MANAGEMENT OF AQUAEIUMS 235 



fountain. One of the most pleasant and en- 

 during memories of an especially handsome 

 house, artistically furnished, is of a sitting- 

 room bay-window containing a large ornamental 

 aquarium of Japanese fringed-tail goldfish 

 and aquatic plants; it was surroxmded by 

 plants in pots and hanging baskets, and had in 

 the aquarium a graceful fountain, the falling 

 waters of which were just sufficiently loud to 

 be heard in the room. 



An aquarium need not necessarily be de- 

 voted to fish alone to be interesting. There 

 are numerous forms of aquatic animal life, 

 readily found in rural streams, pools or ponds, 

 which may be utilised and become a source 

 of constant interest. Tadpoles, newts, fresh- 

 water shell-fish, water-bugs and beetles, re- 

 veal a marvellous story to the observant eye. 

 Some of these forms of animal life are impor- 

 tant adjuncts to an aquarium when fish are 

 to be tenants. Tadpoles and fresh-water snails 

 should always be included, since they are 

 scavengers and assist materially in keeping the 

 aquarium clean and the water pure. 



Certain water plants are also important in 



