The Mitseum Gazette 



i 



A MARINE AQUARIUM. 



It must often be a subject of regret to sojourners by the 

 seaside that, on returning home, they have to leave behind 

 them the interesting, and often beautiful, forms of marine 

 life, the observation of which in their natural abode has 

 added so much to the enjoyment of a holiday on the coast. 

 There is no reason why many of these creatures should not 

 be taken by the traveller to his home and established there, 

 to be a source of perennial interest. He must be careful in 

 the selection of his objects, and on his first venture let him 

 content himself with some hardy sea-anemones ; a common 

 starfish or two (of very small size) ; two or three mussels 

 with clean, smooth shells, and half a dozen periwinkles. 



The success of the experiment will depend largely on the 

 self-control exercised by the collector. There are many other 

 interesting animals which he may appropriate later on, but 

 he must be content with the small beginning here indicated. 



The sea-anemones must on no account be forcibly removed 

 from the substance to which they are found adhering, but 

 a small piece of the rock or chalk must be chipped off with- 

 out disturbing the base of the animal. 



All the animals mentioned can be carried in a tin or wooden 

 box and packed in damp seaweed so that they shall not be 

 bruised in transit. The weed used for packing is to be 

 thrown away, but the collector must secure some small, 

 healthy plants of green algae {Viva and Entevomovpha are the 

 best) attached to clean shells or stones, without any incrus- 

 tation upon them. The plants must be handled tenderly, as 

 their attachment is of the slenderest, and if separated from 

 the shell or stone they will not thrive. These may be taken 

 home in a wide-mouthed pickle jar, and must not be allowed 

 to get dry. The collector had better take a gallon or so of 

 fine shingle washed quite clean, and a few stones varying in 

 size from a hen's egg to a cricket ball — the more irregular 



