HOW TO STOCK THE AQUARIUM.-THE PLANTS. 
97 
gently, taking care that a portion of the rock on which they grow is detached 
with them. Endeavor to obtain specimens of as many various colors and 
forms as possible; for on the judicious arrangement and contrast of colors— 
crimson, and purple, and green, and olive—the appearance of your aquarium 
will mainly depend. The pretty little purple-tinted coralline (corallina offici¬ 
nalis) is exceedingly well adapted for the purpose; likewise the pinnate¬ 
leaved laurencia. 
COMMON 8ARGASSIXM. 
BUCK S HORN FOCUS. 
The Common Sargassum is an interesting specimen, found on the Ameri¬ 
can shores of the Atlantic. The stems are a foot or more in length, 
alternately pinnated with simple branches. The plant is dark olive-colored, 
changing to reddish brown, upon exposure to air. The small pea-like 
shells growing upon its stems are air-vessels , which float the largo stems of 
the plant in water. 
The Buck’s Horn Fucus is destitute of air-vessels, but the extremities 
of the fronds are inflated, forming terminal receptacles. The fronds are from 
a few inches to a foot and a half in length, olive-green color, with a tinge of 
yellow at the extremities. 
The Dichotomous Dictyola grows upon rocks, as well as upon the larger 
algae. The fronds are from two to nine inches 
in height, green in color, forming a beautiful 
specimen when dried. There are narrow and 
broad fronded varieties, of the same species. 
The Peacock’s Tail Pavonia is a curious spe¬ 
cies, growing chiefly in rocky pools, where the 
water is still, and exposed at low tide. The frond 
is membraneous and spreading, presenting various 
shades of brown, and yellowish or reddish olive, 
which, with the numerous darker and concen- 
trical line3, and a white bloom-like powder, 
spreading over and more or less modifying the 
multiplied hues, renders this one of the most 
& 
DICHOTOMOUS DICTYOLA. 
