OR, GLIMPSES

BENEATH

TECE

WATEES.

he may now do through the medium of the marine

Aquarium, within the narrow boiindaries of which he may, with a little care and experience, estabhsh in healthy existence some of the most beautiful of the

animal and vegetable forms that people the caves and depths

of the

ocean,

region of wonders.

making

its

watery world a

CHAPTER

III.

THE AQUARIUM.

JHE

successful treatment of aquatic plants

and animals, in the confined space of a

Aquarium, depends covery that there exists in

entirely

glass

upon the

dis-

Nature a self-adjusting

balance between the supply of oxygen created in

water with the quantity consumed by aquatic animals.

Without the knowledge of these facts, and the principles by which they are regulated, it would ha^ e been impossible to establish such a marine Aquarium as that

we may now any day examine

Park; where, in a few size,

we may

see

in the Regent's

glass tanks of very moderate

examples of some of the most curious

forms of animal and vegetable depths of the ocean

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;forms

life

peculiar to the

singular,

that their

wonder little less intense than that which must have been caused, long years ago, by the first public display of the mountain form of the elephant to the people of cold

first

exhibition created a sense of

northern countries

;

and much more

than the recent

introduction of the giraffe or liippopotamus, although.

OCEAN GARDENS, till

ETC.

the beginning of the present century, they

had

never been seen in Europe since the days of the

Romans. Those

principles, the

knowledge of which was

requisite to enable us thus to

view the wonders of

the ocean in their living state in an Aquarium, were

not mastered at once, or by one man, or in one generation.

animal

The nature

and vegetable

founded, was

first

of certain relations between

upon which they are advanced by Priestley, towards life,

the close of the last century,

who proved

that plants

give forth the oxygen necessary to animal

The

life.

learned Ingenhauss, a native of Breda, but

who

prin-

cipally resided in England, defined this principle

clearly, in a

work the

title

stiU.

of which pretty fully

explains the entire nature of his discovery.

was

published in French, at Leyden, in 1778, and in

London, in English, in 1779. is

before me, the

title

lated, " Experiments

The French

of which

upon

may be

Plants,

edition

thus trans-

which prove

their

important influence in the purification of the atmospheric air sun,

when

they are exposed to the rays of the

and the contrary

results

which ensue when they

are placed in the shade, or during the night."

The

action of the sun's rays in disengaging the oxygen

generated in plants

thus clearly announced, and

GARDENS;

OCEAJSr

one of those which

the knowledge of this principle

have mainly conduced,

said, to the successful

as I

have

estahlishment of Aquaria.

In the course of his essay Ingenhauss

states, stiU

immersed in water," when exposed to the action of light, emit an air which he announces as oxygen gas; and this idea is the key-

directly, that plants "

stone of the Aquarium.

But, although the discovery of Ingenhauss at

once rendered the thing practicable. Aquaria did not then come into fashion. history

was not

The

science of natural

at that time sufficiently advanced;

for the specimens,

even in public museums, were

merely heterogeneous collections, assembled without the slightest regard to useful purpose,

classification,

A stufi'ed

or any other

cat with nine legs, stood,

perhaps, next to a bottled snake, followed

the

skin of a crocodile, to be succeeded in turn by a very

moth-eaten specimen of a King Charles spaniel, " sup-

upon good authority, to have belonged to Nell Gwynne." A few scores of such objects, with the

posed,

addition

an ostrich egg and a few

sea-shells,

without any attempt at name or description, formed,

with a few strildng exceptions, a very respectable

museum in

those times

;

and we may therefore easUy

conceive that (in so far as experiments illustrative of

OE, GLIJIPSES

BENEATH THE WATERS.

natural science were concerned) the suggestions of

Ingenhauss remained tolerably dormant.

was not

tUl

year

the

Daubeny communicated,

1833

that

Professor

to the British Association at

Cambridge, a paper concerning some new researches prosecuted in the same direction; and not tUl 1837 that Mr.

Ward became

the

first

any purpose analogous

ciple to

apply the prin-

to that of the

In that year he made a report

rium.

Aqua-

to the British

Association, on the hermetically closed glass cases in

which he had succeeded in growing many plants,

and keeping them in a healthy

any fresh supply of

air.

state

the

first

without

same time,

stated, at the

would

his belief that certain classes of animals

and thrive under

classes of

live

This was

similar circumstances.

direct hint towards the formation of a closed

Vivarium, whether atmospheric or aquatic.

In 1842, Dr. Johnston true vegetable nature their

growth in a

thus was

satisfactorily

Corallines,

proved the

by observing

vessel containing sea- water;

established the

first

true Aquarium,

and

With

the experimental tuft of Coralline was a small frond

of a green

JJlva,

and numerous Sissoce,

etc.,

and

several Annelids afterwards appeared, having been,

no doubt, attached

to the branches of the Coralline,

or the fronds of the Ulva. !3

the end of four Aveeks

;

OCEAN G-AEDENS the water was

animals

alive,

still

pure,

Molluscs and other

the

and the Confervse grown; the Coral-

having thrown out several additional articuAfter eight weeks, the water still remained

line itself lations.

But had any animal, of even the lowest

sweet. order,

been

so confined,

without the accompanying

presence of vegetables giving

oxygen, aU of that

off'

a quantity of water

vital gas contained in so small

would have been quickly exhausted, and the water would have become corrupt, ammoniacal, and poisonous to the

life

of any living thing.

But the author

of this experiment had not in view the testing of the possibility of preserving the

forms of ocean Ufe in a

healthy state in confinement

;

settle

an important

his business

classification of the Corallines

had been

connected with the

point

and ha^dng

;

fully decided that question, the

success-

embryo Aquarium

was abandoned. In 1849 Mr.

Ward

stated, at

a meeting of the

British Association at Oxford, that

he had succeeded,

not only in growing sea-weeds in sea-water, but in sea-water artificially made.

1850,

Mr.

the

4th of June,

Warrington communicated

Chemical Society a

series

observations

the

on the

adjustment of certain relations between the animal and vegetable kingdoms, still more important to Our 24

OR, GLIMPSES

present purpose. in

a glass

BENEATH THE WATEES.

Two

receiver,

small gold-fish were placed

a small

spiralis being planted

plant of

the same time in

earth, beneath a layer of sand in the

All went

Avell

Valisneria

this

same

arrangement,

some vessel.

without

any necessity for changing the water; the oxygen given

ofi"

by the plant proving

the supply of

its

itself sufficient for

animal co-tenants, and the water

therefore remaining clean

and pure,

until

some de-

caying leaves of the Valisneria caused turbidity, and confervoid growth began to accumulate on the sides

To remedy

of the vessel.

this evil,

Mr. Warring-

ton brought to bear the results of previous observations on water in natural ponds under analogous

circumstances their results,

;

and, guided by these observations and

he placed a few common pond-snails in

the vessel containing his gold-fish and plant of Valisneria.

The new

upon their introduction, began to feed greedily upon the decaying vegetable matter, and all was quickly restored to a healthy state. They proved, indeed, of stUl further advantage, for the masses of eggs which they deinmates, immediately

posited evidently presented a kind of food natural to the fishes,

which was eagerly devoured by them,

so that the snails

became not only the scavengers

OCEAN GAEDENS; but

And

also the feeders of the little colony.

first

of true Aquaria prospered;

the

so this

animals and

plants proving of mutual value and support to each

The

other.

snails disposed of the decaying leaves,

which would have tainted the water and rendered it

unfit for the healthy existence of the plant, and

the plant in turn gave forth, under the rays of sunlight, the

supply of oxygen necessary to both

fish

and

snails.

In January, 1852, Mr. Warrington commenced series of similar

were, at

first,

not so satisfactory, but in the end

proved as entirely successful.

In the course of

his

experiments, he found the red and brown AlgtB, sea-weed,

less

than the green.

experiments with sea-water; which

proper for the formation of oxygen

the latter class he procured

cimens of Enteromorpha compressa and Ulva

spe-

latis-

sima, which he chiselled from the rocks about Broad-

along with the pieces of chalk or

stau's,

which they

Avere attached

;

and,

when he

own marine Aquarium, he put

in his

them,

represent

the

pond-snails

water tank, some of the

known proved,

as the it

common

flint

placed them

in along with in

the fresh-

sea-snail,

Periwinkle [Littorina littorea).

better

These

appears, insufiicient for the destruction of

the mucous and gelatinous matter that arose from 26

OE, GLIMPSES

BENEATH THE WATEES.

the rapid decay of nearly

all

however, I have no doubt

the red sea-weeds, which,

may

equal success with the green

yet be cultivated with this has, indeed,

;

been

subsequently proved by their successful culture by

Mr. Alford Lloyd. Under the then existing however,

was found necessary

difficulty,

to aerate the

water

by other means, many processes being equally

avail-

able

;

such as injecting fresh water from a syringe,

or estabhshing a drip, of some height, from a vessel

containing a supply of entirely fresh Avater.

Warrington experiments,

Mr.

also discovered, in the course of these

the

necessity

that

the

light

should

pass directly through the surface of the water to

the plants, as in natural ponds and seas

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a

very im-

portant step in the successful management of Aquaria

and he therefore had a side of his

;

slab of slate adjusted to the

tank which stood next to the

light, to pre-

vent the sun-rays from penetrating to the plants in a lateral direction.

These successful experiments, both in fresh-water and marine Aquaria, assign to Mr. Warrington, beyond

dispute,

the

credit

of being the practical

originator, or inventor, if the

term

may be

so used,

of these charming additions to our conservatories, corridors,

and even living-rooms,

certainly

much more

attractive 27

which they are and instructive

OCEAN aABDENS; addition than the old globe of blank water, with

its

swimming round and round

pair

gold-fish

ceaseless gyrations, tiresome to behold, in the vain

hope of escaping from their glaring

and incon-

which they would inevitably have perished very shortly but for the daily change of venient prison

;

water, which, previous

onr knowledge of

air-

emitting plants and their use, was absolutely necessary.

But

another

Mr.

field.

experimentalist was

whose

Gosse,

now

the

charming works upon

Aquaria, and other subjects connected with natural science,

have perhaps made his name more widely

kno-ivn than that of his predecessor,

commenced a

series of

Mr. Warrington,

experiments on the subject

of the marine Aquarium, about the same time as the

last-named gentleman, in the beginning of January, 1852. plete

His attempts were croAvned with such comsuccess,

he was induced

that

communication

with

put himself

Mr. David Mitchell,

the

enterprising Secretary of the Zoological Society, the result

of which was the removal of the collection

of Annelids and Zoophytes

which Mr. Gosse had

formed, to the gardens of the Society in the Regent's

Park,

Avhere

formed the nucleus from

which has grown the magnificent

series of

Aquaria

;

BENEATH THE WATEES.

OR, GLIMPSES

tlie

tion.

building recently constructed for their recep-

These marine Aquaria

subject of public

a.s

once became a

well as private interest, and the

Aquarium house was so crowded daily with its curious visitors, that it became difficult to get a glimpse of the wonders of the " ocean floor," and denizens,

which were

its

zoophytic

so successfully exhibited there

and untiring

principally through the skilful aid

;

in-

dustry of Mr. Gosse, through whose hands above five

thousand specimens passed at the time, collected

the request of the Zoological Society.

In his interesting record

his

early

essays,

Mr. Gosse gives us many valuable particulars concerning his successive experiments, and the various

disappointments to which he was at

many

them from causes now

subjected

too well understood

His principal

to require repetition.

first

difficulty arose

from over-crowding, although his tank did not appear, as

states,

too

much

fiUed.

Another disappoint-

ment was caused by putting in animals before the smell of the putty, with which the glass sides were fixed,

had

sufficiently

gone

oif.

Mr. Gosse's tank was made with a slate bottom, and birch pillars, in which were grooves to receive the glass

;

and

its

dimensions were, two feet long by

one foot six wide, the depth not being mentioned. 29

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

;

OCEAN aAEDENS

Taking these dimensions be easy

will

to conceive,

which

specimens

Aquariimi

into

when

consideration,

the following

list

Gosse introduced into

Mr.

his

examined, that his population was too

dense for the extent of his province, although the space might not have appeared too

picturesque

effect.

troduced at once the following 1.

much

fiUed for

vegetable specimens, he in-

tuft of Furcellaria fdsti-

Several masses of Corallina

One GriffitJisia setacea. One Delesseria alata. One Plocamiuin coccineum. One Phylopliora rubens. One Zostera marina.

giata.

officinalis.

Two

oi Wiodi/menia palmata.

One

of Dictyota dicliotoma.

small Fucus serratus.

One Laminaria

Two

10. 11.

digitata.

tufts of Fadiiiapavonia.

12.

In a few days the water in wliich these specimens

were placed became- clear pale green

tmge being

too slight to obscure the colour

of any object seen through

From

as pale green crystal, the

its

medium.

these weeds alone, before any supply of

Zoophytes or Molluscs were intentionally added, a

whole host of minute animal hfe swarmed forth; some, doubtless, issuing from eggs newly hatched; others from the shelter of the matted ramifications

of some of the sea-weeds, in which they taken, as in a net.

Among

these

had been

swarming

crea-

— OR, GLIMPSES

tures

BENEATH THE WATEES.

were Annelids of the genus

other minute

Syllis, Hissoce,

and

but principally Isopodous

shell-fish,

and Entomostracotis Crustacea, many of them being so minute as not to be perceived without the use of a powerful

Of two list

lens.

the animals next placed in this tank, of only

feet

by one

given

foot six inches, the following

the

FISH. 1.

Fifteen, Spined Stickleback

Seven, Grey Mullet (young)

One, Black Goby

capita.

Qobious niger.

One, Corkwing

One, jFive-bearded Eockling

One, Great Pipe-fish (young)

One,

Worm

Qasterosteus spinachia.

Mugil

Crenilabrus cornubicus. .

Motella 5-cirrata.

Syngnathus acus. Syngnathus lumbriformis.

Pipe

SHELLS, MOLLrSCS, ETC. 1.

Two, Ashy Top

Trochus cinerarius.

One, Navel Top

Trochus mnbiUcatus.

Three,

Three, Tellow Periwinkle

One, Purple

Common

Perivrinkle

One, Scrobicularia.

One, Anomia.

Two,

Common

Two,

Ascidia.

Cockle

Littoriiia littorea.

Littorina

....

littoralis.

Purpura

lapillus.

