45 



for all the things died." In giving instructions as to how to start an aquarium, 

 he always laid particular stress upon getting the tank ready, and letting the 

 plants grow in it for some days before the living inmates were introduced. The 

 trouble would be amply repaid, for there were many developmental stages in 

 the life-history of the creatures which were most interesting ; and one need not 

 even go as far as the seaside to seek objects, [for Mr Lloyd had told him that he 

 used at one time to go round in the neighbourhood of Smithfield, and when he 

 came to a large oyster stall, he examined the shells, and often found beautiful 

 little specimens upon them, and he had found even Crassicornis upon shells, 

 as well as alga?. He recommended an examination of shells dredged up from a 

 great depth as being very likely to yield specimens of much interest. 



The President suggested that there was a way of keeping water a long time 

 from putrescence by putting into it a mass of charcoal (by preference animal 

 charcoal). And with respect to objects found upon the oyster shells, he might 

 mention that he had recently found many excellent specimens upon the shell of 

 the Pecten maximns, which was very abundant in London at the present time. 



Mr. W. W. Jones thought that the best way to add the iodides and bromides 

 to artificial sea water would be to put seaweeds into it. 

 Mr. Russell inquired what was the best mode of feeding ? 

 Dr. Foulerton asked if Mr. White had found any inconvenience from the great 

 alterations in temperature which must occur in an aquarium. The deep sea was 

 not subject to any great range of temperature, but water kept in a room in 

 small quantities must get hot or cold according to the temperature of the air. 



Mr. White, in reply, said that with regard to feeding, the creatures might be 

 allowed to go a month without food, the only thing being that they would in 

 that case be found to diminish somewhat in size. He had found in practice that 

 it was best to feed them once a fortnight, and the best food was an oyster well 

 washed and cut up into small pieces ; if the creatures did not take it directly it 

 was a sign they were not hungry, and the food should be removed at once to 

 prevent it from polluting the water. As regarded temperature, some persons 

 thought this an important matter, and recommended a thermometer, but this 

 to others appeared to make the thing complicated. He had himself only a 

 specific gravity ball, and had not " gone in" for a thermometer, because he 

 found that the aquarium flourished very well without it. 



Mr. Russell had not done much with marine aquaria, but could speak from 

 experience as to fresh water, and he found that variation of temperature 

 was necessary, and that in a confined room it was necessary also to aerate 

 the water constantly, and he did this by bringing down a small pipe from 

 the cistern so as to discharge a fine jet with some force through the water. 

 He found also that the weed would not grow properly until he put it out of 

 doors. The variation of temperature between day and night he believed to be 

 necessary, and certainly he had never found it to act prejudicially upon the 

 animals. Overstocking was a very great evil- He had found that it was of 

 great advantage to put in odd pieces of rock for shelter. The study of an 

 aquarium was one of so much interest, that he strongly recommended those 

 who had not done so to launch out in that direction. 



Mr. White said he did not intend at all to discountenance the use of rock- 

 work, but he did very much deprecate the fanciful erections one often saw, 

 giving a tea-garden appearance to some aquaria. Eockwork itself he liked 

 very much ; it not only gave shelter, but it also increased the superficial surface 

 of the bottom, and helped the growth of vegetation, which was so necessary 

 for aeration. 



