PROCEEDINGS. 1177 



This appeal, he was glad to say, had met with a response, which, seeing 

 that the list was open only a week ago, might be considered encouraging. 



All subscriptions would be acknowledged in the Society's Journal, and 

 subscribers would be informed from time to time of the progress made in 

 carrying out this important work. 



He appealed not only to members of the Bombay Natural History Society, 

 but also to any one interested in Natural History, who would recognise 

 that a work of this kind was not only of value to Science, but of interest to 

 themselves ; in that it supplied a want which was keenly felt even in the 

 premier Museums of the world. 



This was, he said, the first appeal for funds which the Society had made 

 since its foundation in 1883, for any of its various enterprises in Natural 

 History, and, therefore, it was hoped that it would meet with the response 

 it deserved. 



A MARINE AQUARIUM. 



The Honorary Secretary said that during a recent visit to Madras, he 

 had the opportunity of inspecting the Marine Aquarium and it so impressed 

 him with its excellence that it occurred to him that members of the Bombay 

 Natural History Society might care to hear some details about it, and 

 possibly by bringing it before the notice of the public, the description of it 

 might influence some local benefactor to give to Bombay a similar institu- 

 tion which would prove to be both popular and of educational importance. 



The Marine Aquarium, at Madras, was the first institution of its 

 kind in India, if not the first in the tropics. It owes its inception to 

 Lord Ampthill, who, while Governor of Madras, drew up in conjunction 

 with Mr. Edgar Thurston, Superintendent of the Madras Museum, the 

 first rough plan of a public Aquarium. It was constructed in 190S, by the 

 Government of Madras, at a cost of about Rs. 15,000, the object being 

 for Educational and Scientific purposes and an annexe to the Presidency 

 College and also for the general public. 



The building is a low, unpretentious brick edifice and is situated on the 

 seaward side of the famed Madras Marine, less than a hundred yards from 

 the sea. The site is very similar to that of Chowpatty. The main entrance 

 leads into a large paved area with a central fresh-water pond and fountain, 

 and on either side are five tanks with plate-glass fronts, lit from above, each 

 measuring 7 x 3 x 3f feet. The entire seaward side of the central area is 

 occupied by a large open tank at present stocked with turtles (Chelone 

 mydas). On either side of the entrance passage are two rooms designed 

 for Committee meetings, storage of materials, etc., and one of them is at 

 present occupied by the eeration plant. 



With the exception of two tanks for fresh water fish (at present con- 

 taining species of Megalops, OpMocephalus, Notopterus, etc.,) which are 



