224 



HARDWICKES SCIENCE-GOS SIP. 



cerned, but were open to two rather serious ob- 

 jectioris. 1st. The attention required by the four 

 pans was much more than would have been neces- 

 sary for one large tank ; and 2nd, the weed, when 

 it grew well, floated on the top of the water, and 

 effectually hid the anemones from view. As it was 

 only possible to see them from above— except 

 through the sides of the milkpan, which, being 

 thick aiid uneven, gave a very indistinct view— this 

 was a great drawback, and I therefore began to 

 consider what sort of a tank I could make to 

 answer all my requirements. Just at this time I 

 happened to see a handsome aquarium, purchased 

 by a friend, the bottom, sides, and back of which 

 were slate and the front plate-glass, and it occurred 

 to me that if stout wood were substituted for the 

 slate, and a good waterproofing material found to 

 protect it, a very cheap and serviceable tank might 

 be obtained. 



Fig. 155. Simple form of Marine Aquarium. 



Having consulted a carpenter, and put the matter 

 into his hands, he produced the tank represented 

 by the accompanying sketch. The back and sides 

 are of half-inch wood dovetailed together, to which 

 Ihe bottom, of rather thicker wood, is screwed. The 

 inside is coated with pitch about the eighth of an 

 inch thick, and the plate-glass front is put in with 

 what is technically called " a rabbit and bead," hot 

 pitch having been first run into the " rabbit," and 

 the glass pressed well into it. A wide bead round 

 the top protects the upper edge of the glass, and 

 adds to the general appearance, and two coats of 

 black paint and varnish made the whole present- 

 able. This tank, which measures 19 in. x 17 in. 

 X 9 in., can be made by any carpenter, and the 

 cost of his labour and materials, pitch, plate-glass, 

 &c., should not exceed 15s. 



Before using the tank I seasoned it for a week 

 with fresh water, and have since had it in use for 

 three months with a family of thirty anemones of 

 various sizes (the common smooth anemones and 

 "daisies"), and half a dozen roots of ulva, entero- 

 morpha, &c. No leakage has taken place since the 

 first week, and the pitch has no injurious effect 

 upon the water, which is perfectly clear and good. 



Of course slate tanks are preferable for those 

 who can afford them, as they keep the water at a 



more uniform temperature, but I find a judicious 

 management of the window-blind sufiicient to keep 

 my tank in good working order. 



J. E. Edwabds. 



THE COMMON OR VIVIPAROUS LIZARD. 



[Zootoca vivipara.) 



"pERHAPS one of the chief attractions offered by 

 -*- nature to the observant individual, is that 

 which enables him to enter into the study of the 

 habits of animals, to identify himself, as it were, 

 with the joys or sufferings of some pet, and feel 

 that that pet depends upon him for existence. With 

 this understanding the following notes, carefully 

 made, may interest a few in the little world of 

 observers above hinted at. 



During a mid-day ramble in May last, I was 

 startled by some animal rushing suddenly into the 

 grass at my feet. Peeling sure of some species of 

 mouse, I gave chase, and soon succeeded in captur- 

 ing a male specimen of the above lizard, which^ 

 although lame with one foot, was evidently endowed 

 with no small amount of activity, for his tail and 

 body underwent such a hearty wriggling, that one 

 can hardly wonder that they sometimes part com- 

 pany. In the present instance, however, the 

 creature seemed to decline parting with his tail, and 

 has adhered to the resolution ever since, although 

 we genei'ally lift him up by it when exhibiting him 

 to friends. His appearance was decidedly pleasing 

 at first sight ; a slender body with a snake-like 

 head, eyes like black beads, set in orange-coloured 

 rings, a tapering tail longer than the body, claws 

 long and exquisitely delicate, and the brilliant tints 

 on the throat, went to makeup a form wiiich struck 

 me as being almost unique, and so I determined 

 upon keeping him. No evil consequences prevented 

 my lodging the prisoner in a deal box, 9 in. long by 

 G in. broad, and 5 deep, placing a piece of glass 

 loosely on the top, so as to allow freedom of air, 

 and letting him run into a bundle of dry grass. 

 These have been the arrangements for his lodging 

 ever since, and answer admirably. I am aware of 

 the advantage possessed by keepers of ferns and 

 vivaria, and to any one who purposes keeping 

 lizards, would recommend a good fern-case in 

 preference to my wooden box. Plenty of water is 

 generally a safe conclusion to come to where 

 reptiles are concerned, and although the one under 

 consideration does not often enter the wafer bodily, 

 it is necessary to keep plenty within reach, as he 

 can drink, a fact which some amateurs are liable to 

 overlook. 



The question of food puzzled me at the outset. 

 The reptile would not eat flies, grubs, spiders, nor 

 indeed anything. The excitement of the past few 

 hours appeared to have affected him considerably, 



