PREFACE 



To create in the aquarium a miniature 

 waterscape with grottoes and beautiful 

 aquatic plants, to populate it with the vari- 

 ous multicolored inhabitants of ponds and 

 rivers, to observe their habits, their liv- 

 ing and loving, is indeed a pleasure and an 

 education, not to be surpassed by anything 

 in the same line and at so modest an ex- 

 pense. With the experience of recent years 

 it is possible to keep aquariums and terra- 

 riums without suffering the frequent and 

 continuous losses of their contents, to which 

 amateurs were formerly subjected. Even 

 the most inexperienced beginner may suc- 

 cessfully keep certain species of fish, lizards 

 or other denizens of water and forest, with- 

 out more risk of loss, than he would run in 

 the keeping of the old familiar pets such as 

 dogs, cats or birds. To be successful as an 

 amateur aquarist, all that is necessary is 

 to select the varieties of fishes, lizards and 



