PREFACE 



WE regard the institution of public aquaria as more 

 or less the result of the deeper interest now felt in 

 the life-histories of aquatic animals, consequent upon 

 that extensive knowledge of natural history which 

 is one of the intellectual features of our time. We 

 believe their extension will be greater, on this 

 account, than those people imagine who hold they 

 will share the fate of " spelling bees," &c. That 

 they are a popular means of education none will 

 deny, and the success they have everywhere met 

 with leads us to hope they are serving a good 

 purpose. 



This little volume is intended as a handbook or 

 popular manual to our public aquaria, so as to render 

 them still more effective as a means of education. 

 Their history, construction, and principles of manage- 

 ment have been briefly described, as also the natural 

 history of the chief animals which have been more or 

 less successfully acclimatised. The list of the latter 

 is constantly being extended, and there appears no 



