100 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
means of ornamentation when placed in 
picturesque masses and groups at winter 
evening gatlierings of children or chil- 
dren's parties. When mosses and ber- 
ries and fern leaves are obtainable from 
the woods, nothing can be more elevating 
and pleasing than the floral effects that 
can be obtained at a small outlay of 
money and taste. On the tea or supper 
table at a winter's entertainment, I be- 
lieve in a lavish use of both cultivated and 
wild floral material. 
As a simple, cheap, and easily made 
central ornament for a table, I can highly 
recommend the one shown at Fig. 2. 
The upright, a. Fig. 3, consists of a stout 
glass rod, either solid or hollow, which 
can be obtained of manufacturers of glass 
chemical apparatus, also of thermometer 
makers, or dealers in glass birds' eyes 
and fancy glass goods. This rod is 
twenty-four inches high. The top and 
bottom pans consist of fruit cans cut 
down to the depth of two inches. In the 
bottoms of these pans a hole is punched, 
through which the glass rod passes. 
When a glass rod is not obtainable, a 
rustic upright one can be used. In some 
respects I prefer it to a glass one, on ac- 
count of its durability and less likeli- 
hood to breakage. When using a rustic 
upright, always select a wood that has 
holes in the pans where the rod passes 
through ; this is done for the purpose of 
making the pans water-tight. Hot asphalt 
is also used where the end of the rod 
passes through the two boards. The pans 
are filled with damp moss, in which the 
vines, ferns and flowers are placed. 
Small and large holes are bored into the 
two boards ; into these holes damp moss 
or sand is also placed, and flowers, etc., 
are inserted. To prevent the wood work 
of the stand from warping or decaying, 
two or three heavy coats of a light-green 
paint must be applied. 
Newts for the Aquarium. 
WATEE lizards, newts or tritons are 
the common names by which the 
animal shown in our engraving is called 
by the different dealers,, Triton mille- 
punctatus is the most common species of 
newt in North America. They are to be 
found in every clear pond, and more 
particularly in those ponds containing 
aquatic vegetation. They are perfectly 
harmless, and since the introduction of 
aquaria as a home adornment, the great 
prejudice that at first existed against 
them has nearly passed away. The newt, 
like other reptiles, casts his skin and goes 
through no less than nine different stages 
strong character, either of color or bark. 
It is entirely correct to attach small 
fungi, lichens, insects of brilliant colors, 
or butterflies. The upper end of the 
rod extends above the pan a distance of 
six inches, and is for the purpose of 
fastening the heavier fronds of ferns, 
etc., to it with fine thread. The lower 
end of the rod passes through two 
pieces of board, c c. After the rod is in 
position, the pans are cemented to the 
rod by pouring hot asphalt about the 
of being from the time of his first ap- 
pearance from the egg to the end of his 
life mission. They feed upon earthworms 
and minute aquatic insects, and as they 
enjoy a gambol on dry land as well as in 
the water, the tank in which they are kept 
should be so arranged that they can leave 
the water to enjoy an air bath. This is 
easily accomplished by piling a few rocks 
above the surface of the water, and, if the 
position of the aquarium will allow it, the 
top of these rocks should be so arranged 
