188 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Aug. ], 1865. 



WINDOW GARDENS AND AaUARIA. 



Ekesh - WATEE Aquaeia. — I shall feel much 

 obliged if you or any of your readers can give me a 

 few hints about fresh-water aquaria. My first diffi- 

 culty is with minnows, which are always stirring up 

 the gravel in search of food, and the water is filled 

 with a cloud of wliite particles, which, under the 

 microscope, appear like masses of fibre swarming 

 with Infusoria. I washed the gravel and weeds 

 most carefully before putting them in, and liave 

 tried changing the water without success. The 

 white cloud completely spoils the aquarium, and I 

 fear may injure the fishes, though at present they 

 seem in perfect health. I feed them on vermicelli, 

 which they eat greedily. I should be glad to know 

 if animal food is essential, and what kind to use, for 

 I cannot procure the small red worms recommended 

 in books, and the supply of young snails, &c., from 

 my glass jars is barely sufficient for the stickle- 

 backs, which will not eat anything else. I have 

 been advised to leave them without food ; but I can- 

 not think the Infusoria in the water would be suffi- 

 cient for them, and am afraid to introduce snails, 

 beetles, &c., lest they should die, and lie hidden 

 among the gravel to do mischief. Tlie stickle-backs 

 do not stir up the gravel, and the water in their 

 vase is quite clear ; but they do not live more than 

 a few weeks, even when alone, and so unable to 

 fight. My caddis-worms also die after a short time, 

 and I do not know how to feed them. I should be 

 glad to know whether a piece of charcoal kept ia 

 the aquarium is of any use in purifying the water.— 

 F.C. 



Insect ViVAEiUM.—Knowingthehorror with which 

 some people regard killing insects, and yet like seeing 

 them more closely than on the wing, I should suggest 

 a vivarium, one of which 1 have kept for more than 

 three months. It is made thus : the bottom of slate, 

 like that of an aquarium, only pierced with holes for 

 drainage. The height is 24 feet, and the breadth 

 I5 foot ; halfway up a division is made in the glass, 

 the upper piece of both front and back lifting up 

 like a window ; the sides are composed of perforated 

 zinc, painted a pretty light green. Put any pretty 

 fancy top you like, only it must be made of zinc like 

 the sides, for the sake of the air. Plant it witli any 

 flowers you like ; ferns mixed in look very pretty, 

 and three bii'd's nests suspended from the top 

 greatly add to the effect ; they do best filled with 

 flowers which do not require much water. About 

 every other day take out one window and put a 

 piece of net over instead to air it. I have had 

 several Burnet moths, and now have a Tiger moth, 

 and a Humming-bird moth, and Pecs do very well 

 ju it,— 7i, //, 



CiNDEES IN Cultivating Eeens.— Having been 

 asked why, in the fifth number of Science Gossip, 

 I expressed a preference for cinders in the propaga- 

 tion of ferns from seed, I would remark that sand- 

 stone almost invariably contains the germs of fungi 

 which hinder and very frequently prevent the de- 

 velopment of the fern-spores, and peat, unless pre- 

 pared by dipping in boiling water, and thus destroy- 

 ing all vegetable life therein, is open to the same 

 objection. Now, if cinders (which, if fresh, con- 

 tain no fungi) ai'e used mixed with a suitable quan- 

 tity of peat subjected as above, the ferns will have a 

 fair chance of proper development ; for it is highly 

 improbable fungi will.obstruct their growth. I have 

 found that peat, if used alone, becomes soddened ; 

 and as ferns, like all other plants cultivated in pots, 

 require good drainage, that essential is obtained by 

 the use of cinders mixed therewith, — Helen Watney. 



New Bkitish Sea-Anemone.— Mr. P. H. Gosse 

 has described and figured a species of anemone 

 which he considers entirely new {Ann. Nat. Hist., 

 No. 91), and which he has named Mgeon Alfonli. 

 " Here is an anemone with high standing column 

 like an Aiptasia, but with the surface warted, and 

 with tentacles like the richest green velvet, throw- 

 ing into the shade the brightest of Antheas. More- 

 over the tentacles are of the same colour to their 

 very tips, without the least tint of pink or purple," 

 To which is also added, "Several circumstances 

 indicate that this charming species is very eligible 

 for the aquarium." 



Aquaeium Difficulties. — It certainly is 'no 

 easy matter to keep an aquarium in good order. I 

 had one for a considerable time, in which plants, 

 animals, and fish did very well. I used to keep a 

 condensing syringe with a small tube to reach the 

 bottom of the tank, and every now and then in the 

 day, if I went near, sent a stream of air through the 

 water, which not oidy agitated the water, but stirred 

 up any injurious matters, which I removed with a 

 small fine muslin net. The fish seemed quite indif- 

 ferent.-^. T. Scott. 



Steeams in Aquaeia. — Mr. E. Edwards, of 

 Menai Bridge, has written us taking exception to the 

 remarks of Mr. Alford Lloyd at page 118, in which 

 it is stated that " Mr. Edwards has announced that 

 he makes a machine to answer this pui'pose, but 

 nothing has come of it." Mr. Edwards requests 

 the data for this assertion, and adds — "my apparatus 

 is all that is required for tlic purpose intended. I 

 do not claim any new invention in its construction, 

 but such a combination of old principles so arranged 

 as to cause it to do its work in an efficient manner." 

 We insert this in justice to Mr. Edwards, without 

 any desii'e to open a controversy on the su1)jeet. _, 



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