INTRODUCTION. 19 



injurious to the water, it is best to clean off all spongy 

 matter from marine stones on inserting them. Alcyonium 

 digitatum (Plate Y.) is very pretty, but soon dies. 



Transjport of Specimens. 



Most small animals suited for the Aquarium may be, and 

 constantly are, brought to London from any part of the 

 seacoast, in jars of sea-water, with bladders tied over them ; 

 or packed up in bundles of wet seaweeds gathered from the 

 beach. Dealers obtain them in this way. I have been at 

 Lloyd^s when many Anemones and other things have been 

 brought in, unpacked, and immediately placed in their proper 

 receptacles, where they have soon made themselves at home, 

 apparently not having suffered from the journey. I think, 

 as a rule, that persons living near London had better let the 

 dealers get their specimens for them : it is a cheaper and 

 safer plan. 



Care of the Aquarium. 



When the Water- Vivarium is first established, there will 

 naturally occur during the few first days some deaths among 

 animals so recently introduced. It is very important to 

 watch for these occurrences, and to remove the bodies before 



