MAKING AQTJAEIA. 15 



by Wo bars at the top of the aquariiim (Fig. 7, a). These bars 

 are 2in. broad and lin. thick. They are dovetailed into their 

 places (Pig. 24), and have grooves to correspond with those in 

 the bottom and the ends. 



The ends are lined with window-glass and the bottom is lined 

 with slate. The sides are formed of plate-glass iin. thick ; 

 these must be put in their places before the crossbars at the 

 top of the aquarium are fastened, the grooves into which they 

 go having previously been half -filled with cement No. 2 (p. 24). 

 Cover the bottom with a thin layer of the cement just 

 mentioned, and press the slate firmly and gently into its place. 

 Fix, in the same way, the glass linings for the ends. Fill up 

 the comers with a cement of red and white lead to" the depth 

 of iin., and when it is somewhat hard put over it a coating of 

 the cement which was first used. This cement might be 

 employed throughout; but then, for safety, it must be used a little 

 more liberally than the other. The junction of the glass 

 linings with the ends, and the dovetailing of the crossbars, can 

 be hidden by four strips of wood, 2|in. wide and Jin. thick, 

 neatly mitred together, the comers of which framing may be 

 decorated with small turned ornaments (as in Fig. 7). The 

 woodwork will look well either stained, sized, and varnished, or 

 French-polished. The aquarium should have six little feet 

 lin. high, screwed to the bottom. 



Slate fin. or Im. thick will be required to make a tank like 

 Fig. 8. It may be- procui-ed at a slate merchant's at a cost of 

 about lOd. a foot. The three pieces which will be wanted can 

 most likely be obtained the size required. The bottom 30in. 

 long and 16in. wide, and the ends each 16in. by 13in., will 

 make an aquarium of good dimensions. At lin. from the 

 extremity of each end — that is, across the broad part — cut a 

 groove ^in. deep and If in. broad. This is supposing that slate 

 lin. thick has been chosen ; but if it is only fin. thick, then 

 the groove must be proportionately smaller each way. The 

 groove may be cut in the following manner ; First mark with 

 an awl the exact place and dimensions of the groove. Then 

 get two straight-edged pieces of wood some inches longer 

 than the breadth of the end; place them each side of the line 



