338 NATURAL HISTORY OF OUR SHORES 



china shops are the best to employ for a small aquarium. 

 The more " squat " and wide the shape the better. 



In the bottom of this there should be a few inches deep 

 of well-washed shingle, and the vessel should be only about 

 three-fourths filled with water. 



The aquarium should be placed in a cool situation, in a 

 good light, yet away from the direct rays of the sun. 



Of sea-water there should be obtained a reserve supply to 

 meet emergencies. This can be corked up in a large stone 

 jar, in a cool place. 



For a self-supporting one that is, where there is no means 

 of obtaining circulation of water there must be a consider- 

 able preponderance of plant over animal life, and the weeds 

 should be of the green kinds Chlorosperms. (The " Sea 

 Lettuce " (Ulva) ; the narrow Cladophora rupestris, and the 

 lovely Bryopis plumosa are excellent.) If they can be 

 brought from the shore attached to small stones so much 

 the better, but the stones to which they adhere must be 

 well cleansed at the sea-side before being brought home, 

 for there will usually be adhering to them a large number 

 of organic things, that will soon decompose and spoil the 

 intended results. 



Now, what animals can we keep to the best advantage ? 

 The anemones, universal favourites, first commend them- 

 selves, but they do not all thrive under aquarium conditions. 

 The great " Dahlia Wartlet " (Tealia crassicornis), which is 

 shown in Fig. 14, lives splendidly, and feeds and thrives to 

 perfection ; so do the following : the " Gem Anemone " 

 (Bunodes gemmacca) ; the " Beadlet " (Actinia mesem- 

 bryanthemum) ; and all the Sagartias, including the parasitic 

 Sagartia or Adamsia parasitica, which will thrive as well 

 on a rock as on its usual tenanted shell. The great 

 "Plumose Anemone " (Dianthus plumosa) is exceedingly 

 beautiful, and lives well, but it requires great attention. 

 It will not take large morsels of food, and as any rejected 



