104 THE WATER CABINET. 
breadth of eight inches to receive a row of six inch 
glasses ; the second shelf a breadth of five inches, and the 
jars upon it measure four inches in diameter. The top 
shelf is only three-and-a-half inches wide, and the glasses 
on it measure three inches across the top, and, two-and-a- 
half at the base ; the jars of this size, in my own collec- 
tion, are of a tapering form, half an inch narrower at the 
bottom than at the top, though I am not aware whether 
such is the usual form of the small vessels. The entire 
framework has a breadth of about thirty-two inches, and 
a height, from the floor of the room to the level of the 
top shelf, of about sixty-six inches. 
The breadth and height of the window, in which the 
cabinet is to be placed, must have the first consideration, 
with any one who may intend to construct such a piece of 
furniture; the respective sizes of the vessels must be an 
after consideration, because, unless the whole be so 
adapted, as that it shall enjoy a full share of uninter- 
rupted daylight, very little progress can be effected, 
especially if the growth of the more delicate forms of 
aquatic vegetation be attempted. 
in the absence of a properly constructed set of shelves, 
a few plain ones may be fitted up in a window. A single 
strip of deal, on brackets, would afford room for a dozen 
jars, and in these by judicious grouping, specimens of 
from fifty to a hundred kinds could be kept, whether for 
observation by the naked eye, or the microscope. 
Glasses.—In common with many aquarians I used 
phials and confectioners’ show-glasses for a considerable 
length of time; but to preserve the uniformity of the 
