All aquarium may be arranged for the study of water insects and 

 animals. Failure to keep a healthy and sightly aquarium often attends 

 the efforts of a beginner 

 through neglect of proper 

 care and management. The 

 secret is to imitate Nature, 

 i. e., to make conditions sim- 

 ilar to those of some pond 

 where water life flourishes, 

 and to get a good balance of 

 water plants and water an- 

 imals. When this balance is 

 established the aquarium re- 

 quires but little attention 

 beyond the addition of water. 

 Large battery jars and pre- 

 serve jars serve admirably 



£ ,1 • Fig. 4. A very small pond and its people.' 



ior this purpose. - 



The following common water plants and animals are suited for 

 aquaria : Duckweed, water- milfoil, stone wort, waterweed, snails, water- 

 scavengers, beetles, water-boatmen, back-swimmers, mosquito wrigglers, 

 ■caddice-worms, etc. 



Collections of Pressed Plants and Leaves. 



A flower that has withered and dried in the usual way is useless ; 

 it has lost eveu the likeness of its growing self, and has become brittle, 

 faded and crumpled. But if dried instead between sheets of porous paper 

 under heavy pressure it retains much of its original color and strength 

 in a form that is very convenient for examining as well as for preserving 

 and exhibiting. When thus prepared and mounted on a suitable card 

 with a proper label it forms a useful permanent specimen for study or 

 .comparison. 



To prepare plants properly in this way, the following materials 

 will be needed : Drying paper (carpet-felt or coarse porous paper), sheets 

 of tea-paper (or smooth newspaper leaves), two pieces of smooth board 

 12 inches x 20 inches ; a few weights (suitable stones of about 10 lbs. 

 ^ach will answer); mounting paper, in sheets 11 inches x 16 inches or 

 finches x 11 inches: liquid glue or strips of gummed paper; labels show- 

 ing botmical and common name, date, place and collector; a collecting 

 i)Ox er vasculuni and a note book. 



