THE FRESH-WATER AQUARIUM. 
35 
not exceeding a foot in diameter, while the thickness of the coil 
of larger ones is increased by adding more of the grass of which 
it is made. The beginning of the stitch, for which the hole is 
made by a common bone needle, or borer, is shown in Fig. 2 a, 
and is made by fastening one end of the binding by the succeed¬ 
ing overlying stitches, and is thus neatly disposed of on the inside 
of the basket. Fig. 2 b shows the manner in which the coils and 
stitches are arranged and the way they are bound together. When 
the length of the binding is used up, the end is similarly secured 
as at the beginning, Fig. 2c, or, at the finishing of the basket, 
under the preceding stitches. The shape of the basket is easily 
formed by lengthening or shortening the circuits of the coil, and 
by changing the stitches slightly towards' the side of the concavity 
to be formed. In forming the bottom of baskets the split twigs 
of a shrub are generally employed in place of Juncus , probably 
for the greater strength. Often this material is used for the sides 
as well as the bottom, but generally the Juncus is used after about 
a dozen or twenty coils have been made. The Juncus is used 
without splitting, from which is made a coarse basket with loose 
meshes, similar to a net but without knots. 
THE FRESH-WATER AQUARIUM. 
(Continued from page 13.) 
We have seen that the aquarium is to be distinguished from the 
common fish-globe by its self-supporting character. We have 
examined in a general way the philosophy of the aquarium and 
concluded that the rectangular tank was the most useful one to 
have. Let us now look for a situation for the tank before the 
specimens are placed within it. It is desirable that the sun should 
shine upon the tank for at least an hour during the day ; an east¬ 
ern or southern aspect then is the best for this purpose. This is 
especially true in the winter time, while in summer a northern 
aspect would be preferred, as the water in the aquarium is apt to 
be overheated by the sun during the hot months. One trouble 
