78
dry land does not die from any want of oxygen, but from being asphyxiated in consequence of the absence of that element on which the gills are dependent for a due performance of their functions; but this is not the same in all fishes, for in some (the shark for example) there are simple openings, varying in number to allow of the exit of the water, whilst in some where the operculum or covering of the gills is but narrowly cloven, a certain quantity of water is retained, by which they can continue out of their natural element for some considerable time, and even perform migrations overland, from one place to the other, and the Climbing Perch (Perca scandens), "quits the water and ascends the roots and branches of the Mangrove trees, an effort it accomplishes by using its ventral fins as feet."[1]
Of course we must to a certain extent be dependent on the part of the coast to which we may be near;—some neighbourhoods are poor in comparison with others, but there are hone so barren as not to afford abundance of live stock. We have already mentioned the lovely Terebellæ and Serpulæ, the Sea Cucumbers (Holothuriæ), the centipedal Nereis, the ribbony Planaricæ, pop them all in, and for Fishes, the tiny Hippocampus or Sea horse, the slender Pipe fish (Syngnathus), if there is room, are the most desirable; by all means have a Hermit Crab for his comical ways, and there are many others which may be experimented on, such as our Seaweedwearing friend mentioned previously in these pages,
- ↑ Swainson's "Habits and Instincts of Animals." page 116.
