Part 10

Very different from these are the sticklebacks (_Gasterosteus_), also fine subjects for the aquarium, for a more pugnacious or plucky little fellows it would be hard to find than these graceful little tyrants, which in early spring are found in our creeks and salt-water ditches in great abundance. As this is the only season of the year in which they can be captured, it is best to be on the watch for them during the last of March or the first of April. A dip-net, made of a piece of mosquito netting caught over a small hoop, and attached to a long, slender handle, is best for catching all kinds of fish for the aquarium, and the shores of bays or salt-water streams supply a greater abundance than the open sea, or the shore washed by the heavy ocean waves. If your globe is the vessel you are to use, the sticklebacks will afford you quite as much amusement as any fish you could find, for aside from their quick, lively manner, they are a very handsome fish. The male is of a rich ruddy color, his little silvery sides giving forth gleams of red or blue, which vary considerably, according to his temper. If he feels quiet and peaceful, they are pale and soft in tone, but if indignant, they become very brilliant, and the little chap with his savage, fiery eye, becomes an object of great respect and terror to all the other denizens of the water within reach of his teeth or sharp little spines. The female is less brilliantly colored than the male, is blunter in build, and has a comparatively mild disposition, leaving all little differences with other fish for her liege lord and master to settle, for which duty he is perfectly well fitted and takes great delight in performing; indeed, so quarrelsome were these little fellows, that they would soon kill all fish of other species in the tank, and when no other subject was at hand, would fall to and fight one another, biting as ugly dogs might do, and spearing with their tiny spines, till one had acquired complete supremacy over all the rest. It is very interesting to watch the process of their nest-building, and to see them, like so many lilliputian carpenters, lay the sticks and hairs in place, working as if their whole life depended upon their unceasing exertions. We used to put in bits of broom-corn split in threads, and bristles from the floor-brush, for materials; and the work of building would generally occupy three or four days. The nest was built in one corner of the box (we were obliged to keep the sticklebacks in a separate glass case, as they killed all the other fish if together) and well up on the sides, with a tiny round hole at the top for the fish to go in and out. After a short time—I do not remember now just how long—hundreds of little fish came out from the nest, and were very lively for two or three days, but in a week they were all dead, and the parents had the waters to themselves once more. We never succeeded in raising the young fish, I remember, but I do not now recall whether any reason was ever ascribed to our failure, or if it was even known.

But to go back to our large aquarium. Fortunately for us, not many fish are as quarrelsome as the sticklebacks, and most of those I shall now describe live together in perfect harmony. The young of larger fish do very nicely for a time in the aquarium, and a young eel is a rather amusing although somewhat sluggish fellow to keep.

The most amusing denizens are creatures of the crab family. The little hermit-crabs, found in quantities on any shelving beach of the bay or sea inlet, create much sport for the young naturalist. These little crabs, you must know, are soft little fellows, for whom nature in a frugal moment prepared no house or covering to protect them from the thumps they might receive from both water and stones; but the little fellows, with a shrewdness one would hardly suspect in creatures so small, rise equal to the occasion, and help themselves to the empty snail-shells left by their more fortunate neighbors. When small they occupy the little black snail-shells, moving from a smaller to a larger as they increase in size. After outgrowing these plainer homes they take possession of the pretty grayish-white shells also found in abundance on our shores. It is frequently quite amusing to watch two fight over a particularly desirable one, which either has chosen for its own, and ofttimes the battle will be long and heavy before either will give up that which he considers by rights his own. If you have one or more of these little wanderers in your globe, remember to put in two or three empty snail-shells for them to flee to when they have outgrown their present abode. Their manner of eating affords a very entertaining spectacle. Clams, either soft or hard, cut into tiny bits, form the principal food for all the dwellers in the aquarium, and a long stick with a needle driven in one end, to form a tiny spear, is used in passing it to them. When a particular crab is to be fed, a bit of clam is taken up on the needle, and lowered down in the water to a position directly in front of him. At first, before he has become acquainted with this mode of dining, he draws in his claws, and nothing but the shell is to be seen upon the bottom; but in a few moments the little fellow lets himself out again, little by little, with a quick, jerky movement, till at last his two little eyes stand in an upright position, and he is ready to seize the tempting morsel. This he does with his longest claw, and holding the clam firm in his grasp, he proceeds to pick it in pieces with the other long claw, and pass it along to the smaller set, which in turn give it to the next in order, until it finally disappears in the mouth itself, and is swallowed by the little creature.

