22 THE AQUAVIVARIUM. 



vivarium, and act upon the hint in the house and 

 town in which you live. 



In order to manage the Aquavivarium com- 

 fortably, a few simple instruments should be kept 

 at hand. A little hand-net, which you may pur- 

 chase for sixpence, or make yourself for a penny, 

 will be very convenient ; it need not be bigger 

 than a tablespoon, and may be made of brass or 

 iron wire covered with muslin ; it is convenient 

 for catching the various creatures, and removing 

 them from one vessel to another : it is also of use 

 in removing dead bodies. Some things, however, 

 cannot be caught in this way, and a pair of long 

 wooden forceps will be found of great service. For 

 removing small creatures a glass tube will be found 

 convenient. Tubes of various sizes may be kept. 

 The way to use these tubes is to take them up 

 with the thumb and second finger, placing the 

 forefinger on the top of the tube. On placing the 

 tube thus in the water, it will be filled with air ; but 

 on removing the forefinger, the water rushes in to 

 supply the place of the air, and will carry whatever 

 small object may be near with the water into the 

 tube. Tubes of various sizes will be found useful 

 for different purposes. 



A glass siphon, or a tube of gutta percha or India- 

 rubber, will be found very often convenient. Do 

 your best, and you will still occasionally find a dead 

 animal has escaped you, and the water becomes 

 opalescent, abounds in animalcules, gives off smelling 

 gases, and must be drawn off from your tank ; this 

 you can do with a siphon. 



Another instrument which will be of use is a 

 pair of bellows. Persons are scarcely ever satisfied 

 with the small quantity of animal and vegetable 

 life that serve for a balance ; they overload their 

 Aquavivaria with animal life. Under these cir- 



