AN INGENIOUS WATER-SUPPLY. 83 



Between the ends of the two tables which, as I have said, extend 

 lengthwise of the room, as far as convenience will allow, stands a sink 

 made of soapstone, where overflows go and where water may be drawn 

 by the pailful. This sink is covered like an old-fashioned well, with a flat 

 canopy of glass resting at a convenient height upon four corner posts, so 

 that jars may be set upon it and their contents examined from under- 

 neath with the important help of transmitted light. 



The central tables each side of this are intended not for study — that 

 is to be done at the small desks near the windows — but for the preserva- 

 tion of specimens ; and to this end there is suspended over them an elabo- 

 rate system of pipes, supplying air and water and bearing faucets every 

 few inches. This system consists of eight sub-pipes connecting with two ■ 

 branches from the cistern siphon, which hangs well above the operator's 

 head, but within easy reach of the hand. Each sub-pipe may be closed 

 or opened by a stopcock, so as to admit either air or sea-water at will, 

 the air being brought to them by a special connection with the air-main 

 from the windmill. Besides this, a portion of the- branches can be cut 

 off and used to supply rain-water also, which is stored in a- small cistern 

 of its own near by. Sea-water, fresh-water, and air may therefore be sup- 

 plied all at once and continuously, and the arrangement for each may be 

 changed and interchanged to suit the student's convenience, while no 

 anxiety is felt, either lest the supply may cease or lest any irregularities 

 riiay occur, since automatic contrivances guard against accident to the 

 machinery. Even if water should fly loose, or overflow somewhat, no 

 harm would be done, for copper gutters carry away all drippings, and the 

 cement floor, covered only with neat oil-cloth, defies injury from wetting. 

 In case of a failure of the windmill, the cistern could be filled daily by a 

 hand force-pump. 



I have explained that this particular locality is highly favorable to the 

 study of marine zoology, because the jutting headlands on each side of 

 the harbor make a funnel into which, twice a day, the entrapped tide 

 drives the pure ocean waters fresh from the warm path of the Gulf 

 Stream, bringing a harvest of living things that elsewhere along the coast 

 remain far outside. Mr. Agassiz is therefore able to get, at the very door 

 of his laboratory, a -large series of thoroughly pelagic animals which other 

 naturalists (at least, everywhere north of Hatteras) must go far afloat for, 

 and would regard as wholly extra littoral. 



One may see anchored in the little cove behind Castle Hill a small 

 steam-launch (it can outspeed anything of its size at Newport !), a trim 

 sloop or two, and various dories and punts; these constitute the. fleet with 