Cardivm

eduJe.

CEUSTACEA, ETC. 1.

Two, Hermit Crab

One,

ditto

•

Fagurus BernJiardus. Pagurus PriJeauxii.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; OCEAN GAEDENS;

....

Pour, Sand Shrimp

4. 5.

One Prawn Three, Crown

Three, AVTiite-line

Two, Thick-horned Anemone

Three,

Cragnon

vulgaris.

Palcemon serratus.

Worm Worm

Serpula triquetra.

....

Nereis hilineata.

ZOOPHYTES.

Weymouth Anemone Two, Parasitic Anemone Six, Plumose Anemone Five, Daisy Anemone

....

3. 4. 5.

Actinia crassicornis. Actinia clavata. Actinia parasitica. Actinia dianthus. Actinia

bellis.

There were thus above seventy specimens, animal

and vegetable, already in the tank,

Avithout counting

the swarms of smaller creatures, some the young of large species, daily increasing in size

experimentahst,

;

yet our bold

anxious, like another Napoleon, to

conquer his "Russia"

poured in fresh specimens.

one grand invasion, .still

These consisted

of:

risH. 1.

One, ^32quorial Pipe-fish

....

Sijngnatlius cequoreus.

MOLLrSCS, CECSTACEAXS, ETC. 1.

BENEATH THE WATERS.

OR, GLIMPSES 9.

One, Hermit (small)

10. Three, Lobster

Pagurus.

Prawn

Athanas

nilesoens.

STAB-riSH, ETC. 1.

One, Brittle Star

OpMocoma

One, Eyed Cribella

Crihella oculata.

Two, Scarlet Sun-Star

Solaster pwpposa.

One

Palmipes membranaceiis.

Bird's-foot Star

....

Three, Gibbous Starlet

One, Purple-tipped Urchin

Seven, Scarlet Madrepore

Three, Cloak

rosula.

Asterina gibhosa.

Echinus

Balanophillia regia.

Anemone

miliwris.

Adamsia palliata.

These additions brought the collection np

above

a hundred specimens, and no doubt the tank

made

a glorious show; but Mr. Gosse, though the Napoleon of his specialty, was forced to acknowledge that there was an " impossible."

was superb, and

Although

his collection

his interesting tank did not look

over-crowded, yet he soon discovered that a forbidden limit

had been passed, and that the

creatures of the

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;of

their native ele-

ocean that have yards

ment

to their

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

^fathoms

own separate

share, cannot

accommodate

themselves to the allotment system, in the proportion of a square inch to each individual.

To remedy

this state of things, the evil effects of

which soon became apparent, artificial aeration was resorted to, by means of another vessel, which kept up

OCEAN GABDENSj a continuous supply of dripping fresh water. But even this assistance did not enable the crowded

In the

colony to exist more than ten days.

many

there were

place,

first

which

predatory species,

destroyed their associates; these kinds must, there-

be excluded from an Aquarium, or kept in

fore,

But,

separate tank.

after all,

the

oxygen was

providing a sufficient supply of dently

The

evi-

failure.

Univalves and smaller Crustacea disappeared

smeU giving

a disagreeable

first,

was

decay

going

under the

;

The

first

the

intimation that that

creatures

etc.,

signs

at the

bottom of

of unpleasant

from the tank must, therefore, be

attended to

;

and, in such

cases, the

the

efiluvia

carefully

Aquarium ought

be immediately searched for the cause

when

had

of them, died in concealment,

stones, weeds,

Aquarium. rising

many

perished having,

and principal cause of

great

the

impossibility of

;

which,

discovered, should be carefully removed.

^Ir.

Gosse having taken out the whole of

the

specimens, dead and alive, and carefully cleansed the tank, a

much

smaller

number was put

in,

which,

being well selected, and having sufficient space, throve

abundantly

weU

was

amply rewarded

at last

exertion-s.

;

and the ingenious experimentahst for

his persevering

This result benefited others as well

Plate. XII.

OR, GLIMPSES

BENEATH THE WATEES.

himself, for a general taste suddenly arose for this

kind of pursuit, arising mainly from the various works which soon appeared on the subject; and, to gratify the new taste, a host of dealers in Aquaria also sprung

who

up,

aU of them driving a brisk and

are

profitable

trade.

The first experiments of Mr. Gosse sufficiently poiat out the kind of cautions to be observed in the formation

The

of a marine Aquarium.

vessel itself

either quite plain in its framework, as

XL,

made more

if necessary,

The

of the

may be in Plate

or less ornamental, to assimilate,

with surrounding objects or furniture.

rustic style of

been found

shown

frame designed in Plate XII. has

to accord well

Aquarium

itself,

with the general character

and

produces an agreeable

contrast with the usual forms of the furniture of our

ordinary sitting-rooms.

Those made by the dealers are generally formed with

slate floors

mountings

;

and backs, and zinc columns and

the smallest and most simple, about fifteen

inches long by ten inches broad, costing from a guinea

and those of the proportion of two feet by one foot six, costing from two pounds A small syphon will be found ten to three pounds. to twenty-five shillings,

remove a portion of the water, if required, without disturbance and also a syringe, in useful, in order to

;

OCEAW GARDENS; order to aerate the water

when

necessary, if a second

reservoir of fresh water, in a suitable position, should

not be convenient.

miniature landing-net

is also

useful for the removal of decaying matter, or occasionally the living specimens,

when any change may be

required.

layer of sand

deep, placed

and pebbles, about three

upon the

slate flooring, is the first step

towards arranging the interior of the tank. this

inches

Upon

beginning, removing portions of the sand and

stones,

where required in

basis, the

to procure a firm

places,

rockwork may be built

;

which should be

picturesque and fanciful in character, as partially sug-

gested in the two Plates, leaving miniature archways

and caves

for the shelter of such creatures as

light, either constantly or occasionally.

sition of the

pleasing

Such a dispo-

efi'ects

to the pictorial composition.

are generally tasteless enough.

the better, as

entails

sity of providing his

which

eifort of

own

at all times

These

much attended to by dealers,

whose arrangements of the Aquaria they

it,

the

rock imparts, at the same time, many

matters are not, however,

all

shun

But

offer for sale

that

perhaps

upon the amateur the necestaste, instead of

purchasing

both a useful and pleasant

mind, and which, moreover, leaves, after each

period of exertion, a permanent trace of an increased

OE, GLIMPSES

refinement,

BENEATH THE WATEES.

which inevitably influences

the wliolc

character.

In the distribution of the rocks, I would always allow at least one point to project above the water, in order to afford the opportunity to those animals

whose

them to seek occasional exposure the means of gratifying it by that contriv-

instincts lead

to the aix

have thought, indeed, of constructing a kind of double Aquarium, and perfecting an arrangement

ance.

by means of which a large portion of water should flow gradually from one tank to the other at fixed periods,

and flow of the tide. phenomena would be exhibited

Many

in imitation of the ebb interestiag

in this

manner, such as the closing of the Actmice water receded, and their expansion as

its

return

;

full of interest

as the

covered them

accompanied by a host of other

and

instruction.

effects

This alternation, too,

might be found highly advantageous

to the health

and development of the animals whose natural habitat lies between high and low water-mark, and whose constitution

therefore framed to require entire or

partial exposure to the air at certain intervals of time.

I also prefer, as preserving a similar set of analogies,

a sloping bottom, similar to that of the coast. instance, if the slate

next the

light,

For

back of the Aquarium be placed

which is

its

proper position, as the hght 37

;

OCEA^ GAKDENS ought

to penetrate the

water entirely through

or horizontal surface, then I

would

fill

its

upper

the side next

the slate back nearly to the top with pieces of rock,

gradually reducing their height,

till,

at the other side,

they should hardly rise above the floor of sand and pebbles, leaving, at

last,

portion of the pebbly

flat

or sandy bottom quite level.

When

this

form of rockwork

Aquarium should be

decided upon, the

of rather wider proportions than

usual, in order to allow of the slope being pretty

Supposing the tank

gradual.

of a spare window,

which

looks exceedingly well,

found

fill

enthely the recess

a position in which

a solid slate back

may

darken the vessel or the room too much

;

be in

such a case, a glass back must be preferred, which can be shaded from the direct influence of the Hght

by a blue the frame tial,

or green shade of calico neatly fitted to ;

and

that the

must be borne in mind,

Aquarium must be

so placed

receive the direct rays of light during

the day, being slightly screened too powerful it

would be

miniature

;

as,

should the

fatal to

many

as essen-

when

as to

some part

sun

the

water become

tepid,

of the inhabitants of the

sea.

With due observance of these precautions, the amateur may hope to frame and establish an Aqua-

OE, aLIMPSES

BENEATH THE WATEES.

rium in a suitable form, and the reception of of the

its

inmates

;

in a suitable position for

an account of which, and

manner of their introduction

ject of the ensuing chapters.

will

form the sub-

CHAPTEE

IV.

THE VEGETATION OF THE MARINE AQUARIUM. S the

forest

must be planted before

zens can luxuriate in "

the

its

its deni-

shades, so

submarine shrubbery of the

Aquarium must be perfected the aquatic

For

before

animals can be introduced.

has been shown, in tracing the

tory of the experiments

which

his-

resulted in

the estabhshment of the principles that regulate the formation of Aquaria, that it

plants only that a supply of oxygen can be kept up,

suiRcient for

forms of animal

the health and existence of life

beneath the water.*

all

necessary, also, that the rays of sunhght should

fall

upon the foliage directly through the surface of the water and when an Aquarium, with its plants, is ;

placed

position to receive the light

manner, their fronds

may be

in this

observed giving forth

* Analogous principles are at work in

oiit fields

and

forests,

but we have now only to do with the submarine production oxygen.

;

OCEAIf GAEDEKS, ETC.

the

gas in small silvery bubbles and coruscations,

which have a

brilliant

Some marine

and gem-like appearance.

plants appear to

much

succeed

better than others, but I beheve that happens only

from their treatment being imperfectly understood

and

believe not

only that aU the

beautiful marine Algce of our

own

successfully grown, but also that the

exquisitely

shores

may be

more splendid

varieties of the tropical seas

may be made

in properly heated Aquaria,

and thus form one of

to thrive

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;one

the most attractive features of our hothouses that has not yet been dreamed

of.

am now treatname first those species of sea-weed recommended by Mr. Gosse and others as most easily cultivated, but I shall also point out many other species, which I feel convinced may be successfully grown under proper management; and they certainly deserve every effort that can be made to establish them in Aquaria, as they are among In ordinary Aquaria, such as I

ing of, I shall

the most beautiful of their tribe.

Most of the dealers,

but

plants

if collected

named may be purchased by

the amateur himself, care

must be taken to detach a portion of the substance very to which they are growing, and they must be carefully packed in damp refuse sea-weed, and kept

;

OCEAN aARDENSj out of their native element as short a time as possible.

The

plants in most flourishing condition in the

marine tanks of the Zoological Gardens, were of

those

first

Chlorospermatous

the

order,

others have since succeeded nearly as well.

but

Plants

of Ulva and Conferva have always done very well

but the most successful growth has been that of a plant of the genus JBryopsis^ which entirely envelop-

ing a large stone in

mossy and almost

its

like foliage, produces a very beautiful

Those unlearned in

scientific

names

feather-

appearance.

will

be glad,

perhaps, to learn that beautiful Algce of this

named genus Bryon

derive their

(^pvov),

title

last-

from two Greek words,

a moss, and opsis (o^'?), a resem-

blance, from their likeness to some of the most deh-

and

cate

feather-like

Bry opsis plumosa

delineation of

extreme

The

mosses of our woods.

in Plate II., on the

near the lower part of the Plate, wiU

left

convey some idea of these elegant sea-weeds.

Chondrus crispus the

suited

under

ledges

pendent olive

;

a beautiful plant, and It vidll

weU

often be found

of rock, completely concealed by a

veil of

weed

Aquarium.

Fucus, commonly

known

as the

and, on lifting the tangled mass of

rank growth, many

beautiful 4S,

and unexpected

its

plants

OE, aLIMPSES

BENEATH THE WATERS.

are frequently found, but none strike the explorer

more than the

Chondrus.

Its nacreous

tints, like

those of a pearl shell, varying wonderfully according to

being

situation,

very

remarkable.

Carrageen Moss of the herb market.

the

This plant

forms the principal object in the lower part of Plate IV., to the right.

Laurencia pinnatifolia plant, also varying in

which

when it

grows.

a pretty branching

hue according

In the shade,

to the aspect

it is

purple

;

but

receiving the full influence of the sun's rays,

assumes a light yellow tone

podium, known

grown

;

just

as the

I/y co-

as Fortune's Moss, is purple

when

in the darkest part of a room, but becomes of

an ordinary green tone when placed near the light.

The Lanrencia

for

some time

shown at the upper

part of Plate V., coloured pale violet.

The splendid plant Rhodymenia palmata, with its

finely

coloured, semi-transparent fronds,

recommended.

It is the

Dulse or

also

Dellis, eaten

the inhabitants of our northern coasts as a delicacy.

R. lacinata, forms the specimen to Its light crimson fronds, which of Plate V.

Another the left

species,

are semi-transparent, produce a very pleasing efiect.

Mr. Gosse

tells

us that the

Rhodymenia palmata

not suited to an Aquarium, because

appears to

OCEAI^ GARDENS;

require the motion of the sea, and soon begins to

decay in

If that be the case, let us

water.

still

attempt to provide a remedy, for this beautiful Alga is

one of the most beautiful among

When

congeners.

Amazon

the to

flower in

home,

Duke But

Chatsworth.

first

tank

the

was

river

all

lovely

its

a plant of the gigantic introduced,

provided for

its

lily

refused

northern

Devonshire's residence at

Joseph Paxton, who then

Sir

directed the floricultural operations of that magni-

was not discouraged; and seeking

ficent abode,

impart to the

still

water of the reservoir something

of the motion of a deep and majestic river, he contrived that a small but continuous stream of supply

should, as

action of

which imparted a

entered, turn a small paddle-wheel, the

tion to the water of the

gentle, undulating

formed and expanded house which graceful

plan

creation

despair,

beautiful

The

its

The

whole tank.

was triumphant, and the glorious

the

therefore,

device

Victoria regia

giant flowers in the elegant

curator had constructed for

mo-

it,

which eventually suggested " Crystal

Mhodymenia palmata

successfully in

the

Let us not

Palace."

of cultivating

the

our Aquaria.

construction of a suitable apparatus for impart-

ing motion to the too

still 44

waters

vidll

form a

plea-

Plate

Delt'SserlaBaiiRUinea. 4.

runctarialalifolia.

