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gallons more.

The salt water thus obtained, however, is liable to be very turbid. This huge quantity takes about ten hours to be pumped in. In the chief corridor above mentioned the number of tanks is twenty-one. The total frontage of all is about 740 feet. Octagonal table tanks are also exhibited, in which the rarer marine zoophytes, &c., are kept, and where the process of fish-hatching may be seen going on.

The most important event which has taken place in the history of aquaria, from a purely scientific point of view, was undoubtedly the founding of the aquarium at Naples by Dr. Dohrn, a German naturalist, Mr. Lloyd aiding in its construction. The expense was borne almost entirely by himself and a few personal friends, but the result has been scientifically successful. Dr. Dohrn's idea was to make it a kind of zoological station for the observation of the life-histories of marine animals analogous to astronomical observatories or stations. The ground floor of the building covers 8000 feet, there being a story above fitted up as a zoological dissecting room and laboratory, for the use of naturalists. Further, Dr. Dohrn here receives students. of natural science, the animals examined being obtained by dredging expeditions which are carried on from time to time. A certain number of students' "tables" were offered to various Government scientific societies at a fixed sum. Some of these were taken

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by the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge for the use of students who might gain the right of study. The aquarium is fitted up with the usual tanks, &c., on the ground floor, and is opened to the public at a certain charge. The money thus received is applied towards defraying the expenses of the institution. Already some highly important natural history work has been done here, notably researches in the embryology of certain fishes.

Shortly after the Naples station was founded, a similar aquarium was commenced at Penekese Island, the expense of which was defrayed by the munificent act of one of the New York merchant-princes. It was placed under the charge of Professor Agassiz, who unfortunately died almost before the institution had got into working order. The undertaking is now under one of the Professor's sons, and the scientific investigations promised to be of great service to zoology, but it has not hitherto proved so successful as was expected. There is no reason in the world why all our great public aquaria should not prove as effective to pure scientific research as they already are to the public educationally. Practical students might be attached to each, whose time could be devoted to zoological research. The time of the curator, however scientific may be his attainments, must necessarily be too much taken up by the general management for him to carry out observations which require constant and assiduous watching.

The Manchester Aquarium was the largest inland institution of the kind, before that at Westminster was built. It was opened to the public in 1874, and for a long time was under the direction of Mr. Saville-Kent, F. L. S. The main portion of the building occupies a superficial rectangular area of 150 feet in length, by 72 in breadth. At each extremity of the saloon are placed the two largest tanks. These occupy the entire width of the room 40 feet; so that they are capacious enough to contain living animals of considerable size. The total number of tanks at present existing is sixty-eight. These have a linear frontage of nearly 700 feet, which approaches very nearly the total frontage of the Brighton tanks. It is contemplated adding a series of tanks between the arches separating the saloon from the corridors so as to raise the total number to one hundred. This would give an additional frontage of 224 feet, and so far would render the Manchester Aquarium the most extensive in this respect. In addition to the above, there is a number of octagonal table tanks for fresh water and the smaller and rarer marine animals.

The Southport Aquarium was opened the same year as the latter. It is well situated in the town, which may be regarded as the "Brighton" of the Lancashire coast. The climate here is milder than anywhere in Lancashire, so that it is a place to which invalids resort in the winter-hence the "Winter

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Garden" which is associated with the aquarium. The tanks are constructed much on the same plan as those at Brighton, and have a total linear frontage of 500 feet. Another aquarium at Blackpool, an adjacent town on the same coast as Southport, has tanks possessing a frontage of 250 feet.

Other aquaria are in course of erection at Scarborough, Yarmouth, and elsewhere. That at Yarmouth is intended to have show tanks in which 200,000 gallons of sea water will be held. The building is now nearly completed, and is expected to be opened to the public during the present year. The extensive aquarium at Westminster is in connection with "winter garden." Although opened to the public the tanks are not yet fully stocked. The show tanks will hold 150,000 gallons of water, whilst there are storage reservoirs underneath capable of holding 600,000 gallons more. Public aquaria are further either being built or contemplated at Rhyl, Rothesay, Plymouth, Torquay, Southsea, Tynemouth, Margate, Scarborough, Ipswich, and elsewhere; and there cannot be a doubt that within the next few years, most of our large seaside, if not inland, towns will possess these useful and attractive institutions.

CHAPTER III.

PRINCIPLES OF THE AQUARIUM.

THERE can be no question that portable fresh-water and marine aquaria may become sources of endless amusement and instruction; and at the same time be so constructed as to ornament the rooms in which

they are placed. Fresh-water aquaria especially, may be arranged so as to add to the usual cheerful aspect of our English homes. The sight of the moving objects, and of the green water-plants covering and shooting above the surface of the water is undoubtedly cheering. Invalids, or people of sedentary habits, who are much confined within doors, might find comfort and enjoyment from keeping an aquarium. The antics of its little inhabitants, and the little care required to keep this miniature world in a healthy condition, will draw off their attention from many an hour of suffering or care, and unconsciously develop a love for God's creatures. To children, aquarium keeping may be the means of imperceptibly teaching those feelings of humanity towards the lower animals which, have hitherto been too much neglected. The "hunting instinct" is strong in most

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