68 THE MARINE AQUARIUM. 
There are very few of the specimens so obtained, but 
may be as well or be.ter conveyed in wet sea-weed than in 
water, and if they remain a couple of days so packed, they 
will take little harm, and may be quickly revived if put 
into shallow bowls, with a little sea water, and oxygenised 
by means of the syringe before being placed in the tank. 
On this head I can say no more here, but must refer the 
reader for minute instructions to the chapter on specimen 
collection, in my work on Rustic Adornments, though, 
what should be sought on the beach, may be judged from 
the kinds recommended in the succeeding chapters, as 
well also as to what should be purchased from time to 
time. Before any specimens are placed in the tank, they 
ought to be rinsed with sea-water, and any barnacles or 
sponges scraped off the pieces of rock to which the plants 
are attached. Any neglect of this will be sure to be 
followed by the production in the tank of sulphuretted 
hydrogen, which blackens and kills all before it. Nor 
should any animal that appears exhausted be consigned to 
the tank until it has been kept some little time in a 
shallow bow] with a few weeds, and revived by the occa- 
sional use of the syringe. Otherwise, delays are danger- 
ous, and no time should be lost in conveying the several 
objects to their proper home in the little crystal palace, 
where blue eyes are to admire, and ruddy lips smile 
approval of your work. 