Vaucheria submnriiia,

3. CliDrUuriatlagellifoi'mis.

llildrnhrandtia rubra.

OE, GLIMPSES

BENEATH THE WATERS.

sant passetemps for some of om- fair admirers of the

pursmts of the Aquarium

and

;

But

be a signal triumph.

would

at present the beautiful

red weeds, in general, are

and when they begin

their success

difficult of

cultivation,

to exhibit spots of orange^

vegetable plague-spot not to be mistaken

symptom of decay which should

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

at once cause their

removal from the Aquarium, before their decomposition leads to further mischief.

The common

Coralline, Corallina officinalis, of

which a small spray lower part of

Plate

represented in the extreme

V.,

near the centre,

" arboret of jointed stone," alluded to

and

the

by the

poet,

well suited to Aquaria, thriving with httle

trouble.

The

suitable

but care must be taken,

;

smaller

and slenderer kind in

also

collecting,

not to choose the detached white fragments, which are

washed up with every

the

skeletons

specimens,

of the

tide, for

plant.

they are the

only

rosy-tinted

verging to violet and purple,

and

stUl

attached to pieces of rock, that are alone in a living state,

and

The able,

fit

remove

to the

Aquarium.

CladophorcB are also stated to be very suit-

C. rupestris being a very useful plant for the

purpose.

It is of a bluish green, that harmonizes

well with the tone of the sea-water, and

fills

;

OCEAN GARDENS chasms in the

little

effect,

artificial

rocks with very good

especially in contrast with the reddish purple

tufts of

Polysiphonia arceolata, which do well in an

Aquarium, and are a great aid marine landscape.

little

to the

The

foliage of the

elegant, fan-formed,

and brightly radiated JPacUna pavonia mentioned, and should at tufts of that graceful

all

likewise

events be tried, as the

marine plant form very singular

as well as beautiful objects in the tank.*

would

also

recommend the

trial of all the plants

delineated in the five Plates devoted to the sea-weeds in this little book.

In Plate with

I.,

the

first,

occupying the upper

leaf-like fronds of transparent

uncommon

beautiful and not sangtiinea. right,

The its

sea-weed,

the

Delesseria

latifolia, thin as tissue paper,

and

pale bufi" surface with bright but

minute grains of black.

the left

Chorda ria flagelUforniis, the rich

a branch of

6\i\c of

contrasts well with the red kinds of Algce. front, growini4'

part,

delicate pale plant below, to the

Tunctaria

speclded over

crimson,

on a detached pebble,

which In the

the Lichen-

Hke Hildeiihi'aiuUia rubra, rich with tinges of deep carmine, Avhich might be made to form an exquisite *

A list of the plants

Aquarium

with which ^Mr. Gosse furnished his

given iu Chapter III.

first

Plate

II.

Eryopsia plumoBa.

LeatheBiaBerkleyl.

Ranjriafusco-purpurea.

Callithamnion arbuficula.

iJiminaria phyllitie.

Codiom tomentosum.

OR, GLIMPSES

touch of colour,

and

to the

BENEATH THE WATEES. placed in the Aquarium

if tastefully

extreme right

;

a small tuft of Vaucheria

submarina.

In Plate the Plate,

II.,

the principal object, near the top of

a bush of

which receives

Callithamnion arbuscula,

specific

its

name from

the tree-Hke

which it assumes more distinctly than any other Behind it, to the right, are the and graceful forms, with their crimped edges,

aspect

of the marine Algce. tall

Laminaria

of the slender

to the right, is a

distinguished

Below,

phyllitis.

still

branch of Codium tomentosum, its

edging of delicate

light,

ciliae,

vivid

and the

green,

which have the appearance

of a border of paler green, to every branchlet. to the right, in the

extreme foreground,

Still

a broken

piece of rock, on which plants of the curious Leathesia Berkleyi have grown, like

con^-ex

kernels

To the left, are the red violet tufts of the Bangia fusco-purpurea, and behind them a branch of bronze.

of Bryopsis plumosa.

In Plate

III.,

the bright green feathery plant in

the extreme background

and behind

it,

;

the violet-toned, antler-like fronds of

Nemaleon muUifida.

The

frond of rich purple, vrith fronds

JEctocarpus siliculosus

large, gracefully

bending

narrower and younger

springing from the same root,

Porphyra

;

OCEAN GARDENS vulgaris, one of the commonest, but most splendid

of our sea-weeds, with which, in combination with

other plants of suitable contrast, the vegetation of

the it

Aquarium may be rendered

can be successfully cultivated

doubt,

when

its

with

frilled edge, is

most elegant pale

bufi",

its

The

finely

marked

plant

black maculations and richly

Nitophyllum pimctatum, one of our

species, in front of

which

the curious

tubular plant Asperococcus Turneri.

the foot of the Nitophyllum cate

of which I have no

natural wants are sufficiently studied,

and ingeniously supphed. to the right,

;

truly splendid, if

Dmnontia filiformis

;

little tuft

Near

of the deh-

and, to the extreme

left,

branch of the brown-fronded MytiphcBa pinastris,

which receives

Pine-like growth

beneath

it,

name from

the somewhat

frequently assumes.

Immediately

its specific it

on the extreme

right, is a little cluster of

Chordaria lUvaricata ; and below, in the

left fore-

ground, are a few pink fronds of the curious Alga,

Chrysemenia rosea right,

;

while, in the foreground, to the

on a detached pebble,

a small mass of the pale

crimson Feyssonetia Duhyi.

In Plate IV. the principal object

a fasciculus of

Taonia atomaria, rising behind the point of rock

the top of the Plate, behind which are two long fronds of the spotted Asperococcus

;

to the left is the

hom-

OE, GLUIPSES

BENEATH THE

like Crigartina acicularis

;

"WATEES.

and in the front,

to the left,

the crimson tufts of a pretty weed ( Cer'amium strictum),

which our engraver has made too

like the

Bangia

fusco-p urpurea.

In Plate V. the violet-toned Laurencia pinnatifolia is grouped behind the solid, deep crimson fronds of Iridcea

edulis,

which are

often perfectly

pear-

shaped, somewhat resembling pieces of crimson leather neatly cut in that form; but the action of tides in

rough weather often

tears the edges,

and wears holes

through the texture of the plant, as shown in the prin-

cipal frond.

the left

the bright crimson Rhody-

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

menia lacinata one of the most exquisitely beautiful The fronds are as thin as the of our marine Algce. finest conceivable tissue, and beautifully transparent,

shown wherever the lacinations of the edge overlap each other, in which places the double thickness of the texture doubles, at the same time, the inwhich

tensity of the colour, as indicated in the representation.

the same level, to the right,

a small

group of the delicate green TJlva latissimch^a. plant which has proved useful beyond all others in Aquaria, as

throwing

ofi",

under the action of the

light,

much

greater profusion of silvery globules of oxygen than

any other species yet known. on the extreme right,

the same level

still,

a sprig of the delicately

OCEAlf GABDENS;

branched parasite, JPolysphonia parasitica, growing

on a small mass of pale sulphur-coloured Melobesia lichenoides, the Lichen-like Melobesia.

treme

left,

the ex-

under the beautiful Ithodymenia, is a small

branch of the olive-tinted Ectocarpus tomentosus, looking diately

much

below

confervoides ble, partly

like a spray of wild

it, ;

Broom, and imme-

a few purple branchlets of Gracilaria

while in the

left

foreground Hes a peb-

covered by a small plant of Zonaria parvnla,

from beneath which straggles a

little

common but pretty Coralline, the

branch of the

Corallina officinalis;

and, to the right, a globe of the curious

Codium

bursa,

of the French coast, which might easily be added

our native species ui the Aquarium.

Such are a few of our beautiful

coast Algce,

all of

would advise the admirers of the beauties of the marine Aquarium to try and if some refuse, ia the present state of oiur knowledge of their habits and

Avhich I

;

requirements,

make

themselves happy in

their

pretty " crystal palace," choosing rather to consider it

a " prison of glass,"

persuaded,

still

a good

may be coaxed

beauties very genially within

number

of them,

into displaying their

its

transparent

walls,

'which admit the bright sun rays as freely as pale

green liquid glass which forms their

element.

the

native

Plate

Porphyra vulgaris.

Dumontia

Aaperococcus TamAil

Ilytiphlaea piiiaaA

filifoiTnis.

16.

III.

Chryaymcnia rosea. PeysaonctlaDubj-i.

Ectocarpus siUcutnsus.

Nemaleon multiflda

10.

Nitophylluin punctatum.

Plate IV.

â&#x20AC;˘TJWSp

Wiouilrus crlspus. i.

IMWPJ.MIWJ"

Taonia atomaria.

WJimilipiBp

Clgartina aclcularls. 5.

Flocamlum

Ccramiumgttictum.

coctiiicuiu.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; OE, aLIMPSES

Many

BENEATH THE WATERS.

have indeed been added, since the former

edition of this work, to those at first

The following being a

treated.

red

list

successfully

containing several

species, all successfully cultivated at the present

time by Mr. Alford Lloyd

Uniermorpha compressa. Ihitermorpha

Delesseria

(even more

alata

beautiful)

intestinalis.

Qracilaria confervoides.

CladopTiora arcta.

Cladophora rupestris.

Gelidium corneum.

Iridcea edulis.

Chondrus

Delesseria sanguinea (one of the

Fhyllopliora rubens.

most beautiful red weeds).

Ceramium rubrum.

The

best time for

side is a

day or two

making

collections at the sea-

moon, when the

after the full

tide recedes to its greatest extent,

and parts of the

become exposed, where some of the

shore species

grow, which

cannot

proached at any other time. mind,

crispus.

also, that

few of the

be It

Certain success

floating pieces

growing

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;thus transplanting

were, about

Aquarium.

its roots,

may

off

wiU grow, with their

only to be secured by chisel-

ling off a portion of the substance on is

ap-

must be borne in

however fresh and seemingly washed root.

finest

conveniently

which the weed

with

its

own

soU, as

into the ocean garden of the

here be remarked that those

plants and animals found between high and low watersi

;

OCEAN aAEDENS,

ETC.

mark, or the very next zone of depth, are the most adapted for healthy preservation in the Aquarium such as belong to the deeper

vs^ater

being found almost

invariably unfitted for such a purpose.

CHAPTER

THE ZOOPHYTES.

^[aHE Aquarium having been furnished with its vegetation, and rendered as picturesque as possible

by the well-

arranged juxtaposition of felicitously contrasting forms and colours, the water

must be allowed it

are

introduced to

seen

with beautiful

clarified waters,

ciated

untU

their

new home.

its

colours

distinctness

then the stiU

life is

and forms

through the

ready to be assor'

with the more active organizations of animated

creatures.

Before speaking of MoUuscs, or Crustacea,

or of Fish, suitable to the all

days,

the Alpine scenery of the submarine landscape

appears perfectly settled, and aU are

some

as clear as pale green crystal, before the

animals

When

to settle for

Aquarium,

let

first

devote

our attention to our Zoophytes, those singular

creatures

whose strange

instincts

and anomalous forms

have been mainly instrumental in attracting the attention of

many

classes of the public to that curious in-

OCEAN GARDENS; terest in

Aquaria, which

threatening to absorb Infusorice

is fast

all

spreading into a mania,

others ia

drawn within the

fatal

its

vortex, like

tentacles of the

Actinia. First, of these Actinics, or Sea- Anemones.

These

flower-shaped animals were once thought to form an

anomalous link between the animal and vegetable

Many

world. idea,

were put

curious speculations, based upon that forth,

among which

posed to exist between

man and

and between quadrupeds and

the gradations sup-

the inferior animals,

fishes,

were asserted

further illustration of the former theory.

But

the

knowledge, based upon

deceptiveness of superficial

imperfect observations, was never more strikingly exemplified than in those speculations.

cipally

;

drew

their

through the medium of

more accurate

that they are not

was thought

were found attached

that because these creatures rocks, they necessarily

nourishment

prin-

roots, as all true plants

observation, however, has shown

permanently fixed

to the rocks,

and

power of moving from one place to another, and attaching themselves anew, whenever a that they have the

sufiiciently

desirable.

disturbing

cause

renders

such removal

Again, oysters and mussels remain fixed to

rocks without being considered allied to plants on that

account

;

and even some

fish 61

have the power of

at-

Plate VII.

Actinia clavata. i

A Rhpll

(if

thp

Pennatula phoaphorca.

CommonWhelk. On which

arc

A gioup

of Ascidhuis.

tWOSDCCimensof Balalius.

BENEATH THE WATERS.

OR, GLIMPSES

taching themselves to similar substances by means of curiously formed ventral

The

purpose.

pretty

fins,

little

peculiarly fitted for the

tv?o-spotted sucker, Lepir

dogaster bimaculatus, possesses this faculty.

But the

form into which the arms, or

flower-like

food-seizers, of the Actinice are spread, radiating

from

a centre, like the petals of a flower, was the main

reason for supposing a close analogy between these strange creatures

abandoned, as nished with

and plants

it is

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a

utterly

quite evident that they are fur-

mouth and stomach,

now

fancy

all

true

animals, and with a set of arms called tentacles, for seizing their prey;

and perhaps,

through the medium of delicate

at the

cilise

same time^

with which the

tentacles are connected, with a breathing apparatus,

through which a current of water discharged after

The

its

oxygen has been

taken

in,

and

abstracted.

discovery of the true nature of these singular

creatures, however,

still

leaves their flower-like appear-

ance very remarkable, and to a superflcial observer is

as deceptive as ever

ralists), first

;

and few (not professed natu-

meeting vdth these singular Zoophytes for the

time,

would

hesitate to

pronounce them a kind of

sea-plant.

Let us turn,

for example, to Plate VIII.,

and note

the appearance of the two varieties oi Actinia dianthus

— OCEAN GARDENS;

—

the carnation-like Actinia, as

and we

name

its

imports

shall easily excuse our early naturalists their

pretty but erroneous fancies concerning them. species

more subject than many others

colour, like the flower after

which

it is

This

to vary in

named, being

found of every tone between snow-white, orange, pale scarlet,

and blood-red

duskier

tints,

some specimens take

from a dull brown

But we

green.

