The Formation and Management of a Marine Aquarium . 249 
m 
them with the thumb nail, and provided the base of the animal is not injured 
they will rarely be the worse for it. The blunt end of a large pewter spoon 
may be used as a persuader to remove anemones with good effect, but the 
greatest care must be taken; there must be no hurry, the shrinking pulpy 
creature must not be torn; and although, perhaps, as to sensation they 
occupy a very low place, we will say they should not be tortured ; and 
it is wanton waste of time to tear them off rudely, for that is simply to 
kill them. 
More abundant than anemones on some coasts are such mollusks as the top, 
the winkle, and the limpet. These should never be collected in any great 
quantity, for they are likely to die, and their rapid and offensive putrescence 
may kill all else in the tank with them. I have kept winkles and tops in a 
tank for years, but it needs experience to determine the best mode of pro¬ 
cedure : attention they really do not need, if the affair is made right in the 
first instance. If you can afford to appropriate a tank expressly to them you 
may hope for success. Then fit up a bank of old serpula shells, oyster shells, 
and bits of mica schist over a bed of clean pebbles, have no weeds at all, place 
the tank opposite a window, so that the only light that reaches it is that which 
has passed across the room, and with much water and few mollusks all will go 
well. The spontaneous growth will suffice for their maintenance, and you may 
find much entertainment in watching their movements. The mode of feeding 
of these creatures is a most interesting study: the tongue of the winkle is a 
marvellous construction. 
Shore crabs are abundant on sandy and shingly coasts, and easily captured. 
In rock-pools Soldier crabs, and in deeper water Hermit crabs abound. These 
are grand acquisitions where a tank can be appropriated to them, but they do 
not group well with anemones, except under skilful management. But their 
near allies, shrimps and prawns, are well suited for a mixed collection, and you 
will easily obtain them, if not by actual capture, by means of a small fee to a 
shrimper. Their weird outline and ghost-like movements add very markedly 
to the attractions of the aquarium, for whatever moves in the miniature seals 
fascinating and sustains its interest. 
Star-fishes are rarely captured by the sea-side wanderer. We must go out 
and dip for them, and when we obtain them we may reasonably fear that they 
will rather die than live. So too of fishes, yet a few blennies and sticklebacks 
captured in a rock-pool will be well worth keeping, if a large bulk of water can 
be afforded them; their pretty gambols and occasional mischievous freaks will 
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