192 THE VIVARIUM. 
and convenient. Such a recess as the one I am speaking of often 
contains a cupboard which fills the whole space, or two cupboards, 
one above the other, or one which only occupies the lower part of 
the recess. 
I will suppose that the last arrangement suggested is the exist- 
ing one, and will describe what should be done in order to con- 
struct a Vivarium under such circumstances. The top of the cup- 
board forms a very convenient resting-place on which to stand the 
lamp used for heating the case above. The two bottoms of the 
Vivarium should be made according to the directions given for the 
case just treated of ; that is, the lower or real bottom should be 
made of strong wood and sheet iron, and the upper or false’ 
bottom of perforated zinc. There must be a space of at least 4in. 
between the two bottoms, or the perforated zinc may get so hot 
at times as to scorch the Snakes lying immediately above the 
lamp. The lowest part of the Vivarium—that is, the sheet of 
iron—ought to be so high above the existing cupboard as to allow 
the top of the chimney of the lamp it is decided to use, while 
standing on the cupboard, to reach within about 2in. of the sheet 
iron it is intended to heat. For convenience a lamp should be 
chosen for this purpose which will burn for rather more than 
twenty-four hours without attention. I prefer a small lamp in 
which a circular wick is used, as this seems to give a great 
quantity of heat in proportion to oil consumed. Gas, of course, 
can be utilised instead of a paraffin lamp. 
This case should be made of the same proportions as the one 
last described. It may extend to the ceiling of the room or not: 
this naturally depends upon such circumstances as the loftiness 
of the room and the taste of the owner. If the case be not built 
up to the ceiling of the room, it should be provided with a roof 
and a perforated zinc door, as already suggested for the former 
Vivarium. The front of the Vivarium should be formed of two 
doors, meeting at the centre of the case. The framework ought 
to be made strongly of wood, and glazed with stout plate-glass. 
The bottom of these doors must be level with the false bottom of 
perforated zinc: cleaning purposes make this a necessity. One 
door, preferably the left, is fastened at the top and bottom by 
two small bolts, made for such purposes. To this door, that on 
