far, so good," said the Captain, placing some bits of rock in the
background, which, leaning against each other, formed so many small
caverns. "These will do for those crabs, which Master Bob insists on
having, to retreat to when some of the other fry pay them too much
attention."

On the right and left of the aquarium the old sailor dexterously built
up larger pieces of rock-work, intermixed with bits of red seaweed that
grows in the form of a feathery plume, called by naturalists the
"bryopsis plumosa," than which no more graceful marine plant can be
found.

Close to this and serving as a contrast, the Captain placed the green
laver he had made Nell pick up at the last moment when they were leaving
Seaview and running to catch the steamer.

"This chap, styled the `ulva latissima' by the scientific gentlemen who
manufacture such titles, is a capital thermometer," said the Captain on
putting in the laver. "You'll find he'll always rise to the surface
when the weather is bright and sunny; while he sinks back to the bottom,
as I've put him now, on its being damp and overcast."

In the more immediate foreground, a number of little starfish squatted
about on the miniature strand that shelved down from the rocks, arranged
with much care to the general spectacular effect by Nellie, who was most
painstaking in the matter.

To be introduced into this very select marine retreat, the anemones had
to go through similar ablutions to the sand and the shells, as well as
other things, all of them being at the outset cleansed with the greatest
care. When, however, this was done and the actinea put into their
future home, the aquarium blossomed out into a garden of live flowers,
whose tentacles of various colours resembled so many chrysanthemums,
dahlias, and daisies, of the most gorgeous hues ever seen on Nature's
palette!

Of course, the actinea did not make themselves at home in their new
lodgings and disclose their beauties all at once; but, in a few days,
none of them having been hurt by Bob's knife, they seemed to have become
acclimatised, putting out the petals of their flower-like bodies as
freely as when in their native pools at Seaview. So, too, did a
beautiful rose and white dianthus, which Dick had picked up adhering to
an ugly old oyster-shell; and, the even rarer anthea, whose long hanging
filaments were never altogether withdrawn into its body when disturbed,
as was the case with the other sea-anemones, and wh