218 * REVIEWS. [September, 



publication of the English Flora ?"^ Is there any other authority 

 for its being a Norfolk plant besides Sir J. E. Smith's ? Any 

 information respecting these lost plants will be thankfully re- 

 ceived. 



Directions for the Preparatioti and Management of the Marine 

 Aquarium. By E,. M. Stark, Edinburgh. 



The lovers of this branch of natural science (aquatic plants 

 and animals) will thank Mr. Stark for the plain, sensible, brief, 

 and practical manual which he has composed for the guidance of 

 all who, like himself, admire the hidden or rather unnoticed 

 agencies whereby water is preserved in a state of purity. It is 

 far from being generally known that this popular drawing-room 

 toy does illustrate the principle whereby not only water is pre- 

 served in a state of purity, but the still more important fact that 

 there is a balance between the animal and vegetable kingdoms 

 which cannot be seriously disturbed without fatal consequences 

 to both. For example, the animal part of the creation absorbs 

 and assimilates what the vegetable part rejects. The animal in- 

 hales oxygen as the vital principle, and gives out carbon ; the 

 plants exhale oxygen and imbibe or absorb carbon, and thus the 

 balance is maintained. 



Our author however contents himself with showing how the 

 plants and animals in the aquarium may be kept in a healthy 

 state, without troubling his readers about first principles, which 

 few have patience to read and still fewer have strength of ivill to 

 carry out or apply their several bearings upon creation in general. 

 We will imitate his example, and limit ourselves to individual 

 facts. Mr. Stark informs us that the green Alga [Chlorosjjerms) 

 are among the plants best suited for the aquarium, and of these 

 he specially selects the broad-leaved Ulva. Next to this are 

 recommended plants of TLnteromorpha, Conferva, and Clado- 

 phora. Afterwards are enumerated the red-spored Algce {Rho- 

 dosperms), and others, qua nunc prcescribere longum est. 



Mr. Stark, like a true son of humanity, cautions or warns his 

 readers to beware of overcrowding their aquaria Avith animals. 



* Our obliging aud accurate corrcspondcut ]Mr. Notcutt could probably answer 

 this question. 



