32 PRESH-WATEE AQUARIA.. 



round the bottle at the proper place and then setting it on 

 fire. As the worsted burns, the glass will crack in the 

 direction of the flame. The rough edges of the shortened 

 bottles may be rubbed off by using a piece of the stone with 

 which scythes are sharpened. 



Among other things, clear, thin, plain glass tumblers are 

 very convenient vessels for the upper shelves of the cabinet 

 aquarium; but the habits and wants of the various animals 

 and plants should be considered before they are placed in any 

 of the many different articles which may be converted into 

 aquaria. 



Every tank of the cabinet aquarium ought to be provided with 

 a well-fitting glass cover, for the purpose not only of preventing 

 the escape of its inmates, but also of excluding the dust and of 

 lessening, as far as possible, evaporation ; and it is wise to gum 

 a strip of white paper along the bottom of the front of each 

 aquarium, in order that a record may be kept of the times 

 when and the places where its contents were obtained, and 

 any other circumstance of interest in connection with them. 



When the stand of the cabinet aquarium is completed, and 

 all its shelves are judiciously filled with vessels, some clean 

 and fine river-sand or well-washed bird-sand should be pre- 

 pared for the purpose of covering the bottoms of the diiferent 

 aquaria. But those tanks which are intended to contain 

 interesting aquatic plants rather than animals ought to be 

 especially prepared for the reception of such subjects by the 

 placing of mud, loam, or anything else they may require, 

 beneath a layer of the gravel. The aquaria, however, which 

 are to receive various animals will need for the covering of 

 their bottoms only fine gravel or sand, for in such foundations 

 the very useful American weed {Anacharis alsinastrum) will 

 readily grow, and provide all that is required of vegetation 

 in the tank. The most convenient way of planting the 

 Anacharis in the small vessels of the cabinet aquarium is to 

 attach to each spray a small piece of lead and drop it in the 

 water. The spray thus weighted will sink rapidly to the 

 bottom of the vessel, and assume there its proper position. 

 By the help of a penholder or a small stick the lead may be 



