352 The Scottish Naturalist. 



But I will now pass on from the mere pecuniary aspect of the 

 scheme to the details of the Aquarium building itself, which I 

 have already indicated is to be built upon the site of the old 

 battery. For some time back a number of workmen have been 

 employed excavating and blasting away the projecting rocks in 

 the neighbourhood for the reservoirs, which are to be situated 

 beneath the building. The plans, which have been prepared 

 by Mr. J. Russel Thompson, under-factor to the Marquis of 

 Bute, were submitted to a meeting of the directors, and ap- 

 proved of by them ; and it is now fully expected that in a month 

 or so active building operations will be commenced. The 

 building, when erected, will show externally a considerable 

 degree of elegance, and all that pertains to the internal aesthetics 

 of the erection will be adornments of the Corinthian order of 

 architecture. The arrangements inside, when finished, will be 

 as follows, viz. : — A large corridor will run from east to west, 

 forming the main area of the building, and will measure 90 feet 

 long by 1 5 feet broad. This room will have sixteen large show- 

 tanks, which will contain the larger specimens of marine and 

 fresh-water animals. These tanks will be arranged along either 

 side of the corridor, as well as the passage leading into it. The 

 largest tank will measure 25 by 8 feet; and the average size of the 

 sixteen show-tanks in the long corridor will be 10 feet square. 

 The tanks are made of slate slabs, with artificial rockwork 

 inside, the fronts being composed of plate glass 1 inch thick. 

 There is no lime or metallic substance used in the construction 

 of the tanks : both of these materials would contaminate the 

 water and poison the animals. The slabs and rockwork are 

 fixed by a process of dovetailing. Some cement is also used in 

 fixing the slabs, in such a manner as not to come into immedi- 

 ate contact with the water. All the piping in connection with 

 the Aquarium is composed of vulcanite or hard India-rubber, 

 these two substances being innocuous, and most suitable for the 

 purpose. 



Twenty small tanks will be arranged in two side rooms, for 

 the reception of smaller specimens of marine and fresh-water 

 animals. These two rooms will each measure 24 by 22 feet, 

 and will enter off the large hall in the centre of the building. 

 There will also be seven probationary or reserve tanks, for storing 

 specimens as they come into the Aquarium. Their essential 

 use, however, is to prove or test any specimen for a few days 

 previous to putting it into the show-tanks. They also serve the 



