MY OWN EXPERTMENTS. 13 



to if desired. The whole tank was covered with a light 

 glass shade to keep out the dust, and retard eva- 

 poration. 



"With the sea-water obtained in January, 1852, 

 I have been working without cessation up to the 

 present time, agitating and aerating when it became 

 foul during the unsuccessful experiments on the sea- 

 weeds, but since then it has been rarely ever disturbed ; 

 the loss which takes place from evaporation being made 

 up, as before stated, with rain or distilled water." 



My own experiments with marine animals and 

 plants were commenced about the same time as Mr. 

 Warington's ; namely, at the end of January, 1852. I 

 was not aware till long afterwards that either that 

 gentleman or any one else had proposed to effect such 

 an object, which had been occupying my mind for 

 some time. My success, which was less perfect than 

 Mr. Warington's, I published in the " Annals of 

 Natural History " for October, 1852, and subsequently 

 in my '' Rambles on the Devonshire Coast." Travel- 

 ling for health, the want of a fixed residence prevented 

 my prosecuting my experiments with sufficient care 

 and perseverance to ensure full success ; besides which, 

 my ultimate object was rather the study of the habits 

 of marine animals, to which end the Marine Aquarium 

 was merely (or at least principally) accessory. 



Mai 



