XXV. 



No ornament for the drawing-room or parlour can 

 possibly be more beautiful than a well-stocked and 

 tastefully-arranged aquarium ; nor is there one likely 

 to be productive of a greater amount of pleasure and 

 amusement. And it is instructive as well as amusing, 

 for by means of it the statements of writers relative 

 to the habits of certain marine animals may be veri- 

 fied by personal observation, and even difficult pro- 

 blems in natural history satisfactorily solved. Aided 

 by one of these ' mimic oceans/ let the reader com- 

 mence the practical study of marine zoology, and I 

 have little fear of his ever becoming tired of it. 



* Aj?e cannot wither it, nor custom stale 

 Its infinite variety.' 



When pursued even in the most humble way, this 

 recreation yields a degree of interest greater than 

 any other ' hobby' can produce, at least in an equal 

 space of time. If engaged in business during the 

 day, the student can always devote an hour morning 

 or evening to the aquarium, and when least expected, 