—while

to a

kind of orange-

will describe our illustrations of this

curious family in regular succession, noting what

most peculiar in the subject of each Plate. Plate VI. contains a representation of one of the last discovered species of

Actinia

a habit that distinguishes

—one which

from

all its

displays

congeners

hitherto described by naturalists, and which has entitled it to

be classed in a separate genus, and

distin-

guished as Edioardsia vestita. The generic designation is

from that of a well-known

name,

naturalist,

and the

specific

vestita, from its habit of forming for itself a shell,

or clothing, into

which

pleasure

an inhabitant of the shallow water,

when

;

or, if

the tide recedes,

exposed to the

air.

power of quitting

has the faculty of retiring

and leaves

inconveniently

This species, unless its shell,

necessity permanently fixed tion in

have the

some Molluscs,

and confined

which the egg from which

to the posi-

was hatched was

Plate VIII.

1. Attiilifl

gemmutea.

iHi, Aainiamcaembryaiulicn.mn.

Luccrnaiia auricula.

VirgulaiiarairabilL*.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; OR, GLIMPSES

BENEATH THE WATEES.

placed by the instinct of the parent or the capiice of the waves. The other objects in Plate VI. will be described in another place.

In Plate VII. we have two remarkable species of Actinia; the one with drooping tentacles of duU brickred being a very curious variety, resembling Anthea

which never withdraws those filament-Hke appendages within its body like the other species. The species below is Actinia clavata, one of the most cereus,

delicately beautiful kind,

which, from

its

briUiant

whiteness, at once attracts the attention.

In Plate VIII. are two scribed,

varieties, previously de-

of Actinia dianthus,

commonly

plumose, or feather-like. Anemone.

them, of

all

called the

front,

the species, which has received the specific

about the

name

the gem-like appearance produced

by the touches of colour orifice of the

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

blue, buff,

mouth

sharply pointed tentacles.

cles are

below

the representation of one of the most splendid

gemmacea from

its

and brovra

or stomach,

and about

Brightly tinted tuber-

arranged in rows upon the stem or body, the

whole surface of which

clouded with pale iridescent,

or rather nacreous, tones of pink

and azure, varied

with occasional flushes of orange.

the species are

furnished with tubercles of a similar description about the stem, but in

many

they are not so conspicuous, 67

;

OCEAN GARDENS

and in others almost imperceptible exist in

all,

;

yet they no doubt

merely ornamental, but

as they are not

essential organs, peculiar to this class of creatures

being reservoirs from which they can shoot forth a

and poisoned

thread, furnished with a barbed

means of which they

are able to attain an enemy, or

beyond the reach of

victim, far

dart,

their tentacles.

Mr.

Gosse very graphically describes the death of a small struck by one of these thread-borne poisoned

fish

some distance from the offended Actinia,

arrows, at

who launched

his dart, as

seemed, for no greater

provocation than a slight disturbance of the water rather nearer to his retreat than was agreeable.

The Actinia gemmacea,

would appear, is a more voracious creature than most of his congeners, for Dr. Johnston, in his

work on the

splendid

British

Zoophytes, describes one of this species that had

managed

swallow a shell of JPecten maximus

common

large as a

saucer, its

not exceeding two inches. distend

its elastic

form

mous prey but the ;

own

natiu-al diameter

managed, however,

sufficiently to receive the enor-

shell divided the

stomach into two

completely separate departments, the lower one being thus perfectly shut off from

meet

its

this difficulty, the organic

usual supphes.

economy of the

ture adapted itself in a most extraordinary

crea-

manner

;

Plate IX.

Actinia augnicoma.

Cucumis hyalinna.

Echinus: epbtera.

Alyconlum digitatum.

on, GLIMPSES

BENEATH THE

"WATERS.

new mouth was opened below the division, with two rows of new tentacles, and thus

furnished the lower

portion becomes provided with a means of taking in

nourishment, the whole creature forming a singtdar double monster, that, not contented with its one giant

mouth, surrounded with its

hundred arms

its

supply

voracious appetite, had actually succeeded in sup-

plying

itself

with a second, equally furnished with

its

formidable feeding apparatus.

In Plate IX. a beautifully distinct form of singular race of animals

—Actinia

this

very carefuUy delineated

—

anguicoma which seems to be shaking loose a mass of serpent-formed hair, like another Medusa; fi-om which appearance, its specific name, anguicoma, signifying snake-haired,

has doubtless

been given.

The

tentacles of the Actinia

mesembryanthemum

are generally of a beautiful rosy pink,

of a rich

warm brown.

A. crassicornis

—

—represented

species,

the lower part

X. is, perhaps, the handsomest, mouth being of a delicate straw tone, Plate

and the body

But of aU the

the orifice or the tentacles

white, variegated with bands of delicate pink, and

the

body,

stem,

a rich

orange-brown, thickly

sprinkled with tubercles of bright yellow. species sometimes measures

Tliis fine

five inches across,

when

;

OCEAN GABDENS Actinia coriacea

the tentacles are fully expanded. is

also

fine

which

species,

well in the

thrives

Aquaria of the Zoological Gardens.

When

the Jctinice are in a state of repose or

sleep, the tentacles are entirely

stem or body

drawn

in,

and the

closes over the orifice, leaving only a

mark

slight indent to

existence.

its

this state,

they might be mistaken for short-stemmed fungi, the pale-bodied

species

groAvn mushroom,

being very much

like a half-

one can imagine

placed close

to the ground, Avithout

Most of the

any

visible stem.

species can

easily detached from

the rocks to which they are found adhering

some

cases,

found necessary

chisel.

But when

this

done,

yet, in

cut out the

portion to which they cling by means of a

and

;

hammer

and they

are

placed in the Aquarium, they often wilhngly leave the stone to which they

are

attached,

-^^-hich

they

would not do by gentle persuasion, or any moderate amount of force and they then take up their station ;

on some suitable portion of the

artificial

rockwork,

just as those do that have been originally detached'

from

their native

Actinlai

and

rocks.

Above twenty

their allies are

known

species

British na-

turalists.

The Lucernarice

are another class of Zoophytes, 60

OE, GLIMPSES

BENEATH THE WATERS.

or plant-like creatures, as the term Zoophyte implies,

being formed of the Greek word

Zoon

nifying a thing possessed of animal ((^uToi/),

This general term

a plant.

aU the creatures

—

character separate

life,

—some of

and phyton applied to

them of very distinct this class, which forms a

that belong to

division

sig-

(?&)oi^),

natural

science

known

Zoophytology.

The

which has received denomination of auricula, from its slight

species of Lucernaria,

the specific

resemblance in form to the flower of that name,

de-

lineated in Plate VIII., attached to a slender branch

of sea-weed, just above the two large Sea-Anemones.

This species of Lucernaria pinkish colour,

and

is,

general form, perhaps

like a convolvulus than

species

generally of a light

an auricula.

have been most beautifully delineated in

their details

magnificent

drawings

are, in fact,

when

all

by Mrs. Johnston, in her husband's These work on British Zoophytes. so

charmingly

same time, accurately executed, that that the pencil ought to be guided by fingers

Two

portraying

these

and, at the

would seem

delicate female

minutely intricate

The exquisite and unusual forms of animal life. drawings by Mrs. J. E. Gray, in her work on the curious molluscous animals

—whose habitations

alone,

OCEAN GARDENS; the

beautiful sea-shells of our cabinets, were,

recently,

evidence, if

that was it

known

of them

—

tOl

afford further

were needed, of the aptitude of the

finely-strung female capacity for this depart-

ment of

scientific

Griffiths

honourably associated

also

study of natural science,

with

marine

our

Algm

especially

—a

having received

sea-weeds

The name

portraitui-e.

honour of the esteemed

of Mrs.

with the

that connected

beautiftd division

name,

its

Griffithsia, in

services of that accomplished

lady.

The JLucernaria campanulata, which is of a somewhat more bell-shaped form than the preceding, is of an uniform liver colour

;

and in the hollow

the flower-like cup the " mouth" projects, in a square

There are three known

form, in the centre.

of British iMcernarice,

which would

curious objects in the

Aquarium; but they

ct'S.si^•ely

delicate

and

fragile creatures,

pended from the object a

mere lump of

water,

the

all

form highly are ex-

hanging

which they are

jelly,

species

attached,

when taken

and would doubtless be very

sus-

out

difficult

of transport, and probably not capable of retaining life

in a

time.

state of

confinement,

except for a short

Beneath the waters.

OE,' GLIMPSES

The

compound Zoophytes,"

Tolyps, as being, as one, are

many

creatures in

more curious than the two

still

described.

were,

more properly,

or,

common example

of this class

Alyconium digitatum (Plate IX., No. like a

mass of short

are closed, as

name has

also a

when

fingers,

its specific

name

somewhat

classes just

4),

the

looking

the final fiorets

imports.

Its

popular

similar signification, being

sometimes called, by the fishermen of our northern coasts.

Dead Men's

general

structure

which the

Toes.

Each finger-like

contains

somewhat analogous

creature or

organization,

is vitally

spine,

the

fioret,

those of the Sea- Anemones.

But the most singular character of or masses

of the

a separate creature, of

when expanded, form

tentacles,

cell

this organization,

each separate

that

attached to a central polypidom,

which binds the whole group

into

one

existence.

this

of which

class

are the curious Pennatulidcs, one

commonly known

as the Sea-Pen.

three species of this class of Folyps

known

The to in-

habit the British seas are so distinct from each other, that they form at the

The most

same time three

beautiful of the three

pJiosphorea, the

Sea-Pen, which 63

distinct genera.

the Fennatula

not

uncommon

OCEAN GARDENS; on

some

our

parts

northern

coasts.

The purple

represented in Plate VII.

branches,

or pinnae, of the upper portion form the feathered

part of the pen to which portion

some

resemblance

planted, as

from

miniature

capable of motion through

it is

place to place,

The

polypidom,

by some

action

naked

with long,

at the lower end,

closely set

which the

pinnae,

polyp-cells

trunk,

are

and feathered above along placed.

the

margins

The

They

united motion.

be capable of the action of regular oars

are

doubtful, though

which

pinnae

supposed by some

polypidom,

red.

and capable of either separate

are curved backward,

this is very

three

and of a purphsh

or four inches long, fleshy,

curious position,

one of the handsomest of our British

It is

Zooph}tes.

This

organs which has not been accurately de-

its

tected.

certaialy

an erect

quill.

seen in

were, in the mud, like

water

the

often

purple pine, though

the bare

the polypidom below having

zoophytic form

the

likened;

their

strengthened

;

but

bearing on the

by an

internal

column of calcareous or bony matter, would give them considerable power for that purpose. The creature's specific to the supposition

name, pJiosphorea, must not lead that

always emits a phospho-

it 64

OE, GLIMPSES

rescent light, for

produced. a

shower

it is

BENEATH THE WATERS. only

If plunged

when

irritated that this is

into fresh water,

phosphoric sparks in

all

scatters

directions,

which forms a magnificent and curious spectacle, far more brilliant, no doubt, than the fabled hues of the djing dolphin.

The Tlrgularia mirahlUs

another of this class

of creatu.res, almost as elegant as the Sea-Pen, but

and in the form of a branching

slender,

rod, as

name imports. (See Plate VIII.) The Sponges form a curious class of Zoophytes, which have perhaps a much closer affinity to plants than any other. They are occasionally very singular its

in their forms

;

and Dr. Johnston enumerates

species belonging to our coasts

unsuited to

the

our knowledge collected

;

on the

;

fifty-six

they are, however,

Aquarium in the present state of and when portions of rock are shore, for the tank, care should be

taken to clear off any Sponge formations that are perceived, as their certain

and rapid decay would be

liable to injure the condition of the

whole colony of

the Aquarium.

When

the collector resorts to the sea-shore in

search of subjects for his Aquarium, he should avoid

sandy beaches. Actini<s,

on the rocky shores alone that

Madrapores, Serpulce, or other specimens

OCEAN GARDENS, of ocean

found.

life,

desirable for the

The noble rocks

shire coast are the

ETC.

Aquarium, are

of some parts of the Devon-

most favourable

localities

;

but

even on the chalk rocks of Ramsgate and Margate

many kinds

are to be found.

CHAPTER THE MOLLUSCS, /|

VI. ETC.

curious floral similitudes of

Zoophytes have greatest

the

as yet attracted the

degree

of attention

among

the constructors of marine Aquaria

,^m/^ other forms of ocean

life

ofi"er

;

yet

equal, if

not superior, opportunities for curious obser

"Qy

vation,

and are equally well calculated

the confinement of the tank.

to bear

Among them

none more than the MoUuscs, especially the shellbearing division, which merits the careful attention all,

of the student of Nature, as containing some of her

most singular manifestations.

The knowledge many of the most

of the structure and habits of

MoUuscs is of very recent date, with the exception of those which possess obvious qualities which have fitted them for articles

Mussel,

of diet or

Cockle,

curious shell-bearing

commerce

etc.,

Purples, Sepias, and

;

such as the Oyster,

eatable

species

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;and

the

Cuttle-fish, as containing valuer

OCEAjST

With

able dyes.

peaii-yielding

OAEDENS

;

the exception of such as these, the

and a few

Bivalves,

was known of the animals that

others,

nothing

and inhabit the

create

beautiful shells that have so long been ranked

among

the most elegant objects of the cabinets of the curi-

Many

ous. fied

of these were, in fact, scientifically

by learned

was

husk,

they formed the mere senseless

of which

animal,

classi-

naturalists before the nature of the

even

guessed

The

at.

ordinary

col-

know anything of the creature which produced the shell he so much prized it was sufficient for him that it was estidid not even desire

lector

;

mated

" rare"

his brother

collectors

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

rarity

being a quality more highly prized than cv'en beauty.

With

this

single

shells

prices

e^'er

great were given for

enthusiastic

Hollander

mania. of

Xo amount shells,

for

gumeas was

too

such a contested

much, prize

Mainj-ribhed harp, a Gloria maris, a Cedo a

paid

coveted bulb during the height of the Tulipo-

for a

sale

feeling,

J'oluta

Junonia.

But

that

race

at a as

nulli, or

idle

shell-

fanciers has given place to a race of true conchologists,

who

are investigators as well as collectors, and

whose labours are daily developing unexpected and valuable knowledge from those long obscure pages of the great

book of Nature.