It is important to have two or three snails in your globe to act as scavengers, and keep the water free from the refuse which would otherwise remain on the bottom. These little creatures are often seen moving slowly along on the surface of the glass, feeding upon the green moss or confervæ which accumulates so quickly on all the objects under water. The pipe-fish, a peculiarly shaped specimen, comparatively rare on our Atlantic coast, is worthy a place in your collection; and the shrimp, the acrobat of the aquarium, whose funny little backward movements, when the poor little fellow is frightened, create so much laughter among the little folks, must not be forgotten. Young scallops are very pretty, and when left undisturbed open their shells a trifle, disclosing a beautiful fringe of tiny blue tentacles which wave to and fro with every motion of the water.

The medusæ, also called jelly-fish, with their umbrella-like cover, and long, slender tentacles streaming downward, are pretty for a time, but do not live long after they are taken from the sea. The Cydippe and the Beroe are very lovely specimens of this class, the former particularly is noticeable for its beautiful iridescent colors. The beautiful orange colored medusa is an unsafe inmate, as he very soon kills all the fishes within his reach.

If it is possible, obtain one or more of the beautiful sea-anemones, and add it to your globe; the large, bright-colored members of this class are only to be found in the tropics, but very pretty, delicate specimens are sometimes found in our northern waters, where a rock or bit of stonework is constantly washed over by a swift current. If possible, it is better to take the stone on which they rest, as it is almost impossible to remove them from its surface without killing them. This was, however, done several times with success, and the anemones lived in our aquarium as long as they could be expected to exist in perfectly quiet water. When these creatures are at rest or frightened they draw down into little shapeless masses; but when looking for food they stretch up again, and expand on the top of the long stalk, as we may call it, a beautiful flower-like head, resembling an aster in form, and of a deep brownish-yellow color. When food is passed down to this animated blossom, it will fold its little tentacles one by one around it, and pass it down into its mouth, open to receive it, but which is entirely hidden by the beautiful petals of this delicate flower.

All of you have probably noticed the serpulæ, or worm-like excrescences often seen upon oyster and other hard shells. If one of these shells be taken from the water and immediately placed on the bottom of your aquarium, after a few days, when the little animals feel quite at home, they send out of one end of their slender tubes bunches of the loveliest, delicate brown fern-like feelers, which sway about in the water like the beautiful roadside ferns in a gentle summer breeze.

But in the salt as in the fresh water aquarium, vegetation is necessary for a healthful condition of the inmates. Here we see on a miniature scale that wonderful balance of organic forces which exists on the larger globe around us. The vegetation exhales the purifying oxygen, which renders the water fit for sustaining animal life; the fishes and other animals in their turn give forth the carbonic-acid gas, which is equally needed for the healthful development of the plants; while, last of all, the snails—those little scavengers nature has so wisely provided—remove such minute portions of decaying matter as might otherwise pass unnoticed, and so contaminate the entire water in the globe.

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THE WOODEN WINDMILL.

So common were these little toys among the companions of my childhood, that it seemed almost superfluous to insert what I supposed every boy must be familiar with; but upon questioning my young friends, I find that very few of them away from the sea-coast towns of New England, and the sailor-like influence or atmosphere which permeates them, know anything of the pretty little windmills, or weather-vanes, which we copied from those of our sailor friends.

It was no uncommon thing in those days for some boy less ingenious than his companions to use a little strategy, and so get his work done for him by proxy; and the manner in which he would proceed was generally something like this: Early some bright spring morning, with jackknife and shingle in hand, he would saunter down to the wharf, upon which he knew at an early hour the old sea captains of the village would assemble, and wait his chance. Here the old captains, and the sailors, who by reason of their advanced age took the same honorary title, were wont to gather on the sunny side of the weather-beaten old store-house, and watch from under their heavy gray eyebrows the bay stretched out before them, while they enjoyed their pipes, and lived over again the wonderful adventures and disasters of their successive voyages; and here he would watch for his prey, little suspected by those kindly old souls, who had, years long gone by, ruled with iron will over the crews and destinies of great ships, known to him only by their names. Occasionally two or three would arrive at the wharf together, and he knew his chances were gone for that day at least; but usually some one, whose breakfast may not have claimed as much attention as usual, would be seen making his way down the quiet village street, easily recognized by his rolling gait, his inseparable pipe, and manner of scanning the clouds and horizon. Now our friend would begin to whittle in earnest, soon attracting the attention of the ancient mariner by his awkward movements. Of course, he would receive no end of ridicule for his stupidity; but as that did not sink very deep in his boyish soul, he was prepared to pay a greater price, if necessary, for the work he expected to receive. It not unfreqently happened that the old fellow would take the shingle to show him how to begin, and would get so much interested in the work that he would offer to do it during the day, and would actually whittle away on the little boat, while he or one of his companions related for the fiftieth time how the _Nautilus_ passed through so many hair-breadth escapes, and finally reached port at last, with no soul missing and cargo untouched.

