t--are the worst
of all, but since they live only in South American rivers, I suppose
they won't bother you much."

"As long as I don't find any in the fish-trap," said Colin, laughing, as
Mr. Wadreds nodded and went on his way, "I won't mind, and I'd just as
soon not have to handle any dogfish that swallow lobster-pots as a
habit, but if I do I'll come to you for help."

All in all, Colin thought Woods Hole the most interesting place in which
he had ever been. Unlike other summer resorts, a spirit of earnest vigor
pervaded the little settlement. The houses nestled in the wooded low
hills behind the town, and though so near the sea, flowers could be made
to grow luxuriantly, as a famous and beautiful rose garden bore witness.
To the southeast, over a spit of land that was little wider than a
causeway, the road ran to the Marine Biological Laboratory and the
Bureau of Fisheries station, holding their commanding positions
overlooking the harbor. The great government pier smacked of the stormy
sea, for it was used also by the Lighthouse Service and huge red buoys
lay in dozens on it awaiting their hour to warn the tempest-driven
mariner of the perils that lay below them.

Nearer in, where the pier was severed from the shore, the opening being
crossed by a short swing bridge, was a small inclosed inner harbor where
lay the launches and boats of the two laboratories. Upon the shore
itself was a stone-walled tank, set between the Residence building and
the Laboratory proper, and therein large fish which had been caught in
traps or elsewhere, and which were too big for the indoor tanks, flitted
as dark shadows within the pool. Smaller fish were in the Aquarium in
the first floor of the laboratory opposite the wide space where stood
the serried rows of hatching troughs.

Here were many most interesting fish--among them that constant delight
of the landsman, the puffer, which, when disturbed, rapidly inflates
itself, rising to the surface of the water until it becomes apparently
so large a mouthful that its would-be devourer is fooled into believing
the morsel too big to swallow. Then, the danger removed, the puffer
releases the gulped-down water and swims away. Here also were strange
fish, like the eighteen-spined sculpin and the sea-robin, walking over
the bottom on three free rays of each of the pectoral fins. Upon the top
story of the same building were preserved in a rough museum various
other strange forms, not all fro