BENEATH THE

OE, GLIMPSES

"WATERS.

The marine Aquarium may be made many curious discoveries regarding the

organization of the shell-bearing Molluscs this feeling, I

may

the means habits and

;

and, with

direct the attention to several of

their singular characteristics, in order that they

may

serve as clues to the detection of others.

The term Mollusc, from to express that the is,

whole

entirely without

spine, or

one,

the

important;

it is,

its

that to

objectionable as a

characteristic

When, however,

well understood,

;

any bony support

founded being shared by other animals.

intended

The term was invented but

illustrious Cuvier,

distinctiA'e

class are invertebrate

their curious fleshy forms.

by the

mollis, soft,

on which

distinct

classes of

the appHcation of a term

inner signification becomes un-

therefore,

now

too late to criticise

the one invented and appHed by the prince of modern naturalists.

Among

the interesting facts detected by recent

science, it has

shapeless

termed animals.

been shown that many of the seemingly

masses of

flesh, possess

soft all

scarcely to be

substance,

the senses of the higher

In the Cephalopoda, the organs of sight

and Professor Owen considers that the Nautilus possesses even an organ of passive smell. The Gasteropoda too, are

and hearing are both well developed

;

OCEAlSr G-AEDENS;

according to Siebold, nearly

and

eyes, the former organs

furnished with ears

all

being described as forming

round capsules, conspicuously

visible near the roots

of the tentacles.

Some

of the ConcJiifera, also, are furnished with

numerous

eyes, which, like those of the Scallops

Clams of our own

shores, are also placed

among

and their

tentacula. It appears probable, says Dr. Johnston, that

have also the sense of

taste, as

many

they are observed

select particular articles of food in preference to others,

and there

no other sense that appears

The mouth,

regulate the choice.

many

of the molluscous tribe

fitted to

as it is termed, of

furnished, as

among

the Gasteropoda, with a fringe formed of filaments,

which may be organs of touch, and they have

also a

complicated breathing apparatus.

The

strength of these boneless creatures

some-

thing very extraordinary, and almost incomprehen-

The Stromhus gigas,

sible.

for instance, a soft, snail-

sheU which often weighs more pounds; the Cassis tuber osa supports one

like creature, carries a

than

five

nearly as heavy, and

shell

carry,

many naked

Molluscs, that have

have other modes of

exliibiting

.strength of a very extraordinary character.

The

shells of the clothed 70

Molluscs are senseless,

;

BENEATH THE WATEES.

OR, GLIMPSES

being permeated by no

animal

itself

vessels, and. are

integuments are invested, and which

may be

its

outer

described

The thickened edge

as lime in a state of solution.

the mantle,

formed by the

from a secretion with which

by means of which the form

given to

the shell, and the general manipulation effected, furnished, as lens,

may be

seen with the aid of a moderate

with a minute and highly sensitive fringe, the

cdia of which are of various colours, corresponding in

tone and position to the tints which decorate the ex-

The coloured

terior of the shell.

cUia or fringes have

doubtless a dyeing power, which colours the calca-

reous solution at the time

it is

The

their plastic instinct.

added

solution becomes a hard

testaceous substance so soon as

the animal, and

to the sheU.

leaves the

duly deposited, in

body of

arcliitectural

layers, upon the beautiful structure of the shell, by the "trowel" and "brushes" of the edge of the

mantle.

This process "

beautifully described in Jones's

Animal Kingdom," with

all

the details relating to

by means

which

defined since

its

birth

the successive ridges on the sheU, the age of the animal it

may be

having been ascertained

what time

required for

the completion of each story of the edifice.

The power

of locomotion

one of the most curious

— ;

OCEAN GARDENS subjects for observation in the structure of shell-coated

Aquarium

Molluscs, and for this purpose the marine

many

offers

Other

advantages.

of animals

classes

have been distinguished by the number of their feet

—we

have, for instance, a tribe of

worms termed

centipedes, or hundred-footed creatures

over

many

—

and, to pass

gradations, to the superior grass-feeding

and carnivorous animals, we find them termed quadrupeds, or four-footed

—whUe

human Why,

the

with birds, has been termed biped.

race, along

may we

therefore,

creatures

not coin a word for our present

purpose, and call these curious Molluscs unopeds, or

monopods,

walk with a

being single-footed creatures

solitary foot,

—

for they

being compelled to do so by

the very simple fact that they have no other.

hmb,

or foot, Avhen about to be used,

truded, and

its

'\'\"hen

the foot has attained

full distension it is draAvn in,

and a

and by the repetition of

amount of locomotion

new

which

is eflPected.

Some

of the water, the foot air,

when

species float

this

member

performed in the following manner

Having crawled up a rock is

its

bearing ob-

this process, a certain

on the surface of the water by means of a feat

This

gradually pro-

bearing against some substance forces

the animal forward.

tained,

to the

height of the surface

protruded and exposed

to the

soon becomes suddenly dried, and in that

OE, GLIMPSES state serves as

a cork, which enables the animal to

float aAvay close if

BENEATH THE WATEES.

But

under the surface of the water.

any agitation should cause a ripple

wet

this

floating apparatus, or the animal should choose to

withdraw

voluntarily beneath the water for that

purpose, the shell and

its

inmate immediately sink to

the bottom.

The swimming power

of this race of creatures

as curious as the contrivance for floating.

The Ce-

phalopoda, by the ejection of a jet of water, propel themselves rapidly in the opposite direction to that of the

and by the repetition of

this singular

motive

at equal intervals, a beautifully steady

motion

jet,

power

obtained with

much

less

labour than that produced

by ordinary swimming, by means of the action

of fins

or other oar- like limbs adapted to the purpose.*

Some

Molluscs are, nevertheless, furnished with a kind of fin

the Fteropoda, in their

;

as glass,

swimming by the

little shells,

translucent

action of small fin-Hke

paddles placed near the head.

The Bivalves do not make single foot as the Univalves.

Some

species effect leaps

so clever a use of their

The

foot in this tribe

by an analogous contrivance

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

col-

lecting water within the closed mouth, and then emitting it at a gush from a small portion of the aperture, suddenly opened, which

propels the creature to a considerable distance at a single bound.

OCEAN aAJBDENS; appears to be furnished with, a terminal hook, which,

when

the foot

and the animal

protruded, clings to some substance, is

dra^vn up to that point,

operation has to be repeated. to

when

the

This would appear likely

produce but a slow rate of progress, and yet some

of the sand-boring Bivalves manage,

when

to retreat and conceal themselves with great by that means.

The MoUusca, classes

rapidity

as feeders, are divided into three

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;those which take

table feeders,

alarmed,

only liquid food, the vege-

and the carnivorous

Those which are only able

species.

to take food in a liquid

form, are such as have no means of seizing prey, their

food consisting of the countless myriads of infusorial animalcules which float in the sea-water, and which are carried into the orifice of the stomach or

by the

current.

these, the

mouth

Dunicata, Brachio-

poda, and Conchifera are examples.

The

liquid feeders exhibit a very

molluscous

life,

low form of

but other classes are furnished with

means of defence and aggression, equal to those of terrestrial quackupeds, and much more extraordinary in their form.

of the carnivorous Univalves,

for instance,

Some feed upon

the Bivalves by drUling a hole

through the

solid shell,

piecemeal, as required.

and withdrawing the animal

OE,

GLIMPSES BENEATH THE WATERS.

The EoUs papillosa has been observed tearing away the tentacles of different species of Sea- Anemone with extraordinary voracity, and that tribe must therefore very evidently be excluded from the Aquarium.

The

Cuttles, also, are to

cause

;

make

be avoided from the same

they are fierce tyrants of the deep, that would sad havoc

which we dehght

among

the dehcate creatures with

to furnish our tanks of glass.

The

curious substance termed Sea-Grapes, which are the

eggs of this creature, might, however, be placed in the tank, and the progress of development watched,

without fear of injury to the other inmates.

Even

the full-grown Cuttle

that, in a

is so

curious a creature

tank prepared with that special view, his

habits might furnish food for

much

curious observa-

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

tion

indeed, carefully fed up, he might form very

excellent food himself.

His German name, Kuttel,

signifies tripe, the flavour of

which

his flesh is said to

and the common Squid, which is eaten by the poor of our coasts, and is a kindred species, is also resemble

;

said to have a similar flavour. as

weU

Molluscs of this

class,

as the disgusting-looking Poulp, or Many-feet,

are seen in profusion in the markets of the south of

Europe, and are as highly prized as the Oyster with us.

The

ancients carried their taste for

as to feed

them up

artificially;

and

them

so far

at the nuptial

;

OCEAJSf

feast of Iphicrates,

are informed,

so as to

GARDENS

one hundred Polypi and Sepice, as

were disguised with different sauces

The land

impart to each a different flavour.

Molluscs were also

much sought

as a table delicacy,, a

species of the large Garden-Snail being bred in large

quantities for that purpose paste,

;

and fed upon a prepared

so accelerated their growth, that we learn

which

from the industrious Plmy many particulars concerning their enormous dimensions

the shells of some of

;

the finest being capable of holding eighty measures of water, called quadrants. I

But, in speaking of Molluscs,

must principally confine myself

such as are

suit-

able for an Aquarium.

Among are

still

the Sea-Snails of our oAvn coast, which

eaten by the lower orders,

the Periwinkle,

considered by some superior in flavour to the Oyster

This creature, the lAttorina littorea,

or Shrimp.

one of the most useful creatures cleansing

from

natural food. size

and

all

ally

varies

even

is its

much both

ground tone of the

sometimes red, orange, or

an Aquarium, by

decaying vegetation, wliich

The Periwinlde

colour, the

shell being

scarlet,

occasion-

with handsome black bands. Such as are coloured

in this attractive as inmates of the

manner should obviously be selected Aquarium, in preference to the dull-

coloured varieties.

few of the small yeUow Idnd, 76

OR, GLIMPSES

Littorma

litf oralis,

BENEATH THE WATERS.

may be added by way

though they do not succeed

so well

iii

of variety,

confinement as

the other species.

The Whelk (Succlnum snail-like

undatimi), another of the

Molluscs of our coasts, which

considered

good eating by the lower orders, and often seen on fish-stalls at particular seasons, is

in our miniature sea stances,

when

especially

;

well worthy a place

under certain circum-

the shell of this creature assumes a most

singular aspect, well calculated to excite the Avonder

of the young naturalist.

It is

sometimes found sur-

mounted by a mass of living substance, which might be taken for the body of the creature, residing in preference on the roof of

months, where

its

may be

dwelling during the

summer

observed spreading a set of

tentacles,

from a mouth-Hke

of food.

Within, however, a pair of protruding eyes

orifice for the collection

are seen glaringly on the watch for prey, set of food-clutching

machines

may

and another

be noticed beneath

them, ready for their work, and only awaiting the op-

They look much Uke

portunity. ster,

and

reach,

it is

the claws of a lob-

any suitable object comes within their seized by one or both of these two-fingered

hands, and carried towards the yawning

neath ; but before

mouth

be-

reaches that evidently impatient

receptacle, a brightly shining crimson finger, orna-

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; OCEAN aAEDENS;-

mented with two white

stripes, darts

from under those

claws and mouth, and, snatching away the rich morsel, disappears as suddenly as

mouth

pectant

mystery of as it were,

The

and astonished claws both empty.

this

came, leaving the ex-

seemingly compound creature having,

first

self living outside the

house and

getting a separate living, a second self located in the

front parlour, and prevented from eating

o^vn

its

dinner by a third self residing in the 'bach parlour,

may be

now

easily explained,

that the persevering

observations of our naturalists have solved follows

it.

The

internal dweller in the front parlour

the

Hermit Crab (^Fagurus JPrideauxii), a creature which, having a

less solid

than his brother crabs,

shell

seldom contented with its

own habitation, but ever

seek-

ing some further protection, which it generally finds in

an empty Whelk-shell. as to fit,

when

and other

is,

details

;

moreover, very particular for

has been observed,

looking out for a house, to try and reject

before finally adopting an abode.

the back parlour

the Sea-

Worm

a creature which, instinctively

The

many

inhabitant of

[Nereis bilineata),

knowing the voracious

propensities of the Crab, and determining to share his

abundant

feasts,

seizes his

host of the Whelk-shell

opportunity,

when mine

pretty well surfeited and in

OR, GLIMPSES

BENEATH THE WATERS.

A semi-dormant state, to sneak past the dangerous

claws into the " back parlour," which the narrow spiral of the shell

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a form

the interior of

of apartment

which

affords him a most comfortable and convenient home, established in which, by the superfluous voracity of the Crab,

The

lodging.

furnished with board as well as

external tenant of the Whelk-shell

parasitic Sea- Anemone,

known

attaches

itself,

as the Cloak- Anemone,

from its power of nearly enveloping the object it

which

by means of the extension of its stem

It is known in scientific classification as Adamsia palliata, having been made a separate genus, and its specific name is ingeniously taken from that

or body.

of the

Roman

cloak, the well-loiown pallium of the

classical writers.

Almost invariably, when the Hermit Crab covered inside the Whelk-sheU, the outside

;

and the Hermit

Adamsia is found

seldom without his dinner

assistant, the prettily striped Nereis.

well

known

to fishermen, that

worm, which break the

shells

is dis-

an excellent

when

bait,

This fact

ui search of this

they never

fail to

tenanted by the Hermit Crab, and

arc

seldom disappointed in finding the object of their search in his company.

Another

parasitic

Anemone,

stiU

more fond of

tra-

velling, the Actinia parasitica, often selects the back

OCSAJ;?

of a Crab itself (generally in that position

way

that

must often prove inconve-

under ledges of rock, the Crab,

for in passing

;

Fagurus Bernliardus), and

hurried along, in the sidUng gaUop

of his steed, in a nient

aAEDENSj

doubtless, onl}' takes his o^vn measure.

Yet, in such

Anemone probably knows how to take care when JBernhardus becomes skittish and adventurous, draws in his horns," as many other cases, the

of himself; and

bold

spirits are

career

;

obliged to do at certain crises of their

and in

this state, presenting

a semi-

onl}'

spherical mass of tough leathery substance,

be driven beneath stony

fearlessly allow himself to

archwa}'s, or forests,

jury than

he can

under impending branches of the marine

his ferocious Jehu, tliiit

with

less

chance of

in-

which used in the good old times

threaten the outside passenger of a terrestrial stage-

coach passing beneath the low gateway of some innyard.

