Page:Sea and River-side Rambles in Victoria.djvu/98

79 but there are some species which on account of their voracity must not be admitted; a few of the smaller Starfishes must go in, since they will quickly get rid of any decomposing substances: [they flock to the slaughter-houses on the Bay at Geelong, to feed on the debris there.] Agassiz has observed that the eggs of the Starfish, after they are laid, are taken up by the parent animal, and kept between its tubes below the mouth. The Starfish bends itself round them, surrounds the eggs with its suckers, and moves about with them. When the eggs have been removed to some distance, it has been noticed to go towards them, take them up again, and move off with them, showing that these animals so low in structure, and apparently deprived of all instinct, (if any animal can be supposed to be without it,) really watch over their young. A Sea-egg or two will be great pets. Of shells we should select specimens of the Fwus or Spindle shell, their bright red feet rendering them very attractive, as they crawl up the sides of the tank; the less rare Murex; Top shells or Turbo; Trochi or Hoop shells to keep down the confervoid growths which otherwise would dim the glass sides of the Aquarium, small Haliotideæ or Ear-shells; some of the Bonnet Limpets, the lovely gaudily-colored Aviculas; (Geelong), Chitons, and others which we cannot mention here.

With a small pocket lens, or with the Portable Microscope which Mr. Warrington has invented for the easier examination of living objects contained in glass bottles or Aquaria, not a day or an hour will pass without something new being discovered, fresh beauties coming to light, which will amply repay any labour