40 FBBSH-WATEE AQUABIA. 



If the aquarium-keeper be prudent, he will take care not to 

 overburden himself with bottles and nets, for nothing is so 

 likely to mar the pleasure of a hunting expedition as a long 

 walk home, after hard work, with more than one can con- 

 veniently carry. 



I have more than once heard it said that one of the greatest 

 charms of English sport is that one never knows for certain 

 what is going to " get up." This is, in a way, true of hunting 

 for aquarium specimens, for the collector is always wondering 

 what he wiU fish up next; and after he has begun to use his 

 nets in some well-stocked piece of water, he hardly knows when 

 to leave off, or when he has obtained enough prizes. At least, 

 such has generally been my own experience. There are often 

 in ponds, ditches, and streams, what may be called traps. These 

 traps consist of old boots, old hats, pieces of rag, and haM-sunk 

 bonnet-boxes or newspapers ; and if the collector will take the 

 trouble to examine such things, he will frequently be well 

 rewarded for his pains, for in them or under them a good 

 collection of many and various aquatic animals are often to be 

 found. It is, indeed, a good plan to purposely set these useful 

 traps. 



I can easily remember that while I was a small boy I often 

 used to look forward to the time when I should be able to 

 possess one very large aquarium in which I could place aU the 

 different aquatic animals I might procure; but I have long 

 since learnt by experience that it is impossible for the members 

 of such an interesting (to me) collection to live peaceably 

 togetl^er for any length of time — ^no, not even for one single 

 night. It is wise, therefore, for the collector to return home 

 from his hunting expedition before it be too late, or before he be 

 too tired to put his prizes into their respective dwelling-places. 

 Should he, however, be indisposed or unable at once to finally 

 assort his captives, he ought to transfer into shallow and weU- 

 covered vessels those creatures which he cannot trust, either 

 for their own welfare or for the welfare of their comrades, to 

 remain in the collecting-bottles. The various animals and 

 plants can then be conveniently arranged on the following day. 



There is a little net which may be cheaply and easily made. 



