USE OF THE AQUARIUM. 63 



creatures, to the side of our study-table, and maintain 

 it there. 



Thus an opportunity of close and valuable familiarity 

 with sea-productions is open to multitudes who have 

 never seen the broad expanse of ocean, nor searched its 

 prolific shores ; and facilities for extending the bounds 

 of zoological science are everywhere enjoyed, which till 

 lately were restricted to a very few naturalists, whose 

 residences were situated on certain favourable spots 

 upon the coast. Yet both modes of investigation are 

 necessary. He who has never seen marine animals 

 except in the confinement of an aquarium, cannot but 

 be conscious of many chasms in his knowledge, which 

 are filled up by him who is in the habit of collecting 

 his own specimens in their proper haunts ; and who, by 

 finding them in f era naturd, can, when he studies them 

 at leisure in his tanks, make such allowances as are 

 necessary for the variations in habit which may be 

 dependent on the difference between their present 

 artificial, and their original natural, conditions of exist- 

 ence. 



While we rejoice then in tanks and vases of crystal 

 water, filled with the lovely forms and brilliant hues of 

 sea- weeds and sea- anemones, I invite my readers to 

 accompany me on a few hours' visit to the charming 

 creatures at their own homes. The season is propi- 



