5112 THE ZooLocist—OcrTosER, 1876. 
the breeding-tanks by frequent but fitful supplies. Here is a great 
loss of power, for if the water which serves each tank were injected 
by means of a small jet placed over the water in the tank, the effect 
would be to cause a constant and superabundant supply of air; 
whereas, by the present arrangement, the supply is sudden and 
explosive-like, and at intervals of from twenty seconds to half a 
minute. This sudden disturbance of the whole body of water must 
always be unsatisfactory, and is certainly contrary to anything in 
nature. Again, there is a further loss of power by allowing the water 
to enter into and leave each tank directly ; whereas, if all had been 
connected and it had flowed from one to another, a much less 
reservoir would have served, or the present one would have supplied 
for a proportionately longer period. 
Mr. Forbes proposes to add to his already extensive fresh-water 
aquarium and hatching tanks several sea-water tanks for experi- 
mental purposes. In the erection of these he has obtained the 
advice and assistance of Mr. Lloyd, of the Crystal Palace Aquarium. 
These tanks will be upon the circulatory system discovered by 
Mr. Lloyd, so that one, and the first, supply of sea-water will be 
sufficient. . 
The fish now being reared at Chertsey Bridge are the common 
trout (Salmo fario), the great lake trout (Salmo ferow), golden 
tench (Tinca vulgaris), and a large number of beautiful specimens, 
of several ages, of the American brook trout (Salmo fontinalis). 
Of this last-named truly handsome fish Mr. Forbes has many fine 
examples, reared by Mr. Capel and Mr. Edon: we observed some 
about half a pound in weight and others were a year and half old. 
One very striking character in rearing Salmo fontinalis is the 
remarkable difference in the growth of individuals in a single brood 
of “fry” from the same batch of ova: some grow at great speed and 
outstrip their brethren in a short space of time, while the majority 
are probably two-thirds less than these in size at the end of the first 
few months. I cannot help thinking that, owing to Mr. Forbes’ 
efforts, this fish will soon obtain permanent hold in the Thames, 
and whenever a fine eight-pounder is taken, “may we be there 
to see.” 
Mr. Forbes is a naturalist as well as a sportsman; and, after 
lunch, he conducted us to see his really fine collection of stuffed 
British birds: this contains not only rare species, many of which 
were shot in the neighbourhood, but every specimen has been 
