VESSELS FOE AQUARIA. 27 



on all sides. A representation of one of these is given in 

 PL II., Fig. 1, stocked with sagtttaria, nildla, ceraiopkylum, 



and calitrichc, together with gold-fish and minnows. When 

 one of this kind is placed on a tastily-made cast-iron 

 stand with casters, it makes a beautiful ornament for a 

 parlor window, and can be further decorated by having a 

 hanging basket suspended over it filled with some pendant 

 flowering plants. 



For a beginner, a good vessel for him to try his hand 

 at the keeping of as an Aquarium is a glass jar, holding 

 about two gallons— such as is used by confectioners, and 

 having a wide mouth : the curved sides of such vessels, how- 

 ever, distort the figures of the fish when viewed through 

 them, and therefore, perhaps, all things considered, it is 

 best to get an oblong tank at once, in which he can see 

 his pets in their real form and size. To the Aquarium 

 tank, it is advisable to attach three or four glass jars, 

 holding about a gallon each, to which stock can be re- 

 moved at any time to observe it more closely, or these 

 jars can be used for raising snails, growing chara, or any 

 other plant. As adjuncts to a large Aquarium, the best 

 things are a few of the flat-bottomed vases I have de- 

 scribed above, as a sandy or gravelly bottom can be better 

 placed in them than in jars, and besides, they can be 

 turned in their stands. 



It will often be useful, and sometimes necessary, to 

 cover the tank, in order to keep out dust, prevent undue 

 evaporation, and guard agaui£t-the 4<*s_^any f our fish, 

 as many of them are ^afuV t^ jump oiit > and to prevent 

 such mishaps, I have found the best things to be plates 



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