14 THE AQUA VIVARIUM. 



tion, the clearer and more transparent the glass is, 

 the better. Thus, for small collections, white glass 

 bottles with wide mouths, or jars such as are used 

 by confectioners and druggists, will be found useful. 

 Bottles are convenient for transporting things, but 

 very inconvenient when objects need to be removed 

 from them. Deep jars, such as Fig. 2, Plate IV., 

 are well adapted for growing such plants as 

 Valisneria and Anacharis, but become troublesome 

 when you require to fish for any of the creatures 

 they contain. Glass jars can be had of all sizes, 

 and the best form is undoubtedly one in which the 

 top and bottom are of equal size, and the depth 

 equal to the breadth ; they can be had, however, of 

 various shapes, and some persons prefer the form 

 of the vase. All such vessels are, however, expen- 

 sive compared with the hand-glasses, or propa- 

 gating-glasses, which are made in large quantities 

 for the use of the gardener ; they have a slight 

 green tinge, but not enough to interfere with a 

 clear view of the objects contained in them ; they 

 are made of all sizes, and have a knob at the 

 top for the convenience of moving them. In order 

 to use these for the Aquavivarium, they must be 

 inverted, and various devices may be had recourse 

 to for the purpose of sustaining them. For tempo- 

 rary purposes, they may be inverted over a flower- 

 pot, or a pickle-jar, or a saucer containing sand ; 

 more elegant stands are turned from wood (Fig. 3, 

 Plate IV.). These may then be placed on a pillar 

 of marble, stone, or scagliola-work ; or these glasses 

 may be arranged in wire stands, and surrounded 

 with plants (Plate II.). One of these vessels is seen 

 under a rough stone arch, and inclosed in a Ward's 

 case, against a window, as represented in the Fron- 

 tispiece. Many other arrangements may be made 

 with them, according to the taste of the cultivator. 



