360 TANK ' IKTEEIOKS.' 



rouglmess of the coral seems to be much approved 

 of by many of the animals, who are not slow to 

 avail themselves of the facility thus afforded them 

 of climbing and otherwise exercising their peculiar 

 propensities. When purchasing coral, care must be 

 taken to procure a specimen that has not undergone 

 any cleaning process, for although such may be 

 more pleasing to the eye, it is not so suitable for a 

 ' centre piece' as the cream-coloured, and less expen- 

 sive coral. 



A third aquarium which I possess is fitted up in a 

 somewhat novel style, which offers, for certain pur- 

 poses, some slight advantages over others that I have 

 seen employed. It can be adopted in almost any 

 kind of tank; but the one under consideration is 

 circular in form, and is, in fact, a bell-shaped inverted 

 fern glass, the knob of which is sunk into a stand of 

 wood supported on three legs. 



The plan alluded to, which was suggested to the 

 writer by an ingenious friend, 1 consists of the intro- 

 duction of a floating centre piece composed of gutta 

 percha, which serves as a resting place for various 

 small animals, such as Actiniae, Mussels, Barnacles, 

 Serpulse, and even Pholades and Cockles. At the 

 base of the vessel, which is quite uncovered, rest 

 sundry members of the crustaceous family, whilst 



* Mr. Walter Hardie of Edinburgh, who has been my companion in many a de- 

 lightful excursion among the rock-pools of the shores of the Frith of Forth, and to 

 whom I feel myself greatly indebted for much valuable information relative to 

 the subject of marine zoology. 



