[5] THE AQUA-VIVARIUM. 969 



The young of animals inhabiting the water seem, in a greater degree, 

 to require living objects as food. These they find in the myriads of 

 animalcules, crustaceans, larvae, &c., inhabiting quiet waters or the 

 quiet parts of waters. Many of these, in their turu, prey upon the 

 young fish, reptiles, &c. These minute forms of life may be propagated 

 in incalculable numbers in basins such as are herein described. A 

 basin, for instance, adjoining one in which fish are being propagated, 

 might be used as a propagating basin for their food. These animal- 

 cules, &c., could be transferred to the fish-basin by means of a fine net, 

 or the two basins might be separated for an inch or two from the sur- 

 face by a bed of moss through which the animalcules could find their 

 way to the fish-basin. 



A row of tables and shelves with aquariums, jars, microscopes, &c., 

 for purposes of special investigation, could be j^laced opposite the 

 propagating and storage basins. There would thus be an economical 

 and practically perfect adjunct to the biological laboratory, subject, of 

 course, to the eternal sway of i^rogressive development. 



Lansdale, Pa. 



