THE FRESH-WATER AQUARIUM. 
9 
down the body place the hay or moss between the bar of wood and the 
skin to avoid all stiff appearances; always place the stuffing material 
evenly within the skin, and never use pressure, as a fresh skin can be 
easily expanded far beyond its natural dimensions. Having reached the 
hind legs, imitate faithfully, by stuffing, all the natural muscles. When 
this part has been completed, sew up the various incisions; attention 
should be paid to separating the hairs, and not to take any of them in 
along with the thread. Imitate the joints of the limbs by bending the 
wire at the proper points, and place the specimen upon the board, draw 
the wires through the holes with the pincers, and clinch them upon the 
under side. The specimen will then assume an erect position. The 
orifices of the eyes, mouth and ears, should be filled with cotton saturated 
with the preservative, and the artificial eyes put in while the eyelids are 
yet pliable. The lips can be secured in their proper position by means of 
pins, and the nostrils distended to their natural size, with pellets of cotton 
inserted within. In the larger mammalia the orifices of the head should 
always be anointed with spirits of turpentine. If any irregularities appear 
in the skin, they must be pressed down and modelled into shape with the 
hand. The muscles of the various parts of the body can be exactly 
imitated by making casts of plaster of Paris, and fitting them within the 
skin in lieu of other stuffing material. [ To be continued .] 
THE ERESH-WATER AQUARIUM. 
The art of preserving water animals alive and in gopd condition, as 
pets or as objects of study, is not of recent date; but the principles of 
what is now commonly known as the aquarium, vrere not until lately 
brought into general notice. The Romans had their tanks of game fish, 
the English and French gardeners their vessels for the growth of tender 
water-lilies or other valuable aquatic plants, yet the happy thought of 
uniting the two, — fishes and plants, — so that the one should balance the 
other, each aiding in the others support, making withal a collection of 
such proportions as to be conveniently kept indoors, is the production of 
comparatively late years. 
Dr. Johnstone, of Liverpool, has the reputation of having been the 
first to apply practically the principles of the aquarium; he made experi- 
