Guess the thrill of pride, then, which ran through my veins when, on peering into my mimic rock-pool, after a brief absence from home, I observed the largest of my Blennies to be apparently in an 'interesting condition.' I watched and petted her many times daily, and fed her with every suitable dainty that could be thought of. Sometimes I took her in the palm of my hand, and with a fine camel-hair pencil stroked her glossy back. This operation evidently gave great delight to the little beauty; and after a while, when my hand was laid in the water, she gently floated off into her native element with almost swan-like grace.
The law of nature being the same with this fish as with the Stickleback, I knew the nest, if there was to be one at all, should be built by the male. But as I could not detect any specimen of the 'sterner sex' among my pack, and there being no signs of preparation for the grand event about to take place, I felt in a manner compelled to carry out the nidifying task in my own humble way. Of course, I gave up all idea of 'weaving' a nest with bits of weed, stones, and marine glue; nor was such a style of structure a desideratum in the present instance, wanting, as I did, to take notes, in Paul Pry fashion, of the minutest particular that might occur within the building. The following was the plan I adopted. First was procured the exquisitely formed valve of a large Pecten, the interior of which was white and beautifully irridescent. This pretty cot, I said to myself, shall serve as a chamber for my protégé. The shell being deposited behind a piece of rock, in such a position that its side rested against the surface of the glass, I was thus enabled to watch what was going on within. Some fronds of sea-weed were trained around so as to form a kind of drapery. The Blenny, I am quite certain, knew perfectly well that all this care and preparation was on her account, for nearly the whole of each day she spent in the novel apartment extemporized for her accommodation. After a week had elapsed, she grew uneasy and pettish, was ever snapping at her companions, and hunting them about in all directions. On one occasion, however, she seemed to be uneasy, now clashing round the rock, then darting to the top of the tank, and down again upon the pebbles. Scores of times these movements were repeated, until I felt alarmed for her safety, and annoyed at my inability to relieve her sufferings. But aid from me being impossible, I felt compelled, though very unwillingly, to allow nature to take its course.
On looking into the aquarium one morning, I observed some strange object protruding from the fish. The little creature, too, on catching sight of me, came to the side of the tank, near to where I stood, and by her movements asked me, as plainly as any dumb animal could ask, to give her my assistance. After a few minutes spent in a 'brown study', I resolved to grant her petition, and immediately setting to work, drew from her—what? what do you suppose, reader? In truth neither more nor less than the body, head, and long antennæ of the 'martyr' Hermit-Crab! whose late sudden disappearance was now fully accounted for.
There are ten British species of Lobster-Crab, but one only, P. Bernardhus, to which the reader has been introduced, is common to our shores.