THE LIVING SPECIMENS IN THE AQUARIUM. 101 
replaced in their native element, in the tank, as soon as possible, before the 
least decay has had time to set in. There are certain periods in each month 
when the tide recedes lower than usual, leaving a portion of the rocks dry 
that is usually covered even at low water. If possible, these times should 
be chosen for collecting, for a rich harvest of beautiful specimens is sure to 
reward the collector; and the plants that grow just below low water-mark 
are exactly those that thrive best in the narrow precincts of the tank. Very 
few of the smaller specimens will fail to flourish if, when obtained, they are 
quite healthy; but they must be carefully watched, and any weed that ex¬ 
hibits the least sign of yellowness or decay at once removed, before it can 
infect the rest. Avoid brown weeds of the larger kind; they slough, and 
make the water turbid and offensive, and thus ruin all your efforts. 
THE LIVING SPECIMENS IN THE AQUARIUM. 
When the vegetable products of the ocean have been left undisturbed for 
a few days in the tank—a fortnight is not at all too long—and the water as¬ 
sumes a clear, greenish, crystal appearance, and when minute bubbles are 
seen adhering to the sides of the leaves, and rising to the surface of the 
water, the time has come for introducing the zoological specimens to their 
new abode; for these minute bubbles are filled with oxygen gas, and their 
presence is a sign that the water is in a fit state to support animal life with 
all its acquirements in the way of oxygen. Now is the time to go out on the 
sea-shore in search of inhabitants for the newly-organized sea; and we must 
give a description of some of the animals that wiil best thrive in the aqua¬ 
rium, and a few directions as to the method of finding and preserving them. 
The Sea-Anemone, or Actinia, in its 
different varieties, is one of the first 
objects for which the young naturalist 
should search—if, indeed, it can be 
called a search, when the objects of 
quest lie scattered at low tide along 
every coast, and it is rather a matter 
of selecting than finding; but on this 
selection the appearance of the aquarium will greatly depend. 
These are the curious creatures that were once thought to form the link 
between the animal and vegetable kingdoms. Because they were found at¬ 
tached to rocks, it was contended that they derived nourishment by a sys¬ 
tem of roots; and because they put forth long and slender arms, it was con¬ 
tended that they had branches analogous to those of a plant; while, being 
able to move their arms, and taking and digesting food, they were held to 
partake also of an animal nature. 
Attentive observation has shown, however, that they are not 'permanently 
fixed to rocks: they have the power of moving from one place to another, 
and attaching themselves anew, whenever such a removal is desirable. 
SKA-ANEMONE (Fig. 1). 
