Glimpses of Ocean Life 37

Glimpses of Ocean Life 37

In addition to _Gasterosteus aculeatus_, whom we have above alluded

to, there is another species, _G. spinachia_, or Fifteen-Spined

Stickleback, which is also an inhabitant of rock-pools by the

sea-shore, but unlike the first-mentioned, is never found in fresh

water. Both species possess one peculiarity in common, a description of

which will form an appropriate conclusion to this chapter. I allude to

their nest-building habits, which has only of late years been proved to

exist, although Aristotle has recorded the same fact regarding a fish

(_Phycis_) in the Mediterranean Sea, which was known to make a nest and

deposit its spawn therein.

 

The duties of mason and architect are invariably undertaken by the

male Stickleback. His materials are of course very limited, still his

labours are skilfully and even artistically performed. Having chosen a

suitable spot as a foundation for his house, he collects some delicate

sea-weeds, gravel and sand, and with these materials, aided by a

glutinous fluid which is given off from his body, the house is built.

When completed, and not before, he seeks out his mate, and invites

her to take possession of her newly formed home. If she shows any

affectation or coquetishness, he does not hesitate to nip hold of her

tail, and urge her forward by equally expressive signs. Soon, like a

dutiful little pet, she enters, and having deposited spawn, retires

again, leaving her lord and master to guard the casket and its living

treasure. This task, though extremely arduous, he adopts with pride and

gratification.

 

How so small a creature can bear up so long under such a state

of apparent excitement appears marvellous. His assiduity is most

extraordinary. By night he rests beside the nest, and by day, if he can

possibly hinder it, he allows nothing to approach. When there are other

members of the Stickleback family in the aquarium, numerous combats

are sure to ensue, for as the young and transparent offspring of one

fish are deemed a great dainty by the non-parental body, the latter

invariably endeavour to satisfy their cannibal propensities at the

harrowing expense of their neighbours.

 

When the spawn are hatched, fresh care devolves upon the parent, in

order to keep them within the nursery, and protect them from the greedy

mouths of the larger fish, always on the look-out for tit-bits. Should

one of the little fishlings stray beyond the prescribed bounds, the

watchful parent darts after it, and in an instant his jaws close over

the wanderer apparently for ever, but in fact only for a time, for

swimming quickly back the old fish puffs out the straggler into its

nest lively and uninjured.

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XXV.

 

On the Formation of an Aquarium, &c.

 

 

'And so I end this little book, hoping, even praying that it may

encourage a few more labourers to go forth into a vineyard which those

who have toiled in it know to be full of ever fresh health, and wonder,

and simple joy, and the presence and the glory of Him whose name is

Love.'--C. KINGSLEY.

 

 

 

 

[Illustration: A SKETCH FROM NATURE

 

1 Mussels attached by their byssus threads to the glass

2 Fronds of _Chondrus chrispus_

3 Fronds of _Delesseria Sanguinea_

4 Fronds of _Ulva latissima_]

 

 

 

 

XXV.

 

 

No ornament for the drawing-room or parlour can possibly be more

beautiful than a well-stocked and tastefully-arranged aquarium; nor is

there one likely to be productive of a greater amount of pleasure and

amusement. And it is instructive as well as amusing, for by means of

it the statements of writers relative to the habits of certain marine

animals may be verified by personal observation, and even difficult

problems in natural history satisfactorily solved. Aided by one of

these 'mimic oceans,' let the reader commence the practical study of

marine zoology, and I have little fear of his ever becoming tired of it.

 

'Age cannot wither it, nor custom stale

Its infinite variety.'

 

When pursued even in the most humble way, this recreation yields a

degree of interest greater than any other 'hobby' can produce, at least

in an equal space of time. If engaged in business during the day, the

student can always devote an hour morning or evening to the aquarium,

and when least expected, some circumstance will take place to excite

his wonder, and fill his mind with deep and devout reflection.

Moreover, the young naturalist will undoubtedly derive pleasure from

his endeavours to establish published facts relative to many of his

little prisoners; pleasure in noting down any interesting anecdote that

may occur; pleasure in knowing that his time is being profitably spent;

and above all, that he is making himself acquainted with objects framed

with marvellous skill and care by the hand of the Almighty:--

 

'Wonderful indeed are all His works,

Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all

Had in remembrance, always with delight.'

 

Without further preface, I shall now proceed to offer some practical

hints relative to the establishment of a marine aquarium. And, as some

of my readers may be perfectly unacquainted with the subject, I shall

treat it in as simple a style as possible. If, however, the experienced

zoologist will kindly follow me to the end of the chapter, it may be

that he will find some hints sufficiently new and useful to repay him

for his trouble.

 

First, then, in regard to the tank. This indispensable requisite may be

procured at certain shops in almost every town in the United Kingdom.

