FOUNTAIN FOR AQUARIA. 35 syphon E. The water will of course continue to flow until the level of the water in the bottle falls below the mouth of C. The tube B is for the escape of air whilst filling. A very short experience will enable the student to work this cheap fountain, and it is evident it will flow for a greater or less space of time according to the magnitude of the feeding bottle and the bore of the indiarubber pipe, which is bent upwards at its extremity for the purpose of throwing the water into the air. It is true, more water is wasted by evaporation in this manner, but this is a difficulty easily met, as sufficient fresh water can always be put in the service or feeding bottle. The fresh-water aquarium may be made prettier and more ornamental than it hitherto has been, with aquatic flowering plants, if only pains be taken to render their conditions of growth natural. There is no reason why we should not have aquatic gardens of this kind in our rooms. The dust which accumulates when the presence of such plants renders a closely-fitting glass plate impossible, can easily be removed now and then by gently laying pieces of blotting paper on the surface of the water. The dust adheres to it, and it is then easily removed. Or it can be skimmed off by using the edge of a sheet of writing paper. By a little skill and care, we might easily possess semi-aquatic gardens in which miniature fountains are made to play; and the whole rendered a fit and healthy habitat for such creatures as can best be supported. D 2 CHAPTER IV. CONSTRUCTION OF FRESH-WATER AQUARIA. THE construction of a moderate sized, portable freshwater aquarium may be as cheap or as expensive a matter as a person thinks fit, or his pocket can afford. They can usually be purchased at the natural history dealers' shops in London and elsewhere; but perhaps one learns more of the conditions under which the animals we propose to keep will hereafter live, if we have the aquaria constructed under our own superintendence. Having fully taken into consideration the principles which ought to guide us in maintaining aquatic animals and plants, the next thing is to be sure the aquarium will not leak; and that it contains nothing in the materials composing it which are at all likely to be poisonous. Under the direction of a carpenter or plumber, any of the aquaria of which we give illustrations may be constructed. One of the cheapest, perhaps, is that shown in Fig. 2, and, by a little alteration in the internal details of rockwork, &c., it may be used for marine or fresh-water objects as the owner thinks fit. The back and sides are composed of strong, half-inch wood, dovetailed together. The bottom is thicker, and is screwed to the framework. The front CHEAP AQUARIUM. 37 only is occupied with plate glass, which is let in by a kind of “rabbit and bead," as carpenters call it. The whole of the interior of the woodwork, back, bottom, Fig. 2. Cheap Portable Fresh-water or Marine Tank. and sides, is then coated with pitch to the thickness of about one-eighth of an inch. Hot pitch is also run into the "rabbit," and the plate-glass front pressed well against and into it. If a wide beading is then run all round the top, the aquarium will be completed. Thus constructed, the whole expense will not exceed 14s. or 15s. Before stocking it with animals and plants, the tank should be seasoned in rain water for a week or two; and can then be used without any fear of leakage or harm. A costlier method of constructing a tank on the same pattern is to have the bottom, back, and sides of slate, instead of wood, with a plateglass front as before. There can be no doubt that aquaria with flat sides are much better than round bell-shaped glasses. They do not distort the objects when moving about, Fig. 3. after the fashion in which goldfish often present themselves to our notice in the ordinary globes. For a few pond snails and a plant of Myriophyllum, &c., as "stock," an inverted bell-glass with a wooden base, such as is shown in Fig. 3, may be used. It should be remembered, however, that only a very few objects can be thus accommodated; but if the owner have self-denial enough to forego the temptation of over-stocking the glass, such an aquarium may be healthily kept, and will even form a very pretty and lively little ornament to a room. Again, a "Stock" Glass. darkened bell-glass may be used as part of a more elaborate attempt (Fig. 4), in which, by means of an ordinary cheap wire stand, it may occupy the centre and be surrounded with the ordinary flowering plants with which we are in the habit of decorating our rooms. A glass sheet protects the surface of the water in the aquarium from dust. The late Dr. Lankester, who was one of the best and earliest writers upon aquaria, showed in his' Aquavivarium' that such an arrangement as this might be very easily and cheaply carried out. Another inexpensive tank, which answers well for window purposes, providing the sides and back are made of opaque material and not of glass, is shown in Fig. 5. The top may be fashioned of wood or zinc |