SHAPES OF AQUARIA. 
BY HUGO MULERRT. 
Any kind of a vessel that holds water 
and the material of which does not 
affect the water, may be used to harbor 
a collection of aquatic plants and ani- 
mals. 
For the cultivation of water lilies, or 
other water plants, whose beautiful 
flowers or leaves are the principal points 
of attraction, or for the keeping of 
turtles, wooden tubs meet all the re- 
quirements. But when one wishes to 
keep fish in order to enjoy their grace- 
ful motions or study their shapes and 
habits, a vessel that admits a view from 
the side, a transparent glass vessel, is 
necessary. Fishes must be seen as they 
see one another, not from the top, as 
such a view gives an incorrect idea of 
the fish. Think how different a per- 
son looks when seen from a fourth or 
fifth story window on the sidewalk, and 
when one meets the same person on 
the same level, or meets him in his own 
house where he is perfectly at ease. We 
find just as much difference in fish 
when kept in lakes and fountain basins 
as in glass-sided acquaria. 
The old-fashioned fish globe has seen 
its day; they are still manufactured, to 
be sure, but the manufacturers have 
greatly improved on them. The shape 
of the new globe, the so-called ‘‘ new 
pattern globe,”’ is not quite so round as 
the former ones, being more in shape of 
a Japanese jardiniere, the widest part 
being nearthe top. They are a decided 
improvement on the old style, and fill 
the bill, as a cheap round aquarium 
intended for decoration, very well. 
For observation and study the sides 
must be straight. Our pictures illus- 
trate some very attractive patterns for 
window decoration, or forasmall table. 
Next to these come the plain rectan- 
gular tanks. These may be made all 
of one piece of glass, shaped in a form 
while in a soft state, or they may con- 
sist of a metal frame, into which the 
bottom and side and end glasses are 
cemented. The latter ones have the 
advantage that whena glass breaks, it 






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Faience Aquaria. 
can be replaced by a new one, which 
cannot be done when the tank is made 
of one piece only. 
We have previously given instructions 
how such tanks may be made with a 
small outlay out of angle iron, but 
for those who prefer to buy ready-made 
ones, or fitted frames without the glass, 
we have someonhand. ‘They are made 
in two sizes at present, viz.: 11% inches 
high, 7'%4 inches wide, and 14% inches 
long. The dimensions of the second 
size are the same, with the exception of 
the length, which is 21 inches, all in- 
side measures. They are perfectly plain 
tanks, made of the very best material, 
