84 



THE FAMILY AQUARIUM. 



chisel, and carefully cut away a sufficiently large piece of 

 the rock to which it is attached, and place the v/hole in 

 your basket. A bed of fresh seaweed for it to repose on, 

 and more with which to cover it, will keep it uninjured till 

 you return. When the plant thus obtained is a very 

 delicate one, particularly if taken from beneath the sur- 

 face of the water, it will be better to place it at once in a 

 jar and cover it with the element it loves, as a few 

 minutes^ exposure to the air will metamorphose its beauti- 

 ful colors into the dull hues of death. 



In these researches for plants, you will be able to ob- 

 tain your mollusca, as they go crawling freely over the 

 surface of the rocks, or reposing idly amid the thick 

 under-growth of weeds. You will also perceive the Acorn 

 Barnacle in great numbers, as well as the swimming Crus- 

 tacea. The Actinia, etc. (Sea Anemones), will be seen 

 adhering to the rocks. Insert your thumb nail nicely be- 

 neath their base, where they are so accessible, and you 

 dislodge them at once. Your chisel must dispossess of 

 their abiding-places those which reside in cavernous locali^. 

 ties. The Sea Stars, Sea Urchuis, etc., will be detected, 

 and also many a novelty among the Aunelides, under loose 

 stones, at the lowest tide-level. There, too, love to dwell 

 many a singularity of the Crab kind, as well as the Nudi- 

 branch Mollusca, which, transferred to your Aquarium, 

 will amply reward you for all your patience and all your 

 exertion. It must be frankly confessed that you can have 

 your tank fitted up with still greater perfection (and at 



