Page:Sea and River-side Rambles in Victoria.djvu/85

66 into a regular caudal fin. Detaching one, it rolled itself up in a manner similar to the Woodlouse (Oniscus), and they both belong to the same order, (Isopoda—equal footed). Large as many of the Jelly Fishes are, the quantity of solid matter which they contain is wonderfully insignificant, and they rapidly become deliquescent on exposure to atmospheric influences, so that we can only liken the chances of good fare which parasites on them entertain, to the Chinamen, who were observed by a friend somewhere in the Chinese Seas, making most persevering efforts to fry these creatures, and evidently sorely puzzled to find how utterly without success their endeavours were. An Octopus was also placed in the same tub with the Jelly Fish, but although the sides were high, and before the water could be reached, several feet of the platform had to be traversed, it managed to effect its escape and regain its native element. Many of its habits displayed a vast amount of apparent cunning, as if it was perfectly aware that we were watching it. Darwin mentions the amusement afforded him by the various arts to escape detection used by an individual to which his attention was directed. "Remaining for a time motionless, it would then stealthily advance an inch or two like a cat after a mouse, sometimes changing its colour: it thus proceeded, till having gained a deeper part, it darted away, leaving a dusky train of ink to hide the hole into which it had crawled."

Those who are geologically inclined, may spend many a pleasant day in examining the soft argillaceous