374 THE FRESH-WATER AQUARIUM. 
deeper soil than is convenient in the tank, and in those 
plants accustomed to a lower temperature of the water than 
is easy to maintain. Apart from these take any of the green 
plants found in ponds, and placing them in the tank, watch 
their growth, and a few weeks’ trial will determine their 
value whether they are of use or for ornament. It is hardly 
practicable to arrange the plants in the tank in botanical 
order, the room is so limited. A better way, if we wish 
such an arrangement, would be to devote a separate tank to 
each variety. This could easily be done in what is called 
the cabinet aquarium, which will be noticed hereafter. An 
affair of this sort enables one to have a large collection of 
plants, changing the light or temperature as the case re- 
quires. 
Before giving the names of a few of our native plants 
which are favorites in the aquarium, it may be well to say à 
few words as to the locality in which most are found, for to 
one who takes a real interest in the aquarium, it will not 
suffice to pick out a few plants here and there from the col- 
lections of dealers in specimens, which by the way are not 
numerous. Half of the pleasure, to say nothing of the profit 
in having an aquarium, is in hunting for one’s own specimens, 
and in realizing that ‘there is much more life in the waters 
of a pond than we before imagined. To those who pass 
some time during the year in the country, there will be 
ample means for collecting specimens in the ponds near 
by; but to residents of cities the task will not be so easy; 
although it will depend a good deal upon the facilities for 
getting into the country. Take for example the two cities 
of Boston and Worcester. A ride of fifteen minutes in the 
steam cars will take one from the former place to Fresh 
Pond, in Cambridge, which is rich in aquarial specimens. 
The brooks in the marshes, near what is called the “Glacia- 
. lis," abound in larve, fresh-water snails, and the smaller 
Il. ficis, while Fresh Pond itself contains nearly all our 
Smm " 1 water plants. Tritons, or fresh-water newts, are 



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