4G THE FBE8H-WATEB AQUARIUM. 



and tadpoles that you have been lucky enough to catch, 

 or that you can persuade any of the country urchins, for 

 a few cents, to procure for you ; and then you will have 

 an Aquarium in full vigor. 



Now, tell me reader, is an Aquarium such a deeply 

 scientific affair and is it so very difficult to manufacture ? 

 I think that you will agree with me after one day 

 spent in searching for objects and the many hours you will 

 be sure afterwards to spend in watching your happy pri- 

 soners, that you are not quite so much " bored " as you 

 were, and that your walk in the fresh air has done you a 

 great deal of good, and banished all wishes for a city life 

 again. When you have got your Aquarium under way, 

 then take this or any other book that treats of the sub- 

 ject and see if you can find out the names of your plants 

 and animals. But let me advise you to trust more to 

 your own observation than to what you can learn by sit- 

 ting down to read a book without looking with your own 

 eyes and not those of your author, for if you learn to 

 observe for yourself you will perhaps the sooner, but cer- 

 tainly the surer, become acquainted with the habits of the 

 many wonders that you have had the satisfaction of catch- 

 ing. I have found it a good plan to keep a naturalist's 

 diary, a book wherein I write down the history of my 

 Aquarium and the changes or facts that I remark of my 

 pets every day. To this book 1 may at any time refer, 

 and this plan I recommend heartily to the consideration of 

 my readers. 



In this way we shall be writing a book that will always 

 be of use, for there arc always little facts that slip our 



