THE FBE8H-WATBB AQIAKIUM. 43 



fog the skeletons of birds for his collection, by suspending 

 them in a jar of water, in which he placed live or six 

 good sized tadpoles, and, in about a week, these creatures 

 bad removed every particle of flesh from the bones, so that 

 the skeletons were beautifully clean and white. 



What a treasure to the microscopist is a fresh-water 

 Aquarium, for in it he can find numberless treasures to 

 delight his eyes, that he would otherwise have to search 

 days for, in visiting many ponds and rivers, and wearing 

 out many pairs of shoes. It is to the Zoologist what the 

 greenhouse is to the Botanist, a receptacle in which he 

 keeps his choicest species, and within whose small inclo- 

 eure he may observe and study the habits of many ani- 

 mals that dwell at the bottom of lakes and rivers, ami, 

 therefore, could not be seen else. Not only has the Aqua- 

 rium been an endless source of amusement to hundreds, 

 but it has been of infinite value to the naturalist, and 

 has aided in the advancement of the science of natural 

 history in an immense degree, bringing the operations of 

 nature in the depths of her oceans and rivers home to 

 our firesides, and popularizing the study of the beauties 

 and wonders of the Creator's handiwork, so that the 

 youngest may learn to reverence and worship him in his 

 works. For instance, the habits of the common little 

 stickleback could not well have been observed without 

 some such contrivance, and now nearly everybody that has 

 had a fresh-water Aquarium in operation for any length 

 of time, has had the pleasure of viewing this curious 

 little creature build his nest and bring up his young — for 

 it is the male that builds the nest and takes charge of 



