CHAPTER IV. 



THE FRESH-WATER AQUARIUM. 



Marine and Fresh-water Aquaria compared— A Fresh-water Aquarium to bo recom- 

 mended to a ISeginner— The Reasons why — Fresh-water Animals and Plants easily 

 procured— Transformations of the " Polliwog" — The young Frog— Transforma- 

 tions of the Toad — " The Toad, ugly and venomous, hears yet a precious Jewel 

 in its Head" — Tadpoles excellent Scavengers — Tadpoles amateur Naturalists — 

 Value of an Aquarium to the Microscopist — Value of an Aquarium to the Natu- 

 ralist—Sticklebacks and their Nests— Caddis-worms and their Cases— Cases for 

 running Streams — Amusement for the Country — A home-made Aquarium— Simpli- 

 city of the Aquarium— The Naturalist's Diary. 



Though a fresh-water collection cannot vie with a marine 

 one in the strangeness of the varied forms of its animal in- 

 habitants, or in the brilliancy of the color of its plants, yet, 

 when well arranged, I consider that a fresh-water Aquarium 

 can be made as ornamental, if not more so, than a ma- 

 rine one, by way of a piece of furniture for the parlor ; 

 and though, iu our miniature ocean, we have the many- 

 tinted Anemones and curious crabs, yet, in our crystal pond, 

 we have the universally favorite and never-to-be-left-out gold- 

 fish, with their graceful form and colors, that vie with 

 those of any of the inhabitants of our salt-water tank — 

 and then we have the curious little sticklebacks, and the 

 gorgeous sun-fish, with his sides reflecting, iu the sun-light, 

 all the tints of the rainbow, and his majestic motion, 