It was during these long voyages, when time hung heavily on their hands, that they acquired their skill in fashioning these mechanical toys, which almost always had for their motive power the wind or the waves.

The simplest form of windmill from this source I remember seeing is very easily constructed. It is made from an oblong piece of wood like Fig. 1. Through the center of this bore a hole, _a_, for the pivot upon which it will finally turn, and mark the two lines at _b_. Now, commencing at the point _b_, cut off the corner, _b c_, and make the surface flat as in Fig. 2; then cut off the opposite side of the other end, indicated in Fig. 1 by the dotted lines _d e_, in a like manner. Your figure will now resemble Fig. 2, and both ends will form a prism like _b c d e f_; but _b c d e_ should be a thin flat blade, so the corner or edge, commencing at _f_, should be cut down in the same manner that _e d_ was treated in Fig. 1. Make the other blade to correspond and chamfer out the middle, or square piece, as seen in Fig. 3. This middle piece is not a square, although I have spoken of it as such, but is oblong, to allow room for another two-bladed piece made precisely like this to interlock with it. When these two pieces are fitted together, fasten them with one or more nails, and then insert the small round stick upon which the windmill is to turn. Fig. 4 shows an arrangement by which two windmills are operated on the same stick. These should turn in opposite directions to make them effective, and this is easily accomplished by simply cutting the vanes of the one so that the wind shall strike it at an angle opposite to that with which it strikes the other. Should you care to decorate them in colors, it had best be done by painting bands or stripes across each vane, all to correspond with each other in width and shade. For instance, take the windmill in Fig. 4; let the outside bands be of chrome yellow and one inch wide; the next red and two inches wide; while the third yellow, and the fourth blue, should each be an inch in width. The axis should have a greater diameter where the larger revolves upon it, but should be cut smaller where it meets the back of the little windmill. Nails in front and back of the larger, and front of the smaller, are necessary to keep them in place.

Perhaps the most satisfactory way of arranging such a windmill is to place it on the end of a weather-vane, as shown in Fig. 5. It is then always presented to the wind. The vane and the windmill may be painted the same color, or the latter may be decorated in stripes, as before described, and the vane given a color which will harmonize with it. Care must be exercised to fasten each part strongly in place, as the strain is very great during a strong wind or in a storm.

THE SCREW-PROPELLER; OR, WEATHER-VANE AND WINDMILL COMBINED.

Take a piece of board, seven-eighths of an inch thick, and large enough to make a vessel of the size you desire. Cut out a hull like that in the illustration. Make a small windmill like that just described, but with rounded ends to the vanes, like that represented in Fig. 2. Pass a strong wire through the hole in the center, and drive it into the stern of Fig. 1; fasten the other end into the rudder, which should be stationary. Be careful when planning your vessel to allow sufficient room for the windmill to revolve below the over hang. Bore a hole at a for the pivot to rest in, upon which the weather-vane is to turn, and insert the two masts in their proper places. Cut a small mizzen-sail from thin board and nail it to the mast.

The flags are of red and blue flannel, the stays of copper or galvanized wire, and the bowsprit a small stick, cut from a tough bit of wood. This propeller may be painted to suit the fancy, but usually is black, with a narrow yellow or white stripe near the top. The lower third is frequently painted green, however, which adds considerably to its nautical appearance. The windmill should be a bright red, and the entire vessel should have plenty of time to dry before being placed in its final position.

THE SIDE-WHEELER.

Another, and very pretty windmill, which can be easily constructed by a boy, is in the form of a steam-boat, the paddles of which are always presented to the wind by the position of the boat itself. Cut out of a seven-eighths of an inch board a hull like that seen in the illustration, and make the hole for the pivot at the middle point between bow and stern; bore another hole just aft of this for the axle of the paddle-wheels. Out of thin wood cut two circular disks for these wheels, and dovetail the paddles into their edges as seen in Fig. 2. Next cut out two half circles of your thin wood for paddle-boxes, and bore a hole in each for the axle of the wheels. These are to shield the upper half of the wheels from the wind. Now take a piece of tin, in shape like Fig. 3, and wide enough to accommodate the wheels on either side, and nail it to the edges of the paddle-boxes, as seen in the figure; the ends, _a_, are to be nailed upon the deck of the steamer, and answer the purpose of keeping these boxes in position. Paint this boat black and green, the latter occupying the lower third of the hull, while a narrow line of yellow or white around the top relieves the somberness of the upper part. The paddle-boxes should be black, with narrow lines of light red radiating from a small semicircular figure of the same color near the bottom. This boat should also be fitted with a small mizzen-sail, made of tin or thin board, and painted white. The top of the paddle-boxes is buff or light yellow, and the wheels or windmills are a bright red.

