35 
who wished to see it. This was over thirty years ago, and that I still 
have the Aquarium in almost as good condition as when I purchased 
it, is, I think, sufficient evidence that it was well adapted for its pur- 
pose. It is a comparatively small one, being only fifteen by nine 
inches. I think I may say it has done its full share in the way of 
attracting attention to " Life below the water." The first great difficulty 
I had to contend with was the multiplicity of objects that were brought 
to me for it by my cadets. 
You would be astonished if I were to give you all the varied sug- 
gestions that were made respecting what should constitute the floor of 
the tank, some recommending small pebbles, others, gravel or sand, 
till finally a compromise was effected to tn*e satisfaction of all, by giving 
each of the proposed materials its own place. Experience afterwards 
showed that a little clean river sand is the safest ground work for all 
purposes. Then there was the natural inquisitiveness of boyhood to 
combat. Whilst the novelty was at its height, the inmates were subjected 
to all sorts of ordeals, such as poking up with a stick, to see if they 
were lively ; and a continual desire was evinced to handle them. Over- 
feeding was one of the most trying evils to contend against, for the 
superfluity of bread and meat supplied, in all good intent, for the use of 
the inmates, had a tendency to sour and discolor the water, and to create> 
when overdoses were administered, a fermentation by no means conducive 
to vitality. However, for the sake of encouraging research and creating 
amongst the cadets an interest in my Aquarium, I would naturally put 
up with all these little inconveniences, removing as soon as possible 
when left to myself, all extraneous matters from the water, and by 
frequent use of the siphon withdrawing the disturbed contents to be 
replaced with fresh, healthy, spring water, In a very little time the 
Aquarium ceased to be a wonder and became an object of interest, and 
so my point was gained. 
I well remember its first inmate, which was the larva of a Dragon-fly, 
the various stages of whose subaqueous life were of continual .interest, 
and great was the astonishment one day, when only an empty case was 
found attached to the stalk of the water weeds, its inmate having taken 
to itself wings and disappeared. The locality afforded a splendid field 
for collecting, as the Croton River emptied into the Hudson within a 
