groves; while Peterkin wallowed at the surface, and tried
occasionally to kick us as we passed below. Having dressed, I then
hastened to the tank; but what was my surprise and grief to find
nearly all the animals dead, and the water in a putrid condition!
I was greatly distressed at this, and wondered what could be the
cause of it.

"Why, you precious humbug," said Peterkin, coming up to me, "how
could you expect it to be otherwise? When fishes are accustomed to
live in the Pacific Ocean, how can you expect them to exist in a
hole like that?"

"Indeed, Peterkin," I replied, "there seems to be truth in what you
say. Nevertheless, now I think of it, there must be some error in
your reasoning; for, if I put in but a few very small animals, they
will bear the same proportion to this pond that the millions of
fish bear to the ocean."

"I say, Jack," cried Peterkin, waving his hand, "come here, like a
good fellow. Ralph is actually talking philosophy. Do come to our
assistance, for he's out o' sight beyond me already!"

"What's the matter?" inquired Jack, coming up, while he endeavoured
to scrub his long hair dry with a towel of cocoa-nut cloth.

I repeated my thoughts to Jack, who, I was happy to find, quite
agreed with me. "Your best plan," he said, "will be to put very
few animals at first into your tank, and add more as you find it
will bear them. And look here," he added, pointing to the sides of
the tank, which, for the space of two inches above the water-level,