Its price varies from two or three shillings to £20. The expensive

kinds are generally oblong in form, but their construction being

somewhat intricate, they are apt to get out of order, unless made by

skilful and thoroughly competent artistes. Under certain circumstances,

there is no doubt that an oblong tank of moderate dimensions is a great

desideratum; but what I wish particularly to impress upon the mind of

the reader is, that a large tank is not at all necessary in order to

study the habits of marine animals; indeed, the more capacious the

vessel, the more difficult becomes the task of watching the secret

movements of any of its occupants. On this account it not unfrequently

happens that a common glass tumbler becomes of much greater service to

the student than the most elaborate aquarium.

 

The tanks which I use are circular in form, the largest being not more

than sixteen inches in diameter, by seven inches in depth. Its cost

was four shillings. Each one rests on a base of mahogany, elevated on

turned legs to a height of nine inches.

 

Some persons object to the circular tank, on the ground that its

occupants when seen from the sides appear magnified. This fact, as

I have elsewhere remarked, is rather a recommendation with me, as

it presents more distinct views of each movement in the vessel, and

whenever I wish to see the objects of their natural size, I can do so

by looking in from the top.

 

On the edge of the tank are placed three chips of gutta percha in which

are inserted three steel pins with brass heads; on these there is

laid a circular piece of common glass, cut two inches larger than the

diameter of the tank. As the 'pins' are about three-quarters of an inch

above the tank, they allow a current of air to pass over the water,

and also prevent, to a certain extent, particles of dust from falling

in. On the edge of the movable lid I _paste_ some crimson lace, which

serves for ornament, and also prevents the glass from cutting the hand

of any person moving it about. Sometimes I have a circular piece, about

four inches in diameter, cut out of the centre of the glass lid, which

allows the latter to be lifted off easily.

 

A glass syringe to aerate the water occasionally, a camel-hair pencil,

an ivory crotchet pin, and a pair of gutta percha forceps, complete the

whole machinery of the aquarium, the cost of which is so trifling that

the poorest person might manage to procure them.

 

One great point in favour of an aquarium, and one by no means generally

understood is, that having once filled the tank with salt water, it

will last for months, and even years, if proper care be taken, without

requiring one particle of sea-water to be again added; for as the water

evaporates, the salt falls to the bottom, and the deficiency may be

supplied with _fresh_ water from the cistern or filter. In order to

ascertain when the sea-water is of the proper density, you require

to have a 'gravity bubble,' which can be had for sixpence. This may

always be kept in the tank. When 'all's well' it sinks to the bottom,

and when anything comes amiss it rises to the surface, but falls again

quickly upon the introduction of the fresh water.[20]

 

[20] _Vide_ author's "Sea-side and Aquarium."

 

A more simple plan is, to mark on the glass the height of the fluid

when the tank is first filled, then as the water sinks, raise it again

to its original level by means of fresh water.

 

Many persons decline starting an aquarium on account of the great

difficulty of procuring a proper supply of sea-water. This objection,

of course, can be offered only by those who happen to reside inland;

but even these need not now be discouraged, for an ingenious plan has

lately been devised for sending the commodity in question through the

post!

 

Mr. Bolton, chemist, Holborn Bars, London, supplies, not sea-water, but

'marine salts for the instantaneous production of sea-water,' About six

ounces is sufficient to make a gallon, by the application of _fresh_

water. The saline material here alluded to, is not an artificial

chemical compound, but is produced by the simple process of evaporating

sea-water itself. Those individuals so fortunate as to possess a marine

villa, or any other more humble residence at or near the sea-coast,

have no occasion to resort to the scheme above-mentioned for filling

their tanks, a pure supply of sea-water being attainable with scarcely

any trouble whatever. A stone jar should be kept for this purpose only,

and care taken that the vessel is perfectly free from any smell, as

that of spirits, dirty corks, or the like, as any such impurity would

quickly spoil the water.

 

It may not be uninteresting to some of my readers to know, that in

France an aquarium cannot be established with the same ease as in

England. In the former country 'the whole contents of the sea itself

is a contraband article,--that is, the contents of the salt sea of

the English Channel or the Atlantic Ocean.' One writer tells us, that

staying on the French coast, he kept sea-anemones alive in glasses,

but was frequently warned by his friends to be careful how he fetched

water from the sea, lest the custom-officers should interrupt him. 'My

bottle,' to use the writer's own words, 'being very small, they let

it pass, on the principle that the law does not care about extremest

trifles; had it been a pailful, the case would have been different. A

lady keeping a marine aquarium, explained her wants to the local head

of the customs. He came and saw it--found it beautiful, and being a

gentlemanly man, with some love for natural history, he gave a written

order for the procuring of any reasonable quantity of water from the

sea. Every time the needful element was brought from the shore, it was

accompanied by its passport, as formally as if it had been a cask of

wine, or a suspicious stranger. French salt sellers thus enjoy the

height of protection; they are protected even from their colossal competitor, the sea!'