THE AQUARIUM, APRIL, 1895. 



167 



SHAPES OF AQUARIUMS. 



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 tlie 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 



Faience Aquarium. 



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 aquariums. 



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 near the top They are a decided 

 improvement on the old style, and fill 

 the bill, as a cheap round aquarium in- 

 tended 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 for a small 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 when a glass breaks, it 

 can be replaced by a new one, which 

 cannot be done when the tank is made 

 of one piece only. 



On page 107 we gave 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 some on hand. We make them 

 in two sizes at present, viz.: IH inches 

 high, 7^ inches wide, and 14^ inches 

 long:. The dimensions of the second 

 size are the same, with the exception of 

 the length, which is ^1 inches, all in- 

 side measures. They are perfectly plain 

 tanks, made of the very best material, 

 however, and just the thing for labora- 

 tories, schools, kindergartens, etc. The 

 exterior of such a tank can easily be 

 ornamented with wooden moulding to 

 suit one's fancy. One of our illustra- 

 tions shows one, of a large pattern in 

 this case, that is decorated with fluted 

 pillars and otherwise trimmed to form 

 a design somewhat Greek in appear- 

 ance. The wood' is stained a dull black, 

 to represent antique iron, and the 

 smaller borders are kept in a shiny. 