Our the

largest nati\'c shell of

Fiisiis

islanders as

antlquus, a

lamp

;

often for

pended horizontally, the

the

Whelk

used by the

\\-hich caA'it)"

purpose

tribe

Shetland is

sus-

oil,

and

holding the

the wick projecting from the canal.

The Whelks belong Iliiricidce,

the interesting

some of which, natives of our own

are very pretty objects for the

Aquarium.

family coasts,

was

OB, GLIMPSES

BENEATH THE WATEBS.

Murex

one of them, the

which yielded

trunculus,

the Tyrian purple, different species affording distinct tones of colour.

our

broad,

In form, these

Common

dark,

WUd,

somewhat

"Whelk, but finely marked with

spiral

The ancient mode of described by Pliny, was verified

stripes.

extracting the dye, as

by Mr.

shells are

in 1838, in a very interesting manner-

In the neighbourhood of the

site

of the

ancient

Tyre, he found, in the rocks on the sea-shore, a vast

number of round cavities, evidently the work of the hammers and chisels of generations long past away. These cavities varied in

size,

flower-pot to that of a cauldron, still

lay scattered

from that of a small

and round about them

immense masses of the remains of

Murex, The shells in many instances agglumiuated together. with their inmates had evidently been pounded in those cavities, exactly as stated by Pliny, and the dye ex-

the sheUs and bodies of the easily distinguished

tracted detailed

according

by the ancient

The Turpura

the formulae so graphically

naturalist.

lapillus of our

own

shores yields a

and might be kept in our Aquaria as a reserve bottle of "marking-ink;" for the ingenious similar dye,

Mr, Gosse has shown how

its

for household purposes.

The

univalve, with one or

dye

may be

thus used

shell is a small

white

more bands of pale brown. 81

OCEAN G-AEDENS; perishes on being

may be

dye

immersed in fresh water, when the

extracted from a thick vein of yellowish

white, near the head ness

;

it is

a liquid of a creamy thick-

and of pale indistinct colour.

But

painted in the forms required, as a cypher, or any other ornament, on linen, or any other textile fabric,

with a camel's-hair pencil, and exposed to the rapidly assumes a rich yellow tone. to green,

then blue,

till

at last it

This

changes

first

becomes a

air, it

full strong

indigo, exhibiting plainly all the forms that have been traced.

crimson-red change next ensues, and the

which

final colour,

indelibly permanent,

a red-

dish purple.

There

also a large

naked Mollusc, one of the

Aplysia, that pours forth, under excitement, a secretion of rich purple

hue

valueless as a dye,

from

but the colour its

extreme

considered

volatility,

though

may be rendered permanent by acid. The common Flanorbis cor-

stated that

means of

;

nitric

neus, a shell coiled in the form of a ram's horn, has a similar property

^^olatile.

;

but the colour of the fluid

The purple

liquid,

is still

however, contained

in another of our native shells (Scalarla)

very per-

manent.

wcU knoflTi that the ink of the Chinese, which we term Indian ink, is prepared from the It is

OE, GLIMPSES

and the Cuttles of the Mediterranean Sea

Cuttle,

furnished the

principal black inks and dyes of the

Greeks and Romans. that

BENEATH THE WATEES.

It is a

kind of Sepia, in

fact,

brown colour which bears the name of the animal from which it is still

furnishes

the rich

derived.

The common Sepia vulgaris might be introduced the marine Aqu.arium, many of its habits being

singular

when

and

power of enveloping itself in a might often be observed became irritated by the presence of a real or

cloud of

;

its

own

fancied danger. itself

rich dye

has the faculty of propelhng

hither or thither by the emission of a jet of

water, as described in

speaking of the locomotive

power of other MoUuscs, with the additional faculty of guiding its motions by the rapid movement of two fin-like paddles, effect

when

in agitation, produce an

not unlike the fluttering action of the wings of

a moth.

This

little

Cephalopod has large projecting

and a group of arms, that hang

eyes,

when fully

which,

the fins are in motion.

and

listlessly

down

changes colour

fit-

beautifully, exhibiting in the course of such

changes pretty metallic spots and rings, which appear

and disappear, now like gold, now like through a semi-opaque substance. ture

is at

silver, as

The whole

seen crea-

one moment of a dusky grey tone, but 83

fit-

;

OCEAN GARDENS deep broAvn when alarmed. These Sepias are exceedingly voracious, not even

fully changes to white or

sparing their

own kind

by Mr. Gosse

own

its

defence of dark black

species, the

fluid.

of the Trochus tribe of shells look pretty

Aquarium, but

in an

and when one was observed

to seize another, of its

victim shot out

Some

;

at present their treatment

imperfectly understood, that they do not seem

The specimens

weU.

can, however, be

to thrive

renewed

required.

Trochus zizipldnus, the pearly Trochus, the animal of which

moves

of a rich orange colour striped with black,

freely about,

The animal of

and forms a very

T. granulatus

but shy, and displays

The

small Trochus,

Aquarium, may

;

larger

little activity

often be

observed

in confinement.

rasping do^vn

grow on the

inside of the

and the curious method of the operation, and

the singular instruments with which

may

and handsomer,

T. cinerarius, if placed in an

the minute Confervee that glass

attractive object.

it is

performed,

be plainly distinguished by the aid of a small

pocket

lens.

lAmpets

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;those curious

bonnet-shells, as they are

termed in some places, which are found in the form of a flattened and inverted funnel, adhering closely to the flat

rocks of the sea-shore in Si

all

the European seas

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

are

OK, GLIMPSES

BENEATH THE

more curious than they appear

"SVATEES.

and

at a first glance,

have characteristics that well repay the labour of perI should always place a few

severing observation.

an Aquarium.

The Common Limpet (Tatella vulgata) has a when the soft

power, which appears extraordinary substance of

more or

makes

its

body

considered, of excavating,

less deeply, a portion of the

its

home.

It is

rock which

supposed to leave

in the night, returning infallibly to its

its

home

hollow in the

morning.

This habit might be watched in an Aqua-

rium, and,

if verified,

which

established,

a very interesting fact would be

present

somewhat

remains

doubtful, although Mr. Lukis, of Guernsey,

have marked a Limpet, and found haunt.

These creatures belong

said to

return to

to the order

its

named

Cyclohranchiata, from the breathing apparatus being

arranged in a circle round the body.

The

pretty British shell, vulgarly called the

Ark

of Noah, should be tried in Aquaria, as well as the elegant Heart-sheU of the beautiful genus Isocardia ; the

movements and habits of the

by the Eev.

latter,

as described

Bulwer, being very curious and

in-

teresting.

The

pretty

be passed

little

Cowry

over in silence,

an object that must not

when

treating of objects

OCEAN GAEDENS; fitted for the

book of omitted.

marine Aquarium, altliough, in a

many

others

beautiful

little

this extent,

This

Europcea, carrying is

single foot.

termed, which

greatly distended,

which it perfectly ceptible, shell

it.

the

the mantle

and protrudes from the

fits

ribbings

little

animal.

delicate

olive,

in a state of

and beautiful

so tightly to the

seen

are

distinctly

The

foot

pale orange,

spotted with black and

activity,

of whose appearance

who

know and admire

bivalves, of

all

and

the de-

are acquainted -with

delicious edible Oyster

many

animals suited to Aquaria.

shell,

but for

its

idea.

which

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;the

one kind

only

is,

a most singular

creature,

serted shell, can have

at least

and

scarcely per-

and all the associated phenomena of

little

habits thousands,

The

shell,

at the sides,

where the joining

studded with protruding glands of yellow.

when

It is exceedingly curious to observe the

wonderful

short,

its

the general covering of the body,

and the whole surface

act of respiration, this

CyprcBa

in action, the mantle, as

encloses, folding

at the top,

that

through

creature,

porcelain-like dwelling on

When

meeting

must of necessity be

enabled to move steadily along by the action

back, its

its

little

The

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

ofier

curious Eazor-

habit of burrowing, would form a

very curious object; and the Cockles, from the rich

Plate X.

Actinia crassicornls.

group of^erpula coniortupUcau.

OE, GLIMPSES

BENEATH THE WATBES.

colour of their beautiful fringes

opened

partially

for feeding

when

the shells are

and breathing, are very

beautiful additions to the collection.

The means or Cockle,

movement of

and other

bivalves,

common

the

Scallop,

by means of a

single

fleshy " foot," have been described in speaking of

MoUuscs in general but the spinous Cockles, Cordium aculeatum and C tubercutum, have been termed the ;

aristocracy of the Scallop tribe.

The

valves of the

open three-quarters of an inch, exhibiting a portion of the spongy-looking fleshy mantle, which is

largest

of a pellucid orange colour.

At the end

protruded

a double tube, thick and short, enveloped in a fringe

The

which has been

of cirrhi

or tentacles.

compared

to a tongue, is smooth, glossy,

foot,

transparent, like scarlet cornelian,

well understood by

its

and

possessor that

its

and semiuse

motions are

very rapid. It moves about with great activity in an Aquarium, insomuch that some specimens sent by the Rev. C. Kingsley to Mr. Gosse, startled that gen-

tleman one morning by the noise they were creating,

among

the pebbles and other objects of his tank, by

their violent

Many

movements.

other kinds of shells might be mentioned if

space permitted, but I must content myself with mentioning, en passant, the polished Donax, which, when

OCEAJSr

the animal displays

with

colouring, fringes,

itself,

its

exhibiting

real

its

bright

yeUow

stripes

and gay pink

ornament

to the drawing-

curious

would form a

room sea.

GAEDENS, ETC.

I must just hint, also, the introduction of a

specimen of the Tritonia Sombergi, remarkable for a

power of producing an audible sound

like the click of

a steel wire.

The

pretty

little

bivalve, the

lAma

hians,

is also

a very attractive addition to the Aquarium, especially in motion,

when

its

long orange fringes shape them-

selves into a train, or tail, like that of a " fiery comet," as Dr.

Landsborough has observed, while

along, propelled

the

mechanism

swimming

for the propulsion of

apparatus.

ghdes

the discharge of a jet of water,

which forms

its

CHAPTER

VII.

THE ASCIDIANS, BARNACLES, SEA-CUCUMBEES, NAKED MOLLUSCS, SEA-WORMS, ETC.

GROUP

of Ascidians forms a very curious object

"^Yf^

Aquarium,

the

for

their

^^ii%r' sh^P^s being singular, and sometimes delicate as a transparent egg-

shell.

Those delineated in Plate VII. will

convey some idea of the general appearance of these creatures, whose habitations might

be taken for a store of fairy pitchers, placed snugly in their submarine china-closet for extra

safety,

as a further fifty

and

means of concealment.

native

There are above

species, varying greatly in appearance.

They may be found water,

covered vnth sea-weed

partially

many having

at the

extreme verge of low

the aspect

formed of a substance between

pellucid bags,

jelly

and leather;

while others present a far more robust and rugged appearance, both in form

very dingy in rarely

found

colour,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;are

very

and

but

texture.

few

attractive, 89

Some

species

and

are

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;more

sometimes

OCEAN aAEDENS; Ascidia mentula

brilliant in their hues.

a kind

which may generally be procured of any of the dealers.

The Barnacles must not be omitted

in furnishing

Aquarium, nor the fable connected with the

Common is

Barnacle [Fentelasmis anatifera), in which

affirmed that the Barnacle Geese were

Our

offspring.

old

naturalist

Gerard

not

their

only

gives a detailed account of

which

this

the transformation by wonder of the good old times was accom-

but

plished,

positively

illustrates

his

description

with an engraving, in which the metamorphosis

Mr. Lloyd has generally in stock

seen in progress.

Balomis belanoides and Dyrgoma anglicum.

The

tube-like cells of the Serpulce

resemblance to the

but that of the is

much

of the

Common

Barnacle,

solitary Serpula,

Serpula tubularia,

taUer, often rising a foot

from the substance

adheres

feeding,

cells

have some

to.

The

fan-like

and perhaps

also

feathers,

forming the

the breathing apparatus,

of Serpula contortuplicata, are exceedingly rich in colour, as to the

also the

tube when

drawn, and which for in,

member which

acts as a " cork"

the feather-like tentacles are withis

familiarly termed the " stopper

when, on alarm, the feathers are suddenly drawn the " stopper" immediately follows, shu.tting up

BENEATH THE WATERS.

OR, GLIMPSES

the opening of the tube in a very perfect manner.

This organ

a brilliant

scarlet,

often of a rich orange, and the feathers

though they are sometimes

shown

or nearly white, as

organs,

breathing the

The

mud

shell.

in Plate

act

form their tube

allied tribe, is

always of hard

The golden-combed worm, Ampliitrite

coma, another singular creature of

scarlet gills, sUghtly

leaves

its

this class,

auri-

may be

Just below the cork-

best alluded to in this place.

hke head, when

water which pass between their

Sabellce,

while that of the Serpula

;

These fan-

appear

feathers,

by separating the oxygen from

organs,

currents

fibres.

termed

pale,

tubular sheU, are the

resembhng those of

fishes,

and

across the head the golden comb-like appendage

expanded, from which

When

derives

the animal retires within

its

popular name.

tube, the upper

part of the head has, like the Serpulce,

pearance of a cork or small stopper. is

one of the most curious of

The Balani, parasitic,

Whelk

tentacles,

of the

fixing

all

the ap-

This creature

its class.

or Acorn-sheUs,

themselves

which the

some other univalve, spread

when seeking

are generally shell

the

their crimson

food, exactly in the

manner

SerpulcB, the feathery filaments forming

kind of living casting-net, as

has been observed,

;

OCEAN GAEDENS in

which

minute Annelid or Infusory

tlae

en-

Two Balani are represented shell of a Common Whelk.

tangled and devoured. in Plate VII.

on the

The SolotJmriadce, singular

creatures

or Sea-Cucumbers, are very

waters, exhibiting

as it floats in the

form,

their

;

good a miniature representa-

Gherkin

tion of a small pickled

can be conceived,

except in colour, the shells or cases of these ani-

mals being generally white.

One

of the

species,

Hyalina, has a case which seems formed of rice-paper,

colour

and

covered

and texture.

spines of the

-svith

The

tentacula,

crisp

same

breathing

apparatus, eight in number, are curiously branched,

and,

when expanded, have

skeleton flower,

appearance

the

which the figure in Plate IX.

will convey a tolerable idea.

