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aquatic Uttt 



the glass ; B shows the glass in relation 

 to the middle rail, slate bottom and 

 sleeper frame; C the manner of joining 

 the corner posts and rails by mortise and 

 tenon; shelf D rests on the bottom rails, 

 as in E, and is fitted around the posts, 

 but is % inch narrower than the support- 

 ing rails, being brought flush with the 

 posts by using %-inch moulding (M), 

 which is also used around the middle 

 rail, as in B. 



The portion of the structure that re- 



Construction Details 



quires the greatest consideration is the 

 frame placed snugly within and fastened 

 to the middle rails, which carries the 

 slate and bears the entire weight of the 

 contents of the tank when filled. Every 

 precaution is necessary to guard against 

 spreading the outer frame. The sup- 

 porting frame is made of oak, i l /\ inches 

 thick and 4 inches wide, the corners 

 dove-tailed into the sides, as at Bi. This 

 frame is screwed from all sides into the 

 mahogany middle rail, using No. 14 brass 

 screws ij4 inches long. 



On the frame and sleepers I spread a 

 cement of the consistency of soft putty, 

 composed of 10 parts fine white sand, 

 such as is used for a fine grade of sand- 

 paper, 10 parts plaster of paris, 10 parts 

 litharge and 1 part of finely powdered 

 resin, all carefully mixed in boiled lin- 

 seed oil. The slab of slate, J / 2 inch thick, 



was then firmly pressed in place. Ce- 

 ment mixed according to this formula 

 becomes as hard as a rock, and adheres 

 to both slate and wood. Ordinary 

 aquarium cement was used to set the 

 glass sides. 



The lower portion of the structure 

 can be enclosed by paneled doors, and a 

 place afforded in which to store foods 

 and tools incidental to the care of the 

 aquarium. I preferred to leave mine 

 open, and at one time used the shelf for 

 a miniature Japanese garden. I had a 

 pan made of aluminum, slightly smaller 

 than the shelf, three inches deep, with a 

 turned edge. In this was placed a smaller 

 pan, which formed a lake. Rocks of 

 curious shape were suitably arranged, 

 and the crevices filled with leaf mould, 

 die landscape grading down to the lake 

 level. Dwarfed Japanese plants of vari- 

 ous kinds, about thirty species of native 

 mosses, and some miniature Jap houses 

 and pagodas completed the picture. 



Lay the head of a fish quite open and 

 look for the brain. You will be quite 

 surprised when you see it. It is singu- 

 larly small in proportion to the size of 

 the fish. I have just opened the head 

 of a Whiting, and find that the brain is 

 not larger in proportion to the volume of 

 the body than a walnut would be to an 

 ordinary-sized man. In the specimen 

 mentioned the brain is scarcely one-third 

 as large as one of the eyes. — Rev. J . G. 

 Wood. 



Of all inorganic substances, acting in 

 their own proper nature, and without 

 assistance or combination, water is the 

 most wonderful. — Ruskin. 



Empty seat where Willi; sits, sufficient 

 is the reason ; kids can't study when the 

 weather flits toward the fishing: season. 



