44. THE FRESH-WATER AQUARIUM. 
CHAPTER VI, 
REPTILES, MOLLUSKS, AND INSECTS. 
THE lower orders of creation supply many interesting 
specimens for the aquarium. Among the reptiles—newts, 
or water lizards, and the common frog, may be recom- 
mended as offering some forms of positive elegance, and 
some habits worthy of observation. The smooth newt, 
the warty newt, and the noble triton, are almost essential 
to the completion of the collection, and as they respire air 
at the surface, they do not exhaust the water of oxygen. 
The beautiful markings on the belly, and the graceful mo- 
tions of these strange creatures, are sure to afford enter- 
tainment to those who can overcome the very common 
repugnance felt towards such creatures. 
Some of the mollusks commend themselves for their 
beauty, and will be prized by the aquarian enthusiast. 
Among the univalves, lymnea, physce, planorbis, and 
paludina, are the most useful and ornamental. I must 
caution the amateur against the too ready adoption of 
any species of lymnea; they are destructive, and particu- 
larly fond of Vallisneria, Stratoides, and Callitriche, and 
while they are the best of cleaners, they are also the most 
indiscriminate of gluttons. 
Paludina Vivipara is a handsome snail, with a si 
tinted, globular shell ; but Planorbis Corneus and carrina- 
tus are still handsomer, having a spiral form, resembling the 
horn of aram. These latter are to be trusted anywhere s 
they are good cleaners, and seldom attack the plants. Water 
