FIRST PUBLIC AQUARIA. l6l 



CHAPTER X. 



OUR PUBLIC AQUARIA. 



THE establishment of large public aquaria in English 

 cities and towns is the best evidence we could desire 

 of the progress of zoology. There can be little 

 doubt that these important institutions will react 

 favourably on scientific education by familiarising 

 people with objects they were previously only ac- 

 quainted with in books, and also by stimulating young 

 minds to their further study. Their value to natural 

 history cannot be overstated, for they afford means of 

 observation which never existed before, both to study 

 the habits and the embryological development of 

 marine animals. 



To Mr. W. A. Lloyd belongs the merit of success- 

 fully carrying out the idea of large public aquaria to 

 their present issue. No other naturalist has enjoyed 

 such a long and specialised experience in their con- 

 struction and management, either at home or abroad. 

 The continued success of the Crystal Palace Aquarium 

 which may be called the first public one of any 

 magnitude, those at the London and Dublin Zoolo- 

 gical Gardens and elsewhere being on a much smaller 

 scale undoubtedly encouraged the construction of 



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