AQUABimt. 



sqiare-sided tank be used, althougli muoli the same conftision 

 and mess will attend a fracttire, a glazier and a square of glass 

 ■will put matters rigit again. Besides this, the hard and formal 

 lines of tlie tank recommended -will form a pleasing contrast 

 to the delicate curves of the water-plants and the gracefal 

 outlines of the fish. The tank should be famished with a 

 cover, not necessarily air-tight, as fish can no more exist 

 absolutely without air than ourselves, but fitting sufficiently 

 dose to prevent the escape of creatures of roaming habits, such 

 as the newt and water-beetle. The pillars or "uprights" in 

 which the glass sides are fixed should be of zinc ; and if white 

 lead be used by way of rendering the vessel "taut," that 

 poisonous material should be coated with sealing-wax varnish. 

 It is advisable, whatever the tank be made of, to soak it a few 

 days in a tub of water before any attempt is made to stock it. 



Next proceed to lay down a stratum of soil in which your 

 water-plants may take root. Some years ago, when the aqua- 

 rium first came into notice, it was thought necessary to 

 transplant along with the plants a quantity of the mud firom 

 the bottom of the pond wherein they were found. As may be 

 imagined, the vessel never presented a very handsome appear- 

 ance : the movements of the fish stirred up the mud till it was 

 as difficult to distinguish one finny inhabitant from another, as 

 it is to recognize a friend in a London November fog ; and " it 

 wa^ only when the fish were at rest," as observed an intelligent 

 complainant of the period, " and there was nothing to be seen, 

 that you could see it." It happens, however, that not one in 

 a dozen of such pond-plants desirable for the aquarium derives 

 nourishment from the soil that lies below the water: they 

 merely use their roots as grapples to save them from drifting, 

 while many of them have no root at all, but live entirely on 

 the surface, floating hither and thither and changing their 

 abode as chance decrees. Now since, as regards the plants, they 

 take no delight in mud and only stipulate for anchorage, we 

 may meet their demands, and at the same time in no way 

 mar the beauty of our aquaria. Well-washed river sand three 

 parts, and small pebbles one part, will answer admirably ; the 

 depth to which it should be spread should be regulated by the 

 size of the tank ; it should, however, never exceed three inches. 



Next, as to the absurdity of cramming your aquarium with 

 objects so decidedly non-aquatic, that it would be no wonder 

 if the fish took fright at the monstrosities and died straight off. 

 AS says Mr. Oargill Brough : — " Many people have a notion 



