The Book of the Aquarium and Water Cabinet or Practical Instructions on the Formation, Stocking, and Mangement, in all Seasons, of Collections of Fresh Water and Marine Life

The Frog.--The _Ranidæ_ or true frogs, and the _Bufoidæ_ or toad tribe, contribute, whether in the larva or perfect form, some very lively, entertaining, and instructive specime...

The great class of insects comprises many remarkable and diverse forms, among the 560,000 species which Dr. Imhoff estimates to be now known to naturalists. Yet, various as they...

I shall here give the names and a few particulars of the history of the fishes that are most suitable for the aquarium, reserving my notes on the grouping and general stocking f...

Though Anemones take precedence in the order of stocking, and frequently monopolise the tank--for, after all, these are the main attraction of most marine aquaria--yet, as they...

Coarse sea sand and pebbles, all well washed, make the best bottom; but if sea sand is not to be conveniently obtained, common silver or gritty river sand will answer every purp...

I shall in this Chapter only notice such particulars in the management of aquaria as belong especially to the marine department, since some of the directions given in the former...

_How to stock a Tank quickly._--It is usual to fix the plants and fill up the tank to within a few inches of the top, and then leave the whole for a week before completing the c...

The beetle tribe are distinguished from other insects by the possession of _elytra_, or wing-cases; which wing-cases are, with regard to the typical structure of an insect, to b...

It is very strange that where the animal and vegetable kingdoms meet, the forms should assume such close resemblances to each other, as to make it frequently a matter of difficu...

_Rectangular Tanks._--Any vessel that will hold water may be quickly converted into an aquarium; but as we desire to have at all times a clear view of the contents of the vessel...

_The Name._--The term _vivarium_ was first applied to the vessel containing a collection of specimens of aquatic life, and the first vivarium of such a kind, on anything like an...

_Distinctions between the Cabinet and the Aquarium._--The Aquarium has not only spread abroad a love for Natural History, it has also increased the facilities for the study of n...

Feeding should be performed twice or thrice a week, and will be as amusing to the observer as gratifying to the fishes. Bread is not so objectionable as many have stated. Carp,...

_Rockwork_ claims the first consideration when we proceed to fit up and furnish a tank. For a fresh-water aquarium, I do not recommend rockwork of any kind; and in the case of a...

_Implements for Collecting._--Most of the ordinary productions of ponds and brooks may be purchased of the dealers, especially beetles, larger kinds of larvæ, water spiders, and...

I have already indicated some of the varieties best suited for the cabinet, but will here briefly enumerate those which form the leading features of attraction, leaving the deve...

To gather specimens is much more pleasant than to purchase them, though an inexperienced person would be pretty sure to bring home, from the sea side, many things utterly unfit...

_Points in which the Marine differs from the River Tank._--Though vessels of precisely the same construction are used for marine as well as fresh-water aquaria, yet, as the pecu...

In the Cuvierian arrangement the land and water bugs stand between the true beetles and butterflies, and in those members of the order which possess wings, the chief characteris...

Every day adds to the popularity of the Aquarium, but every day does not add to the accuracy of the published descriptions of it, or the perspicuity of the directions everywhere...

As already stated, the green weeds are most suitable, the red next so, but of the brown and olive sorts there are very few that can be kept in a state of health for any length o...

The lower orders of creation supply many interesting specimens for the aquarium. Among the reptiles--newts, or water lizards, and the common frog, may be recommended as offering...

FIRST BOOK OF LESSONS. 18mo, wrapper. SECOND BOOK OF LESSONS. 18mo, cloth. SEQUEL TO SECOND BOOK. No. 1, 18mo, cloth. SEQUEL TO SECOND BOOK. No. 2, 18mo, cloth. THIRD BOOK OF LE...

The first thing to guard against is over-stocking, the common error of all beginners; taking large fish with small, I think about two or three to every gallon of water is the ut...