TSM 



PREFACE. 



WE regard the institution of public aquaria as more 

 or less the result of the deeper interest now felt in 

 the life-histories of aquatic animals, consequent upon 

 that extensive knowledge of natural history which 

 is one of the intellectual features of our time. We 

 believe their extension will be greater, on this account, 

 than those people imagine who hold they will share 

 the fate of "spelling bees," &c. That they are a 

 popular means of education none will deny, and the 

 success they have everywhere met with leads us to 

 hope they are serving a good purpose. 



This little volume is intended as a handbook or 

 popular manual to our public aquaria, so as to render 

 them still more effective as a means of education. 

 Their history, construction, and principles of manage- 

 ment have been briefly described, as also the natural 

 history of the chief animals which have been more or 

 less successfully acclimatised. The list of the latter 

 is constantly being extended, and there appears no 



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