ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



735 



SECTIONAL VIEW OF THE l.ENS CABINET. 



ranged. The plans for this exhibition cabinet, 

 which are entirely our own, ma^' be of interest 

 and the details are given herewith. A four- 

 compartment case was constructed, each com- 

 partment measuring two feet broad by two feet 

 high by one and one-half feet in depth (front 

 to back). In the front of each is a sliding door 

 in which is set a window for the transparent 

 explanatory sign. This door can be lifted to 

 jiermit the attendant to arrange the specimens 

 in the exhibit. The lens set in the lower sta- 

 tionary part of the front, is a five-inch reading 

 glass with a magnification of about two to three 

 diameters. 



A small aquarium jar is |)laced within the 

 compartment in such a position that the animals 

 in it will be in proper focus. The jar which 

 we have found best suited for our purpose is a 

 straight sided, all-glass aquarium about twelve 

 by twelve by four inches. If the aquarium is 

 too small it will not hold sufficient water to keep 

 the inmates alive and in good condition for very 

 long, while too large a jar will allow free-mov- 

 ing animals to get out of focus readily. 



On the back wall of the compartment is placed 

 an electric light with a reflector. This throws 

 the light upon the specimens and at the same 

 time illuminates the transparent information 

 card above. The inside of the compartment is 

 painted white to reflect as much light as possi- 

 ble. Each compartment is lighted separately 

 so that if one is temporarilj' empty the lens and 

 sign are not illuminated. 



The compartments are open above and in the 



bottom behind the aquarium jars is a coarse wire 

 screen which permits a free circulation of air 

 behind the jars to prevent them from becoming 

 too highly heated by the lights. 



The transparent label is placed high enough 

 above the lens so that while one person is view- 

 ing the specimen those behind can read the ac- 

 count of it. The whole cabinet is mounted on 

 legs and set against the wall and so takes up 

 but little space. A shelf a foot wide projects 

 forward below the lenses, serving to prevent 

 people from pressing against the glass. 



In this way we have been able to exhibit the 

 following in the siiort time since the cabinet 

 was completed. 



Mosquito larvae and adults ; hydroids — Pen- 

 naria and Tiihnlana; sea anemones — Sa^artia, 

 etc. ; Star Coral, Astrangia; Shrimp, Crangon 

 vulgaris; small jelly fishes, and comb jellies; 

 Brijozoa, — BugJn and Amathio; Horseshoe crab, 

 young; small Crustacea, — Gammarus, etc. 



R. C. O. 



THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA. 



THE literature of mytiiology is full of refer- 

 ences to aquatic monsters, usuallv ))art hu- 

 man and part fish, and practically all primi- 

 tive peoples have believed or still believe in some 

 of tiicse marine creatures of the imagination. 

 They have often been worshipped as deities but 

 more often feared as demons or as omens of 



THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA. 



