260 EOCKS AND CORALS. 



one of unusual form, or much ornamented, — regular 

 professional estimates must be taken. But the fol- 

 lowing statements may he of use to some. The Tank 

 which I have described in page 101, 24 by 18 by 18 

 inches, cost me £3. 10s. ; the small one of the same 

 form mentioned above, 15 by 12 by 12 inches, was 

 charged 21s. The sides of the former are of plate, 

 those of the latter sheet glass. These prices are 

 barely more than the actual cost of manufacture. 

 The cylindrical 12 inch glass from Pellatt's cost 

 10s. 4d. Glass covers for these three tanks, cut 

 to shape, were 10s. more. 



THE PREPARATION. 



Your Aquarium being brought home, fixed in its 

 intended situation, and properly seasoned, the next 

 thing is to fit it up as a dwelling for its living inhabi- 

 tants. Two or three points may be noticed here. 



Artificial Rocks, Corals, dc. — When the two long- 

 er sides only of the Tank are of glass, the two ends 

 being made of slate, the latter should be veiled, by 

 being made to imitate the irregular projections and 

 ledges of rock, which may be done in a very pictu- 

 resque manner. For this purpose, Roman, Portland, or 

 other cement which hardens under water, should be 

 employed ; the slate must be faced with this, which 

 while plastic may be fashioned into the semblance of 

 rock. Pieces of branching corals may be set in it, if 

 the efiect of such accessories be thought desirable, 

 and cavities may be formed here and there, into 

 which the fragments of stone that support growing. 



