28 FEESH-WATEK AQUARIA. 



in, but not for showing them. These are made of coarser glass 

 than those just mentioned, and they also possess the dis- 

 advantage of having a short neck and a mouth of a much less 

 diameter than the rest of the bottle. The neck and mouth, 

 however, can be cut ofE by a simple method, which will be 

 explained. There is, nevertheless, a great drawback to all 

 bottles and the like for aquariimi purposes, and this is that 

 their depth is much too great in proportion to their width. 

 StiU, there are circumstances under which they are more 

 useful than wider and shallower vessels. 



Rectangular aquaria are by far the best for the cabinet and 

 other purposes. Small ones, such as that illustrated at Fig. 31, 

 can be easily, cheaply, and quickly made, according to the 

 following directions: 



For the bottom (E), procure a piece of well-seasoned board 

 lin. in thickness of any size up to 16in. long and 12in wide. 

 No tank which is intended for the cabinet aquarium should 

 be broader than the shelf of the cabinet upon which it is to 

 stand. 



Out four strips of stout zinc lin. wide, and of any length 

 up to Gin. long. 



Bend these four pieces of zinc lengthwise at right angles. 

 This may be done by the help of a carpenter's ordinary vice, 

 or by hammering half of the zinc over the square edge of a 

 hard piece of board. A line should be made down the middle 

 of the strips to guide the bending, which ought to be quite 

 correct. 



Make at nearly the extremity of one end, by means of a 

 small awl, two holes, one through each side of the zinc 

 moulding, for the wire as represented at D D. 



Before naUing a piece of the moulding to each comer of 

 the board which is intended for the bottom of the aquarium, 

 a small portion of the wood should' be cut away so that the 

 zinc-moulding may be let in until it is quite flush with the 

 edge of the board. 



Out a strip of zinc IJin. wide and so long that it will go exactly 

 round the edges of the board for the bottom (B B). 



Nail one piece of the zinc moulding at each comer of the 



