THE AQUAKIUM, JANUARY, 1893. 



31 



Inarmiigiiig such a ternirium even 

 landscape gardening can be indulged 

 in. A little lake caii be formed by 

 means of a shallow bowl or birds' bath, 

 over which a little rustic bridge can be 

 built. Rockwork can be formed with 

 pieces of tu If stone, which lycopodium 

 freely decorates, and to liven up the scen- 

 ery, tree frogs, newts, salamanders, 

 lizards and very small turtles are the 

 things The management of such a 

 terrarium is pleasant and simple. 

 Through the sliding door you are able 

 to sprinkle the plants when necessary, 

 to pick out imperfect leaves, or to 

 place some cut flowers, that you value 

 highly, in the small lake for longer 

 preservation. 



In cold evenings, before the 

 goes down, close the ventilation, 

 cover the case with a pasteboard 

 made for the purpose or a thick cloth, 

 thus affording shelter against the cold- 

 er night air and the injurious, unnat- 

 ural light. 



fire 

 and 

 box 



lIEATINa AN A.QUARIUM. 



We received the following communi- 

 cation : 



"I have contrived a device for 

 warming the water in the tank where 

 my paradise fish are. It is simple and 

 effective. I will describe it, but you 

 may have better ways. 



"It consists of what you might call an 

 ordinary can, without a lid ; it is made 

 of tinned copper, it projects about a 

 half inch above the aquarium frame in 

 order to carry oS any unpleasant odor 

 from the lamp. The can is ten inches 

 high, three inches wide, and four inches 

 long, shaped similar to a wash boiler. 

 Through this can, at a height of about 

 three and a half or four inches, or so as 

 to be about the centre of the water con- 

 tained in the aquarium, a hollow (half 



inch diametei') brass tube crosses ;. 

 the joints are water-tight. In this can, 

 directly under this tube, I place a very 

 small night lamp, and if more heat is 

 required, I use an alcohol lamp, u sing- 

 wood alcohol, which is cheaper. I find 

 the scheme works well. The small 

 night lamp, filled with kerosene (high 

 test), was left in all night. The temper- 

 ature was kept well up to 70" ; of 

 course in colder weather the heat will 

 have to be increased. This can is held 

 down by wires which spring under the 

 top frame, being soldered to the corners 

 of the can. Some little boys de- 

 scribed the can, which excites some 

 curiosity, being in the store window, as 

 a place for the fish to sleep at night. 

 Perhaps the above is nothing new or of 

 value to you, and if it is and yon would 

 like any plainer description of it, I will 

 have a friend of mine picture it for you. 

 Another time I would build it in a 

 rockwork. 



S. M. S." 



Our way to heat an aquarium is as- 

 follows : A sheet-iron pan, similar to 

 an ordinary roasting pan, and about one 

 half inch larger all round, outside- 

 measurement, than the bottom of the 

 tank which is to be heated, is filled 

 with two inches of sand ; on this the 

 aquarium is placed. The whole is set 

 on a framework, or on an open top 

 table. Under the pan, on a shelf, a 

 small petroleum lamp, of the kind often 

 used in cigar stores, with two burners, 

 and each with a chimney, is set. After 

 the aquarium has been put in order and 

 filled with water of 80'^ F., the two 

 lamps are lighted and kept burning 

 until you find that the sand has become 

 quite warm, and the temperature of ihe 

 water, which was sinking, is beginning- 

 to rise again. When the water is again 

 between 7U'^ and 80*^ V., you may put 



