Page:The aquarium - an unveiling of the wonders of the deep sea.djvu/160

Rh an obvious reason why the head should be affixed to the surface during the dislodgement of the adhering prey, in order to acquire greater steadiness, as well as a leverage by which to act more effectively. What confirms this view, is, that though the fish may continue to be seen, say on the ship's rudder, for hours, it is not continually adhering; but ever and anon shifts its position, detaching itself for a moment, and then adhering again instantly.

Several times lately I have had brought up in the dredge, old valves of the Cockle, Scallop and Oyster, the concave surfaces of which were partly covered with considerable patches of what looked like amber-coloured beads,—such as are used to make bead-purses,—set as close as they could lie, but only in a single layer. They adhere quite firmly to the shell; and I knew that they were the spawn of some fish or crustacean, but was at a loss to know what. On one occasion, in the middle of the summer, I found the little fry escaping, so that the glass vase into which I had dropped the valve, was presently quite peopled with tiny fry; their gelatinous hyaline bodies barely visible, and their presence only indicated by the pair of lustrous, green goggle-eyes, which with the intervening head constituted by far the greatest portion of each little creature

From that charming work "Excursions to Arran," by the Rev. D. Landsborough, D.D., I learn that this spawn was laid by the little Two-spotted Sucker.

There is a phenomenon which has long been noticed