PARLOUR AQUARIA. 139 



CHAPTER IX. 



MARINE AQUARIA FOR ROOMS. SEA-WEEDS 

 FOR DITTO. 



THERE are undoubtedly greater difficulties attending 

 the healthy maintenance of small marine tanks in 

 rooms than fresh -water ones ; but some of these 

 difficulties vanish before a little common-sense treat- 

 ment and knowledge of the habits of the creatures we 

 endeavour to keep. As a rule the marine aquaria 

 kept in houses are on too small a scale, and there is 

 the unconquerable tendency on the part of their owners 

 of putting as many objects in them as they possibly 

 can. There is really no reason why small marine tanks 

 should not be kept in a good condition for years, 

 provided they are attended to, say as we should 

 attend to poultry, rabbits, guinea-pigs, canaries, or 

 any other pets we are rearing under semi-artificial 

 conditions. If these are neglected, everybody knows 

 the consequences ; and we cannot expect that healthy 

 aquaria can be maintained and neglected at the same 

 time. Indeed, considering how altered are the circum- 

 stances under which they live, the wonder is that the 

 inhabitants of aquaria give so little trouble. 



In constructing small tanks to hold sea water the 



