35° The Scottish Naturalist. 



Europe, as a means of advancing science, and of affording a 

 ready means of popular instruction in the natural history of 

 marine and fresh water animals. 



Professor Owen says that " An Aquarium of adequate extent, 

 well stocked and skilfully managed, is a means of imparting a 

 knowledge of the colours, movements, food, and habits of 

 aquatic- animals to spectators, who in no other way could get 

 such knowledge, and enjoy so interesting a spectacle of nature." 

 And again, Professor Edward Forbes has written that, — " The 

 naturalist whose acquaintance is confined to preserved specimens 

 in a cabinet, can form but a vague idea of the glorious variety 

 of nature, of the wisdom displayed in the building up of the 

 atoms of matter to be the houses of life and intellect ; and 

 unless we study the creatures living around us, how can we 

 gain that delightful knowledge ? " 



Through the energy of the members of the Archaeological 

 and Physical Society of Bute, an Aquarium company, limited, 

 has been promoted and carried into effect. The object of the 

 company is to provide a marine and fresh water aquarium 

 (to be erected on the site of the old battery, East Bay, 

 Rothesay), which will not only be subservient to the study of 

 aquatic animals, and the advancement of natural science, but 

 also add considerably to the attractions of the town. 



The many natural advantages that Rothesay enjoys, and which 

 no inland place can have, render it peculiarly suitable for such 

 a purpose ; e.g., the sea-water to fill the tanks is at hand, 

 costing a mere trifle, and fish, zoophytes, &c, of all kinds 

 abound in the waters of the Firth of Clyde, and can be had at 

 a cheap rate. 



After the society had duly considered the matter, it was 

 arranged to start a limited liability company, to be registered 

 under the Companies Acts of 1862 and 1867, with a share capi- 

 tal of ^5000, in a 1000 shares of £$ each, with the power of call- 

 ing up ^2000 more if required. Mr. W. A. Lloyd, who is manager 

 of the Crystal Palace Aquarium, and who is consulting naturalist 

 and engineer to the Rothesay Aquarium Company, is of opinion, 

 " That a sum of from ^3000 to ^4000 can be made to com- 

 fortably lodge, even with some degree of elegance of appoint- 

 ment, all the aquatic non-lung breathing animals of Britain, both 

 marine and fresh-water, and all those that can be at present got 

 from abroad." 



The site upon which the building is to be erected, has been 



