# The Aquarium (Gosse)

THE AQUARIUM.
Pl. I.
P. H. Gosse. del. Hanhart Chromo lith.
THE ANCIENT WRASSE
THE AQUARIUM:
AN
UNVEILING OF THE
WONDERS OF THE DEEP SEA.
BY
PHILIP HENRY GOSSE, A.L.S. ETC.
"The sea is HIS, and He made it."—Ps. xcv. 5.
LONDON: JOHN VAN VOORST, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCLIV.
PREFACE.
The habits of animals will never be thoroughly known till they are observed in detail. Nor is it sufficient to mark them with attention now and then; they must be closely watched, their various actions carefully noted, their behaviour under different circumstances, and especially those movements which seem to us mere vagaries, undirected by any suggestible motive or cause, well examined. A rich fruit of result, often most curious and unexpected, and often singularly illustrative of peculiarities of structure, will, I am sure, reward any one who studies living animals in this way. The most interesting parts, by far, of published natural history, are those minute, but most graphic particulars, which have been gathered by an attentive watching of individual animals. Many examples crowd up to my mind;—Wilson's picture of the Mocking-bird; Vigors's of the Toucan; Broderip's of his Beaver "Binny;" Wollaston's of the Water–Shrew; Bennett's of the Bird of Paradise, and multitudes more.
It is true that observations of this kind make us acquainted rather with an individual than with a species; and long experience has convinced me that this is not a distinction without a difference. There is an idiosyncrasy in the inferior animals, I am persuaded,—not so great or varied, probably, as in Man, since the more highly any faculty is developed, the more susceptible it is of ​modification but—sufficient to communicate individuality of character, and to make the actions of one animal to differ, in some degree, from those of another of the same species, under similar circumstances. We commonly think of the features of one Deer, or Sparrow, or Crab, as exact counterparts of those of every other Deer, or Sparrow, or Crab; yet a shepherd is able to distinguish every Sheep of his flock by its face; those who are conversant with Horses can readily detect diversities in the expression of their eye or mouth, scarcely less marked than in their human acquaintances; and I have myself noticed the same distinctness in birds. When I was in Jamaica, I could tell one from another of the wild Doves in my cages, by their expression of countenance alone, though perfectly alike in colouring. Doubtless this individuality would be much more generally perceived, if our observations on animals were not so loose and cursory as they usually are. And if it exists in the features, we might reasonably infer a parallel diversity in mind (by which I mean a faculty distinct from, but co-existent with, instinct) in them, even if direct observation did not detect it.
But, bearing in mind that records thus obtained of the manners of animals are properly biographical, belonging to the individual more strictly than to the species, it is manifest that these must be the foundation of all our correct generalization. Nor are they in themselves unworthy of careful regard, as those will allow who know the value of human Biography. Shakspeare and Scott, who treat of man as an individual, are not inferior in their walk of science, to Reid and Stewart, who describe him as a species.
The inhabitants of the deep sea have hitherto been almost inaccessible to such observation as this; and hence exceedingly little has been accumulated of their Biography. A paragraph went the round of the papers some months ​ago, to the effect that an eminent French zoologist, in order to prosecute his studies on the marine animals of the Mediterranean, had provided himself with a water-tight dress, suitable spectacles, and a breathing tube; so that he might walk on the bottom in a considerable depth of water, and mark the habits of the various creatures pursuing their avocations.
Whether a scheme so elaborate was really attempted I know not; but I should anticipate feeble results from it. The Marine Aquarium, however, bids fair to supply the required opportunities, and to make us acquainted with the strange creatures of the sea, without diving to gaze on them. In this volume I offer to the world a small earnest, just the first fruits, of what may be looked for, in increased knowledge of natural history, from this invention.
In some respects the present Volume may be considered as a sequel and continuation of my "Rambles on the Devonshire Coast;" inasmuch as it is conversant with similar objects, and as I have made it assume somewhat of the form of a personal narrative; sufficient, at least, to constitute a link of connexion between myself and my reader, not only in the things described, but also in the feelings they excite in my own mind.
But the subjects of the present work are principally deep-sea animals, as those of the former were chiefly littoral; and even where the sphere of observation is the same, the observations themselves are quite distinct, and have to do with different creatures. A certain degree of family likeness must prevail in all out-of-door natural history; but so vast, and almost illimitable, is the field of labour, that industry and faithfulness will always be rewarded by fresh and interesting results.
The following pages embrace a brief History of the Marine Aquarium, as an application of scientific principles ​to a definite object;—my own Experience in collecting animals and plants, with Instructions founded thereon;—copious Details of the peculiar habits and instincts of such species as I have observed in confinement;—Sketches of scenery, of local customs and manners, and of personal adventure, made during the prosecution of the employment; and, finally, an arranged chapter of Directions for the construction, preparation, stocking, and maintenance of a Marine Aquarium.
The Plates which illustrate this volume are its principal peculiarity. I have endeavoured,—in a manner hitherto,I believe, unattempted,—to represent marine animals, with their beauty of form and brilliance of colour, in their proper haunts, surrounded by sub-marine rocks and elegant sea-weeds, as these appear when transferred to an Aquarium. They have been printed from stone by Messrs. Hanhart, who have not spared all the resources of that beautiful art of which they are the acknowledged masters, in reproducing my original drawings.
The wood-engravings are by Messrs. Whymper, and represent the Coast-scenery in the vicinity of Weymouth.
P. H. G.
London: April, 1854.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER XI.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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