FORM OF AQUARIUM. O 



long ago the expansive force of steam ; but it required 

 the united genius of many mighty minds to realize 

 the steam-engine. The facts above narrated have 

 been long enough sufficiently well known ; but we are 

 indebted to the patient inquiries of Mr. Warington 

 and Mr. Gosse for those practical instructions, which 

 introduced into our drawing-rooms the most elegant 

 productions of the ocean, and enabled the student of 

 Creation, at his own fireside, to carry out observa- 

 tions of deep importance, both to the Natural His- 

 torian and the Physiologist, which heretofore were 

 scarcely possible even on the seashore. It is to these 

 gentlemen, therefore, we must principally have re- 

 course for information as to the manner in which our 

 Aquaria should be constructed and prepared. 



The form of aquarium which, after some years' 

 experience and observation on the various animated 

 tenants of these miniature seas, Mr. Warington has 

 now adopted, consists of a four-sided vessel, having the 

 back gradually sloping upwards from the bottom, at 

 an angle of 45 to 50 degrees, and the consequently 

 extended top sloping slightly downwards, and resting 

 on the upper part of the back. The bottom therefore 

 becomes necessarily narrow. The front, for the pur- 

 poses of observation, and the top, for the admission 

 of light, are of glass; the back, ends and bottom 

 being constructed of slate, the whole fixed in a stout 

 framework. 



The advantages of this arrangement are, 



First, that it allows of a most extended view of the 

 whole interior of the aquarium. 



Secondly, that it enables the occupants to resort to 



