THE AQUARIUM 



CHAPTER I. 



THE HISTORY OF AQUARIA. 



NOTWITHSTANDING a good deal of quibbling which 

 has taken place respecting the word " Aquarium," 

 there can be no doubt it has now gained its ground, 

 as signifying contrivances for the support of living 

 fresh-water and marine animals under such artificial 

 conditions as resemble their natural surroundings. 

 The word has passed out of the region of philology 

 into that of common parlance, and has now become 

 stereotyped in dictionaries. 



The charming works of P. H. Gosse undoubtedly 

 did much to make aquarium keeping popular about 

 twenty-three years ago. Everyone who loved nature 

 could not help feeling attracted towards the lovely 

 objects, which he showed were so abundant on our 

 coast, after his animated descriptions of them. To 

 a great extent this was in advance of the natural 

 science ol the time, and although it was the means 



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