And like the stars, they were intolerant of sunlight; and slumbering through the day, the people of Tupia only went abroad by night.

But it was chiefly when the moon was at full, that they were mostly in spirits.
"Then the little manikins would dive down into the sea, and rove about in the coral groves, making love to the mermaids.

Or, racing round, make a mad merry night of it with the sea-urchins:--plucking the reverend mullets by the beard; serenading the turtles in their cells; worrying the sea-nettles; or tormenting with their antics the touchy torpedos.

Sometimes they went prying about with the starfish, that have an eye at the end of each ray; and often with coral files in their hands stole upon slumbering swordfish, slyly blunting their weapons.

In short, these stout little manikins were passionately fond of the sea, and swore by wave and billow, that sooner or later they would embark thereon in nautilus shells, and spend the rest of their roving days thousands of inches from Tupia.