THE AQUAEIUM. 



from above. The great drawback to a tank of this kind is 

 the difi&culty of watching closely the movements and ways of 

 its inhabitants, and besides, such a' one cannot be said to be 

 ornamental. The commonest aqnarinm, perhaps, is that often 

 described as an " inverted propagating glass " (Pig. 4). This 

 kind has its advantages and disadvantages. Its advantages 

 are the facUity with which the contents can be inspected, its 

 non-leaking character, its cheapness, its portability, and its 

 attractiveness. Its disadvantages are 

 its transparency, which causes much 

 discomfiture to the fish and too great 

 a growth of conf ervae ; and its proneness 

 to apparently distort its inhabitants 

 as they swim round it. However, the 

 transparency can be partly overcome 

 by judicious shading, the method of 

 which will be explained when " light " 

 is spoken of, and the apparent distortion can be avoided by 

 taking care to choose white and well-blown glasses. In buying 

 an aquarium of this kind, that which is broadest and 

 shallowest should certainly have the preference. 



Another receptacle for water and fish is the common glass 

 globe (Fig. 5), which has nothing whatever to recommend 

 it, except perhaps to those who dehght to hang their 



Fig. 5. 



Fig. 6. 



unfortunate captives — suspended by a chain from the ceiling — 

 in front of the window; and of course an aquarium which is 



