OF SEA-ANEMONES. 67 



But, lest in my desire to avoid the Cliarybdis of the 

 meaningless rule-systems of quackery, I fall into the 

 Scylla of vagueness and inaccuracy, I will add a few 

 directions which shall enable the reader to carry out 

 these life-principles with as little expense and trouble 

 as may be possible. 



First, let me speak of the receptacle in which we 

 intend the animals to flourish. For general purposes 

 there is nothing like glass, and among vessels of all 

 shapes and sizes the best is the ordinary finger-glass 

 of our dinner-tables ; a few pebbles in the bottom of 

 it, and a light paper cap to shield it at times from 

 light and dust, will render it ready for use : tumblers 

 of thin common glass are good for small specimens : 

 confectioners' show-glasses are not to be despised, 

 especially when we desire to contrast the long green 

 fronds of the Ulra with the vivid colours of our sea- 

 flowers. My beau ideal of a receptacle to stand on 

 the naturalist's study- table is a glass (of the thinnest 

 and whitest material), 9 inches in diameter, 4 in 

 depth, with a perfectly flat bottom, and standing on 

 a foot-stalk of 3 inches in height, to admit of the 

 working of a small reflector beneath. A square glass 

 trough of similar dimensions might be in some 

 respects superior, though not so durable. It may be 

 constructed of slips of plate-glass, cemented together 

 wdth " marine " * or *' liquid" glue. 



* To make mariue glue, dissolve caoutchouc in oil of coal-tar, 

 and add two parts by weight of shellac for each part of the solution. 

 The composition is to be used at a heat of 228° Falir. 



