49 



Experience, the dear but thorough teacher, is of more value to 

 every one of us than many rules and precepts. Nothing can rob us 

 of the pleasure that comes of finding things out for ourselves. Much 

 of the fun as well as much of the success in life comes from over- 

 coming its difficulties. One must have a large store of patience and 

 courage and hopefulness to undertake the care of an aquarium. After 

 it is once made it is less trouble to take care of than a canary or a pet 

 rabbit. But most things that are worth doing require patience, cour- 

 age and hopefulness, and if we can add to our store of either by our 

 study of life in an aquarium we are so much the better for it. 



Two kinds of aquaria will be found useful in any school. Perma- 

 nent ones — those which are expected to continue through a season or 

 through a whole year if the schoolroom is warm enough to prevent 

 freezing; and temporary ones — those which are for lesson hours or 

 for the study of special forms. 



If some one phase in the life of any aquatic animal is to be studied 

 during a short period, it is well to have special temporary aquaria. 

 Also when a talk on some of the occupants 

 of the larger aquarium is to be given, speci- 

 mens may be placed in small vessels for the 

 time being and returned later. For such 

 purposes glass tumblers can be used, or 

 small fruit jars, finger bowls, broken goblets 

 set in blocks of wood, ordinary white bowls 

 or dishes, tubs, pails or tanks for large 

 fishes, in fact any wide-mouthed dish which 

 is easy to get. Special suggestions will be 

 made in connection with the study of some 

 of the water insects and others. 



A permanent aquarium need not be an 

 expensive affair. The rectangular ones are 

 best if large fishes are to be kept, but they 

 are not essential. Here again, it is easier 

 to write directions for the construction of a 

 perfect aquarium, than it is for the most 

 patient teacher, with the help of the boys who 



are handy with tools, to put together a box p^^^ ^ _^ ^^^^ _ ^^^^^ 

 C»f wood and glass which will not spring a aquarium. 