The

functions of this

flower-like set of organs are probably the

same

of the Nudlbranch class of Molluscs, which,

those

though generally considered apparatus,

are,

are Hquid

being a breathing

probably, at the

coUecting organs, as

all

same time food-

the creatures thus furnished

feeders.

Thy one papulosa, one

species of

Sea-Cucumber,

has ten branches to this set of organs, which

dom

disphiys

motion

when

artificially

in captivity

;

but a

little

it sel-

gentle

imparted to the water, as sug92

OE, GLIMPSES

BENEATH TEE WATERS.

gested in another place, would probably produce the

kmd

of excitement requisite for their expansion, as

the introduction of fresh water to the tank seldom fails to

produce

When

this effect for a time.

irri-

tated, these creatures

have the capacity of committing

self-destruction in a

most determined and complete

manner, by expectorating the whole of the

and leaving

their case or shell bare

intestines,

and empty.

But

Sir J. Dalzell has observed that the shell, thus deprived

its

must be much more intimately

living inmate,

connected with shells of the

its

life

Molluscs

;

and organization than the

for, after

a considerable lapse

of time, he observed that the rejected parts have been

The

renewed by gradual growth.

introduction of a

single drop of fresh water will at once

creature to this

summary mode

the inconvenience.

sale,

his list as Fentactes pentacta

the

of putting an end to

Mr. Lloyd has generally two

of Sea-Cucumber on

cies

drive

spe-

which he describes

and Ocnus brunneus.

OF THE NAKED OR SHELL-LESS MOLLUSCS.

The Sea-Lemon, Doris most its

one of the

name from half a Lemon

It derives its popular

attractive.

peculiar form,

tuberculata,

which

cut longitudinally.

is is

like that of

generally of a yellow tone

of colour also, which greatly adds to the fancied re-

OCEAN G-AEDENS; semblance.

It has its

breathing apparatus exposed

externally, like other Nudibranchs, spreading over the

mantle, near the head, in a flower-like shape it

;

and, as

moves slowly round the Aquarium, forms a very

singular object.

The Doris pilosa same order

;

and the

a pretty white species of the

little

black shining Nudibranch,

Muncina Sancoci, is a pretty and interesting creature. But the handsomest of the Nudibranch, or nakedterm might be Englished,

gilled tribe, as the

the

Eolis corroiuda, which forms certainly a splendid

ornament

to the

Aquarium.

Its

pellucid indistinct tone, of pinkish

general colour

hue

;

the papillae or

branchiae are in clusters, and the central canal

of a

Difi"erent parts of the surface reflect

rich crimson.

the brightest metallic colours, and the whole creature

has a very gem-like appearance. very active. of

making a singular

The

In captivity

it is

Another species of Eolis has the power clicldng noise, like the Tritonia.

AplysicB, or Sea-Hares, have been unenviably

celebrated

among

virulent poison.

their

The

congeners as containing a

species

common

in the Medi-

terranean, A. Leporince, furnished the A'enom with

which the infamous Locasta destroyed the enemies of Nero; and with which she eventually prepared, at the tyrant's request, a draught for himself, that he

OR, GLIMPSES

BENEATH THE WATERS.

had not the courage to swallow. The British species, A. hybrida, might probably be kept in confinement.

Many

Sea-Worms

of the

Nereis bilineata

The

are very beautiful.

very brilliant,

crimson body

its

being brightly marked by two white longitudinal stripes.

The Phyllodoce are a class of Sea-Worms, somewhat resembling the land Centipede, which form curious objects of observation

of food.

when they

are in search

Instead of spreading a set of tentacles, hke

some of the Zoophytes and Molluscs previously scribed, they

de-

have the faculty of turning the cavity

which forms the stomach inside

out, like a stocking,

the inverted organ protruding from

When

considerable distance.

its

mouth

becomes

to a

sufficiently

covered with the minute Infusoriae which form food,

it is

position,

drawn

where

in,

assuming gradually

remains

till

troduced has been absorbed,

its

natural

the nutriment so

when

its

the operation

inis

repeated.

of the largest and commonest

The Sea-Mouse, one of our marine worms,

of a flattened and somewhat

oval form, pointed at each

The

being pale brown. ever,

with which

end,

its

general colour

clothing of silky hairs, how-

invested,

so splendid, glit-

tering in iridescent colours like the plumage of a

;

GAEDENS

OCEAJN"

humming-bird, that Lamarck has appropriately named it

Halithea, or Sea-Goddess

viously given

Venus.

and

the

When,

name

indeed,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Linnaeus

of Aphrodite, the Marine receives the rays of Ught,

them from the depths of the

reflects

with prismatic hues, the

efl"ect

and

fro,

tail

when outspread

In the Aquarium as

though anxious

crawls rest-

to exhibit its

splendours in every possible point of view.

which change with every

tallic tinges,

far

sea, rich

has been compared in

splendour to that of the peacock's in the sunshine. lessly to

having pre-

The me-

position, are

most magnificent by candlelight, when red and

orange hues predominate, while by daylight pearly greens and blues are most frequent.

The bodies of many of the Euricidce and Nereides exhibit changing colours of similar character, though less

splendid

;

but many of them possess an opal-like

tenderness and delicacy of tone in their hues which

almost equally attractive.

The

little

brilliant little

Sea-Slug, u^gines ptmctiluceus, creature, well

worthy the trouble of

being permanently established in our Aquaria. general colour

Its

pale reddish-brown; but, with the

aid of a moderate lens,

exhibits a

number

of small

black tubercles, in the centre of each of which

speck of resplendent blue or green, formina' a sue-

OR, GLIMPSES

BENEATH THE WATEES.

cession of gem-like ornaments that have been com-

pared,

enthusiastic naturalists, to sapphires

and

emeralds; but, without exaggeration, the jewelry of

may be

this little creature

Diamond

said to surpass that of the

Beetle, notwithstanding his superior repu-

tation.

A few

Chitons

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a

do well in a tank

modoUna

;

sort of

Sea Wood-Louse

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;would

and a specimen of Gastrophceiia

said to have thriven well during

months.

many

CHAPTEE

VIII.

THE FISH AND CRUSTACEANS OF THE AQUARIUM.

MARINE

Aquarium may be rendered

very interesting without the introduction of fish

;

but as their presence requires that

by means of additional water, introduced by the syringe or by a the tank should be aerated once each day

drip from another vessel,

many may

prefer the lovely

Sea-Weeds, curious Zoophytes, and beautiful Molluscs, In which case, if the balance between the amount of animal and vegetable life be felicitously alone.

balanced, and the natural scavengers, in the shape of

Periwinkles and other Sea-Snails, for the consumption of decaying vegetable matter, to

perform a similar

office for

and a few Prawns

perishing Infusorice, or

any other animal matter, be properly supplied

tank

may remain

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;the

for a long time undisturbed; the

supply of oxygen being ample for the lower classes of

animal

life

alluded

to.

The

beautiful ActinicB, in-

deed, will exist in apparent health for a considerable

time in water in which no vegetable growth has been introduced.

Mr. Gosse describes instances in which

OCEAN &AEDENS,

ETC.

water in glass Aquaria, containing Sea-Anemo-

tlie

has remained perfectly pure for more than a

nies,

year.

The liA'ens

addition of

Aquarium very

con-

and many may not grudge the task of

daily

the general aspect of an

siderably

;

the water, in order to enjoy the cheerful

aerating spectacle

of their agreeable and ever-active

One

ments.

or two

young Flounders, very

young of other

the

very

however, undoubtedly en-

fish,

much

move-

small,

and

species of flat fish, add, indeed,

interest to

an Aquarium

;

partly in conse-

quence of their mode of swimming being so different to that of the class of fishes

eye

Among

with whose movements the

familiar.

the fish mentioned by the most expe-

rienced in the keeping of Sea Aquaria as best suited to that purpose, the first is the pretty little Tansy,

Blennius pholis, with

many changing hues will

hve and

its

bright scarlet eyes, and the

its

fiourish in a

body.

This

little

fellow

tank with a poorer supplj-

of oxygen than any other fish yet tried.

The

fifteen-spined Stickleback,

nacJiia, does well,

his

movements.

and

Gasterosteus spi-

very cheerful and brisk in

Three or four would be an improve-

ment to any tank, as with proper management they would doubtless construct their nest, a detailed ac99

;

OCEAN GAEDENS; count of which I have given in

" River Gardens."

Other species of Stickleback might also be introduced, as the

whole of the genus has the faculty of living

either in salt, brackish, or fresh water.

Young of the out

grey Mullet, too, do well, even with-

artificial aeration, for, if

the supply of oxygen be

rather inadequate, they are observed

put their

heads partly above the surface of the water, and ob-

The black

tain a supply in that surreptitious manner.

Goby, Gobius niger, has but

his

voracious

scruple even his

also

been

character

tried

with success

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; devouring

own congeners

without

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;renders him on the

whole not a very desirable tenant

;

and yet

it is

a fine

sight to see the little warrior turn black with the ex-

citement when he seizes his prey, his turquois-coloured eyes dilating with fury.

Several other kinds are mentioned, in a previous

page, in the first

list

of animals placed by Mr. Gosse in his

experimental Aquarium.

The Pogge,

Aspidophorus cataphr actus,

singularly formed fish that might be added

experiment. clothed

The

plate

armour in which

by way of

his

body

arranged in regular longitudinal

lines,

showing eight sharp ridges, running from head to that have a singular and unfish-like appearance.

tail,

confinement, however, he does not display himself to 100

or.,

GLIMPSES BENEATH THE ^YATEES.

advantage, generally lying near the bottom of the

Aquarium.

The

beautiful crimson maculations of the Ancient

Wrasse, Labrus maculahis, render him a very desirable tenant

;

but his

size

eight or nine inches long

nient

;

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;small

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;causes him

and, moreover, he

difficult to

would probably require altogether a

One

specimens being-

be inconve-

manage, and

special treatment.

of the smaller Wrasses, however, Crenilabrus cor-

nubicus, var}'ing

attractive.

food,

a desirable guest; his minute

and often gay is

colours, rendering

size,

and

him ^ery

an active and eager searcher

for

but never takes any loosely floating object, only

darting at and detaching such atoms as arc attached to the different species of Algge.

The

Pipe-Fish, Syngnathus acus,

interesting in

the tank, and also the two-spotted sucker, Lepido-

gaster bimacnlaiits, a prettily-coloured and curious Httle fish,

which has the

faculty of attaching itself to

the side of the tank, or any other hard

flat surface, be-

moans of two singularly-formed ventral fins, which act like those leather suckers by means of which boys enjoy the sport of lifting heavy stones at the end The spawn of this fish is like tiny amber of a string. beads,

and

attached to shells

stances. 101

and other

sub-

OCEAN GAEDEXS;

Among the Crustacea fitted for an Aquarium, the Common Prawn, Falcemon serratus, holds the first In the

rank.

devouring portant.

first

place, his cleansing properties, in

decaying animal matter, are most im-

all

But not

movements

less

Now, he

interesting are his graceful

peb-

steals stealthily over the

bles or the fronds of the Algse, with his long, slender, hair-like horns in gentle motion,

with

all

the seeming

wariness of a cat (the resemblance being increased, at candle-light,

by the

fiery

glare of the eye)

next,

;

leaving his walking apparatus, or legs, inactive, he

swimming members, which

uses only the

and

flatter,

and bordered with a compact fringe

tating these

are larger ;

agi-

instruments with beautiful regularity,

rises in the

water Avith graceful ease (see Plate

VI.), his semi-transparent body, as he ascends, giving to his

appearance a strange and somewhat apparition-

like aspect,

which has caused him

to be

compared

to a

second

feet,

marine spectre.

The PraAvn which

takes

its

food with

are, in fact, two-fingered

carries it to its

mouth.

its

hands or claws, and

The hands

of the ^rs^ pair

of legs are only rudimental in appearance, but are precisely fitted to their special purpose

cleansing apparatus;

and

watch the operations of his

toilet

they are his

most interesting to

when he

uses these

Plate VI.

& 5.

Edwardsia

ve^ttra.

Goniaster e(inestres.

Cribella oculata.

Pnlmipes membranaceus.

Asterlna glbboaa.

Palairaon scrratus.

OE, GLIMPSES BENEATH THE WATEES. fringes as brushes, with

which he

cleanses his

whole

person most thoroughly, being almost unmerciful in the

amount of severe scrubbing

which he subjects

himself.

allied species,

squilla, is scarcely distin-

guishable from P. serratus ;

but

the

handsome

the size

Prawn, Fardulus annuticornis, about of a Shrimp, is quite distinct, and would

make a

valuable addition to

scarlet-striped

Lobster Prawn, wise been tried.

Athanas nilescens, has likeThe proper management of Shrimps

also,

and Prawns in the tank has discovered state,

and

;

for they is,

The

the collection.

not, however, as yet

do not

live

been

long in a healthy

therefore, necessary to procure fresh

specimens very frequently.

Some kinds of Crabs may be admitted, but not many; for several are extremely voracious, and would soon

clear

off all the

naked Zoophytes and

most of the Molluscs.

The Chmbing Crab, Uurynome aspera, resting in a tank from his habits.

inte-

His climbing

as graceful and skilful as that of a monkey, and when he has succeeded in perching himself upon the

highest point in the tank, he forms a picturesque object.

Crabs, like Pra^vns, are sea-scavengers, and the 103

;

OCEAN GAJIDENS kinds that do not attack living creatures as well as

The

dead are consequently useful in a tank. Fiddler Crab, Farttmus puber,

some. fur,

remarkably hand-

brown

clothed, in part, with a velvety

and the bare places of his

shell are of a shining

His eyes are marked with

black. are

great

scarlet,

and there

a few touches of bright blue about the head.

If introduced, however, his proceedings should be carefully watched, as

he might prove

possible

very destructive.

There should certainly be a specimen of the

Hermit Crab

in a Whelk-shell

;

and the Cleanser

Crab, Tortunus depurator, has been tried, but these active

and greedy Sea-Spiders must,

as I

have

said,

closely looked after. It

remains to speak of the Star-Fish

affords

some of the most beautiful and

naged subjects

for the

which

tribe,

easily

ma-

Aquarium.

