THE AQUARIUM. 

CONDUCTED BY HUGO MULERTT. 
(The Editor of this Department will cheerfully answer all queries relative to the conduct of Aquaria. } 
WATER LILIES (Nymphaea). 
Water lilies have received from time im- 
memorial the very appropriate appellation of 
Nymphaea, Fairy Goddess of the Water, etc., 
in allusion to their charming, fairy-like appear- 
ance ; and although this title was applied to all 
aquatic plants in common, it was especially 
applied to the true Nymphaea, from its pecu- 
liar manner of growth. But it is always inter- 
esting to learn something of the antecedents or 
genealogy, if you please, of any strange or 
mystical object first, and we will turn to an- 
cient mythology to learn something of these 
fairy deities. Ancient mythology, however, is 
often very indefinite in its delineation of the 
origin and attributes of some of the fabled dei- 
ties ; or perhaps more properly speaking, the 
old Greeks and Romans have often adopted the 
Oriental and African mythology without a full 
understanding of their supposed attributes, for 
in all probability the origin of these pleasing 
tales was Asia or Africa (Egypt). 
We find at the head of mythical genealogy 
stands Chaos, with her four children ; next in 
succession is Earth, first-born of Chaos, also 
with her four children; then Earth married 
Heaven, raised a family of seventeen children, 
whose oldest and most beloved son, Oceanos, 
takes Tethys, one of the Titans, for his bride ; 
and one of their three thousand daughters (viz., 
all the lakes, rivers and brooks known to the 
ancients), Oceanides marrying Jupiter, raised a 
family of fifty daughters—the Nymphs—who 
were the titular goddesses or guardians of the 
sea, lakes, rivers, mountains, dales, groves ; in 
fact, every place known to the ancients was 
fabled to have one of these fairy Nymphs as 
their protector, with appropriate titles, to which 
was dedicated suitable rites and ceremonies 
for their worship. The Naiad Nymphs were 
in particular guardians of fresh water rivers, 
etc., and as such are the special objects of our 
notice. 
The word Nymphaea seems to have origin- 
ally signified “bride,” and was probably de- 
rived from the Greek. It was generally applied 
to married or marriageable young ladies, for 
the idea of youth was always included. The 
Naiads are usually represented in works of art 
as beautiful young maids halt draped and with 
long flowing hair, usually leaning upon an urn 
from which flows a stream of water. The 
word Naiad is derived from the Greek verb 
‘“‘to flow,” as indicative of the general motion 
of the water. They were supposed to preside 
over fresh water fountains, streams, brooks and 
springs, and to inspire those who drank of its 
waters with oracular powers and the gift of 
poetry. They could also restore the sick to 
health. 
Of course, all these mythical fairy tales have ’ 
a direct bearing upon the religous ideas—or 
perhaps we should say, the superstitious beliet 
—of the people, for there was nothing at that 
early date, outside of the Jewish church, that 
is now recognized as religion. And although 
we affect to despise these old heathen fables, we 
still retain their names, and these names alone 
seem to connect the obscure, fabled past with 
the present time to such an extent that for a 
perfect understanding of the subject we must 
give more detail than simply say, ‘‘a Greek or 
Roman legend.” This being our apology for 
deviating from the proposed subject, we will 
now dismiss ancient mythology and talk of 
modern reality. 
In all the tropical and temperate portions ot 
the world, particularly in the northern hemi- 
sphere, is found a peculiar aquatic plant, with 
large, roundish or peltate leaves, that float 
upon the surface of the water, which are among 
the loveliest products of the floral world. They 
are, however, by no means new to travelers, or 
even to science, and have been so often de- 
scribed that it would be almost useless to repeat 
a description here. 
