THE AQUARIUM 



A well-kept aquarium is unquestionably one of the most beautiful 

 ornaments in the household, as it is both decorative and Instructive, and a 

 constant source of interest and entertainment to young and old. To the 

 lover of the beautiful in Nature, the plant and animal life, thus brought 

 under ready observation, affords opportunity for study and investigation 

 that must lead to broader views and a higher appreciation of the beauties 

 of nature. 



Development of the Aquarium. Of the early history of the 

 aquarium Henry D. Butler states that " the great principle of the Aquarium 

 was faintly indicated by Priestley, as long ago as the close of the i8th 

 Century; Ingelhauss approached it more closely in 1778-9; Daubeny 

 touched its verge in 1833; Dr. W. B. Ward, in 1837, suggested It with 

 some distinction ; Dr. Johnson partially demonstrated it in 1 842 ; Dr. 

 Lankester, in 1849, ^"'^ Warrington, in 1850, rendered it conclusive; but 

 Dr. Philip H. Gosse, in 1852, perfected all the labors of his predecessors 

 in a series of decisive experiments that left no room for doubt or contra- 

 diction." 



" An aquarium had also, about this time, established Itself, by acci- 

 dent, at Hampton Court, England, and was described by M. Jesse, In 

 a water tank In the open air, plants and snails made themselves unbidden 

 confreres with the fishes. Nature did the rest, as she does in those more 

 gigantic Aquaria, the placid lake and the majestic river." 



" Next followed the grand Aquaria of London and Dublin under 

 regal auspices. These were sumptuous exhibitions; and in a short time 

 created such a popular Interest in Great Britain that all the other curiosi- 

 ties of nature sank at once, into comparative Insignificance." 



Other authorities mention that Priestley, in 1833, discovered that 

 growing plants, submerged in water, gave off oxygen when exposed to sun- 

 light. In 1844, Ward succeeded in keeping fishes together with plants, 

 but did not know the law of balance between plant and animal life. In 

 1849, Wm. Stimson had several aquaria at the Smithsonian Institute, but 

 did not give publicity to the fact. But in 1850, Robert Warrington, of 

 Manchester, England, read a monograph before the London Chemical 

 Society on "The Relation between the Animal and Vegetable Kingdom," 

 in which he explained the principle for the arrangement and maintenance 

 of the aquarium. Later, he in conjunction with Dr. Gosse, continued 

 their experiments and learned of the necessity of snails, and this finally 

 solved the entire problem of the balanced freshwater aquarium. Dr. Gosse 



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