In the centre of the lower part of Plate VI. are a large species,

and a small specimen of the beautiful Oeniaster

right, the

the

above

;

just

above, to

graceful pink Cribella oculata

right,

the

equestres

Jsieria gihbosa,

;

scarlet

;

further

and immediately

Cribella, the thin leathery species,

the

Palmipes membranaceus All small, easily managed, and especially

bird's-foot Sea-Star,

these species are

the

104

OR, Q-LIMPSES

suited to the

BENEATH THE WATERS.

Aquarium

;

as is

also the finely-marked

and long-rayed Ophicoma rosula,

deep scarlet, with bright black marks, and his slender limbs or rays,

his

rendering him a conspicuous

object.

These

Star-Fish glide round the Aquarium, by the aid of their thousand sucker-Hke feet, in a very interesting

manner. All the true Star-Fishes, the Asterice, have the

body divided with sucking

and

filled

and are furnished which are tubular,

into rays, like a star, feet,

with water.

these creatures

cirrhi,

The

internal

structure of

very intricate and beautiful, and

the skeleton of almost any kind offers the appear-

ance of that of some exquisitely symmetrical flower.

There are fourteen British species of Star-Fish, the finest

papposa,

being the Sun-Star, Solaster

the

disk surrounded with twelve or thirteen rays varying in colour from scarlet to deep purple, the rays being

sometimes of a different colour.

The Luidia fragilissima

sometimes two feet across, which British

shores.

breaking

or captured

;

itself

possesses

also a large kind,

the

into fragments

and, in a

peculiar to the

singular faculty

when enraged

work by the lamented Pro-

fessor Forbes, there is a very graphic

account of a

and facetious

specimen that escaped him in a very 105

;

OCEAN GAEDEKS determined way by a suicide

committed in that

manner. of this

Stars

having the power to

class,

known

cate their structure, are popularly

Some

Stars.

but

let

some higher animal

—a

;

as brittle

not so

to consider this facility

affect

very wonderful

dislo-

such suppose for a

moment

man,

—

instance

for

gifted

with a capacity for exploding his trunk and moderately-sized fragments

into

—

butcher would say

—

hmbs

into joints,

any slight provocation, and

then the character of such a power would appear very sufficiently extraordinary.

that

It is possible

the fragments of the disruptured Star- Fish have the

power, in each separate fragment, of renewing the absent portions, and that each remnant a perfect

fish,

may become

the dissevered portions having been

noticed to retain their vitality long after their sepa-

ration.

know

that the little

the power of dislocating his leaving

without

between the thumb and

playfully caught

that he has the

not

effort,

finger,

by that appendage

and

when

and, also,

;

power of renewing his caudal extre-

mity within a very therefore

tail

Garden Lizard has

short

impossible,

that the Star-Fish

kind, though of a

may

period.

reasoning

thought analogy,

possess powers of a similar

somewhat more extensive

character.

;

OE, GLIMPSES

The Amnion

BENEATH THE WATEES. sometimes Five-

Star-Fish, called

fingered (Asterias rubens), belongs to the division

JEchmodermata, that

skinned like the Hedge-

is,

hog.

The Sea-Egg, Sea-Urchin, or Egg-Urchins,

as they

are sometimes called, belong also to the EcJimoder-

mafa, or Hedgehog-skinned objects in the

much more Fish

tribe,

form.

Aquarium

class,

the

and form interesting

flat species

exhibiting

evidently their close afiinity to the Star-

common

than those of the more

Mr. Lloyd has generally two

miliaris

and Echinus sphcera, on

tory for marine plants

;

species.

spherical

Echinus

sale at his reposi-

and animals.

revert to other classes that occur to

suitable objects for an

Aquarium,

I ma)-

" Red-noses," as they are graphically

mention the

termed

(^Saxir

cava rugosa), a colony of which, peeping out of their holes in the

and

cliff,

would form a very

striking object

a piece of their native rock could be detached

of sufficient depth not to disturb them in the recesses of their tube-like burrows, their removal

would not be

difficult.

When

squirts a stream of water at

he darts back into

his cavern.

en bloque"

touched, the Red-nose

you in

defiance, before

a small bivalve,

having his inner or immediate home within two rough

brown

shells.

The double-tubed 107

proboscis with

which

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

;

OCEAlf aAEDENS

furnished

mouth of

to the

pearance of the

extended,

when

his cave, in

in search of food,

which position the ap-

ruddy terminus has given

its

characteristic

name

to this tribe

How

" Red-noses."

contrives to bore a hole in the sohd rock, with any of

members with which he

the soft pulpy

appears a mystery.

furnished,

Other Conchifers have,

howe'^'er,

similar capabilities, their ingenuity not being confined to rocks,

and

their industry not being always harmless.

Such, for instance,

worm, a

species of

that of the Teredo, or Ship-

which has long proved

to the formation of a

Russian

fleet in

the Black Sea

the late war having, however, proved

impediment

serious

so inimical

a far more

development of that portion

to the

of the Russian naAj-.

The

Sea-Leaf,

formed of twenty thousand, or

more, cradles for young Polypes, object.

the

also a curious

Polyzoon, sometimes called the

Horn wrack.

few of the translucent Medusae, in a young

stage of their existence, might be prociu'ed

though

their

transport

would be

and

diflicult;

tried,

and a

group of creatures, of the genus Zoothamnkwi, forming, as the)' do,

an object

like a little tree of glass,

covered with trumpet-shaped talline

bells,

of the same crys-

aspect, each exhibiting its rotating circle of 108

OR, GLIMPSES

minute

cilia

BENEATH THE

"WATERS.

in rapid motion within,

would form a

singular and beautiful complement to the wonders of

the Aquarium, if

and

its

location in

its its

removal from

its

native depths,

new home, could be successfully

managed.

ing

CHAPTER

IX.

CONCLUSION.

N ^rtv

-will

usually

ensure success in the formation of an Aqua-

In the

rium. the

may be

conclusion, a few general remarks

made, the observance of which

Aquarium

place, if the vessel in

which

be established be home-made, care

must be taken not agreeable smell

first

any cement that has a

to use

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Avhich would be very soon

dis-

fatal to

creatm-es accustomed to the pure waters of the ocean. Scott's

cement

said to be better than putty, for

fixing in the glass to the columns at the angles. If cement be used to fix the rock-work of the

miniature marine landscape, let

land cement, which,

when

dry,

filling tlie vessel Avith water, seA'eral

The is

and the

Avater

fit

changed

for use.

best sand for the artificial beach, or bottom,

the Thames' sand, used

be Avashed seAeral times,

that

be the best Port-

must be soaked by

times before the tank will be

clear, before if

it is fit

by builders till

for use

;

but this must

the Avater runs oif quite

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;any

other kind of sand,

cannot be procured, must be submitted to

similar Avasliings.

Sea-water can be procured by fur-

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; OCEAir GAEDENS, ETC.

nishing the steward or captain of any Thames steamer, or the guard of a railway in connection with the coast,

with a clean barrel

for carriage

and

;

the charge, in either case,

trouble,

would not exceed two or

three shillings.

The

artificial salt-water

for Zoophytes,

has been found sufiicient

but not for

fish

and other of the

higher class of marine animals, except for a certain given time.

The composition follows

for

sea-water

artificial

Common Epsom

salt

oz,

oz.

salts

Chloride of magnesium

200

grs.

Chloride of potassium

grs.

] .

* Another formula, aa given by Dr. Lankester

Oz.

Chloride of sodium

Grs.

43i

Chloride of magnesia Chloride of calcium

Bromide of magnesia Sulphate of magnesia

Sulphate of

Ume

Such are the proportions iu which the saline constituents of seawater exist in 100

lbs.

of the water

;

that

to say, the water of a

special locality, for the proportions vary in different situations,

other distinct substances being held in solution in the sea on

some parts of the coast which are not found Ill

in other places.

—

;

OCEAH GARDENS

To these are added four quarts of water, and when the salts are thoroughly dissolved, say on the foUowig day, the liquid must. be filtered through a sponge

then

it is

;

fit

for use.

Care must be taken to observe whether, when the sun shines and the light

bright, the silvery bubbles

of oxygen are properly formed

sea-weeds

;

and

upon the fronds of the

if not, it is certain

plants are not in a healthy state,

that the marine

and must be

re-

newed. IVIr.

Gosse gives the following

to the class of animals

final directions as

and plants that should be

se-

lected in preference for the experiments of beginners.

With

regard to sea-weed, he observes, do not take

Oar-weeds or Tangle; nature, size is

which

the Fuci are of a

difiicult to

manage, and

mconvenient, and they have but

their absence

it is

all

little

shmy

as their

beauty,

not to be regretted.

animals, he says, take:

Fish

—Blennies,

Gobies, Wrasses.

Of Molhisca—Aplysia,

Chitons, Scallops,

and Burrowing Bivalves, such

Venus, PuUastra,

etc.

Crustacea

Peri^^inkle, as

—Eurynome,

Portunus puber, Carcinus msenas, Ebalia, Corystes, the Paguri,

gones, and Palsemones, that

Of Annelids

and the CranShrimps and Prawns.

Porcellana platycheles,

—

is,

select Pectenaria, the Sabellae, 112

and the

OR, GLIMPSES

Serpulse.

BENEATH THE WATEES.

Zoophytes

—the

Madrepores, and all

the Actiniae.

Few

will establish an

Aquarium without

deriving

great mental improvement, and the enlargement of their circle of acquirements, in a direction highly

calculated to develop some of the best and highest

Even the

feehngs of our nature. fail

this

cannot

scientific

greatly to enlarge their sphere of knowledge in

new, and almost untrodden,

Even

field

of research.

entomologists, sighing that there are no

Tinise to

add

enormous

to the already

new

no new

list,

Curculios with which to form another volume to the

already portly series

—

hail the

quests

;

Aquarium for,

and other physiological

these

Alexanders, weeping for

new

regions to subdue,

may

as a fertile source of further con-

notwithstanding the numerous and curious

discoveries of recent investigators, the depths of the

ocean are as yet, comparatively speaking, one of the

imtrodden presents

fields of science

— the

;

and a glorious arena

Aquarium' being one of the

channels for the detection of

its

fairest

myriads of yet hidden

mysteries.

The marine Aquarium thing, a

mere toy

;

but

is,

it is

however, as yet a play-

destined to become a far

more important means of advancing

science,

and

ministering to popular instruction, amusement, and 113

OCEAN GARDENS wonder, than

yet dreamt

It has yet to

of.

do for

the ocean that which our menageries and vast gardens, devoted to the service of natural history, have

done for the

forests

and mountains of the

terrestrial

portion of our planet.

shall yet

have tropical Aquaria, in which the

temperature and qualities of the sea between the

be so successfully imitated, that the glo-

tropics will

rious shells of those regions will

motion

be exhibited in living

our greedily-curious gaze

gleaming with unusual dyes

fish

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

sih'ery crimson

will dart

warmed,

as in their

ficially

that

are

now

deeps, as

arti-

tropic ocean, for our

Thi-ough the

entitled to expect

shall exhibit to us the

and

metallic azure,

and glide in tanks

own

delight and gratification.

Aquaria,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

and intertropical

;

medium

from science

wonders of the tropic

has shown us the glorious plumage and

velvet-spotted furs of the denizens of

its terrestrial

forests.

This

is,

in fact, the only thing that

for us to do, in

making a

still

remains

popular display of

fitting

may surpass the doings of the ancients in that field of instruction the wonders of Nature, such as

and

gratification, in

upon a

which

their etforts

scale of magnificence that

approached.

were framed

we have not

yet

OE, GLIMPSES

Even

BENEATH THE WATERS.

in the days of Cyrus,

Xenophon and

graphic

eastern satrap

had

learn from the

other sources,

his " paradisus," in

that

every

which the most

curious animals of distant regions were preserved in

a state of liberty, and in a manner suited to their natures, either for the sport of hunting, or for the

curious gratification of the eye.

The Romans, long

before they had attained to the

material wealth of the modern nations of Europe,

had exhibited

to the people of their capital

noblest animals of Asia and Africa.

Even the Gu'affe

and the Hippopotamus were familiar forms

Roman tions

populace

;

while, with the great

the west,

the

but quite a recent

creatures

remained

to the ancients to

Aquarium,

to render our

sight

aU the to

the

modem

na-

these wonderful

gratification.

It only

have exhibited a Titanic

triumph over their labours

in the field of popularized natural history impossible.

Had the

but a

Roman Warrington

germ of such an

furnish the glass

idea,

or Gosse developed

and an Osier

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Pompey, or

existed, to

Csesar, or Crassus,

would not have been wanting to feast the eyes, both of patrician and plebeian Rome, with an Aquarium containing hundreds of fathoms of sea-water, in which the monsters of the deep would have been exhibited in deadly conflict, and

human

divers,

armed with net

;

OCEAN GARDENS

and

trident, like the

of their gladiatorial

retiariae

combats, would have encountered beneath the waters the Shark, the Whale, or the Torpedo, encouraged

by the shouts of crowded

circuses, the centre of

which

would have been a glass-walled ocean.

But a gigantic Aquarium

modem

that yet remains for

which arrive

is,

fortunately, a feat

science to achieve,

The day

wiU doubtless accomplish.

when we

—

rolling majestic in

native element, perhaps pursued

the Sword-Fish, or harried by

Or we may

see the dreaded

round the vast

—the

Behemoth

shall see the living

Titan of the deep

waves of his

his cruel

enemy

a shoal of Herrings.

Shark

float

round and

glass prison seeking his prey,

Shark-hunter of the South Seas

and will

may

and the

be imported to

—mocking the

exhibit his skUl in a bloodless conflict

attempts of the

sea

monster to seize him, as the

Spanish matador plays long with the infuriated bull

but without necessitating the same catastrophe to the animal, defenceless against the specially-trained skill

of his

human

crystal palaces,

objects of art

globe;

it is

covermg

form the

have already had our

their acres,

and

filled

with

and wealth from every quarter of the

no^ impossible, therefore, that

have crystal-walled will

antagonist.

last

seas, in

new

we may

which aquatic menageries

object of fashion 116

and wonder.

OR, GLIMPSES

BENEATH THE WATERS.

For the present, however, the Aquarium is, as I have said, but a toy, yet one full of pleasant instruction;

and

doubtless contains the germs of a

development, the precise direction of which

it is

present difficult to guess.

THE END.

London

Thomas

Harrild, Printer, 11, Salisbury Square, Fleet Street.