124 THE REPTILE VIVARIUM. 



to the terror of weak-nerved persons ; and, finally, 

 the aquarium was voted a nuisance, and stowed 

 away in some lumber-closet. Now, all this trouble 

 might have been avoided if a little notice had been 

 taken of the habits of each animal, and their natural 

 places of . abode as nearly imitated in the tank as 

 possible. I have had my reptile vivaria usually 

 constructed of plate glass, with a slate bottom, a 

 zinc also being let in at the side to hold water. The 

 sides are fitted up with rockwork, with ferns planted 

 in convenient crevices. The bottom is covered with 

 a stratum of peat earth, over which is placed a 

 layer of turf and moss. As to the reptiles to be 

 chosen as inhabitants, the tree frog, salamander, 

 green lizard, eyed lizard, wall lizard, West Indian 

 anolis, viviparous lizard, and blind worm are 

 desirable inmates, usually thriving in confinement. 

 The various kinds of frogs and salamanders must 

 be kept separate from the lizards, as when kept 

 together they are apt to fight ; and, besides, while 

 the saurians require to be placed in the full sun- 

 light, the batrachians should be kept in a cool, 

 shady place. 



I have myself noticed that the tree frog will 

 remain nestled in the damp moss during the day, 

 waking up to full life and activity when the 

 twilight comes on. Its first act on emerging from 

 its shelter usually is to enter the pan of water, 