In this steam-boat, a “dummy” walking-beam, cut out of a single piece of thin wood, can be added if desired, and should be painted in solid black, or, if liked, it can be striped like that in the “Toy Steam-boat,” elsewhere described in this book. The smoke-stack in this, as well as the screw-propeller, should be nailed in place before the first painting.

If you should care to take the trouble, the walking-beam can be made to move by simply cutting away the hull between the paddle-boxes, to allow the crank to turn in, and bending the axle of the wheels in the form of the crank described in the “Toy Steam-boat.” A long slit must also be cut in the tin cover of the paddle-boxes, to allow of the play of the connecting-rod. Small flags of bright-colored strong cloth can be placed in the proper places if desired, and really add considerable to the bright, pretty effect when first made; but as they are soon ruined by the combined influences of sun, rain, and wind, they are hardly desirable, unless the boat is in some position where it can be easily reached, and the little flags changed for new ones, as they become faded or torn.

THE REGATTA WINDMILL.

Take two sticks of wood, about three feet long, and one inch in diameter; fasten them together at their central points, so that their arms shall be at right angles with each other (see Fig. 1); and bore a large hole through the point of intersection. From shingles cut out four boats, each eight inches long, and fit them with masts; next cut from strong new cloth four small triangular pieces for sails, and sew them to the masts; fasten the lower corner by a strong bit of cord to the stern, as seen in Fig. 2; then cut a small flag from red flannel and nail it to the top of the mast. You can paint these boats if you like, and also the cross-pieces upon which they are finally nailed. Care must be taken that they all head the same way. Observe their positions in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows the affair finished and mounted on its pole. Place them in as high a position as possible, so that they may catch the breeze from all directions.

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A BOY’S SOLAR MICROSCOPE.

The microscope is, as every boy knows, an optical instrument, which enables us to see and examine objects which are too small to be seen by the naked eye. The arrangement of the solar microscope is similar to that of the magic lantern, the sun taking the place of the limelight usually employed. In this form of the magic lantern, two difficulties are to be overcome; one, the necessarily fixed position of the instrument; and the other, the very inconvenient habit the sun has of constantly changing his position; so that it would be impossible to adjust the lens without the aid of a mirror, to throw sufficient light in upon the object to be examined. Both of these obstacles are surmounted in the simple arrangement of the solar microscope here described.

First make a strong frame of wood, seven-eighths of an inch in thickness, that will exactly fit in the lower half of the window when the sash is thrown up; and in the middle of this fit an upright board a foot wide, which has a hole cut in its center ten inches in diameter. Fasten it strongly in place by four nails driven through the frame, and well into the ends of the boards, or, if more convenient, by long screws inserted in the same places. Fig. 1 shows the position of the board _a_, also that of the nails _b_. The open spaces, _c_, are to be closed by several thicknesses of brown paper pasted or tacked across on the inside of the frame. The upper part of the window must also be closed, so that no ray of light shall enter the room, except through the hole _d_.

Before proceeding further, it may be well to remark, that, as perhaps the largest part of the work is the cutting of no less than seven circular holes of various sizes, through as many pieces of board, a scroll-saw will be found an almost indispensable aid to the construction of this apparatus. Also, that the window in which this microscope is used must necessarily have a southern exposure.

In Fig. 2 we have a disk of half-inch wood, twelve inches in diameter, with an opening in the center four inches across, to hold the condensing lens, _a_; _b_ is a mirror five inches wide and ten inches long, turning on an axis which passes through the supports, _c c_, the latter being attached to the disk. These supports should be long enough to admit of the mirror turning entirely around without touching the disk, and are fastened in place by screws passing through the disk and into their ends. When the mirror is in place, cut the slit _d_ parallel with the edge of the mirror, for the wire _e_ to pass through. The manner of attaching the wire to the back of the mirror is seen in Fig. 3. The back is first covered with paper to prevent its scratching; then the wire is bent and laid in place, and lastly, a piece of very strong paper is pasted over the wire and entire back, and caught down over the edge of the front, forming a narrow frame to the glass; the ends of this wire should pass through rather small holes in _c c_, so that it will not turn easily out of position. A handle (see _f_, Fig. 4) should be placed on the other side of the disk, and just across the lens from the slit _d_.