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breathed out by the animals。
On the same principle； Mr。 Warrington first kept； for many months；
in a vase of unchanged water； two small gold fish and a plant of
Vallisneria spiralis； and two years afterwards began a similar
experiment with sea…water； weeds； and anemones； which were； at
last； as successful as the former ones。 Mr。 Gosse had； in the
meanwhile； with tolerable success begun a similar method； unaware
of what Mr。 Warrington had done； and now the beautiful and curious
exhibition of fresh and salt water tanks in the Zoological Gardens
in London； bids fair to be copied in every similar institution； and
we hope in many private houses； throughout the kingdom。
To this subject Mr。 Gosse's book； 〃The Aquarium；〃 is principally
devoted； though it contains； besides； sketches of coast scenery； in
his usual charming style； and descriptions of rare sea…animals；
with wise and goodly reflections thereon。 One great object of
interest in the book is the last chapter； which treats fully of the
making and stocking these salt…water 〃Aquaria；〃 and the various
beautifully coloured plates； which are； as it were； sketches from
the interior of tanks； are well fitted to excite the desire of all
readers to possess such gorgeous living pictures； if as nothing
else； still as drawing…room ornaments； flower…gardens which never
wither； fairy lakes of perpetual calm which no storm blackens； …
＇Greek text which cannot be reproduced＇
Those who have never seen one of them can never imagine （and
neither Mr。 Gosse's pencil nor my clumsy words can ever describe to
them） the gorgeous colouring and the grace and delicacy of form
which these subaqueous landscapes exhibit。
As for colouring； … the only bit of colour which I can remember
even faintly resembling them （for though Correggio's Magdalene may
rival them in greens and blues； yet even he has no such crimsons
and purples） is the Adoration of the Shepherds； by that 〃prince of
colorists〃 … Palma Vecchio； which hangs on the left…hand side of
Lord Ellesmere's great gallery。 But as for the forms； … where
shall we see their like？ Where； amid miniature forests as
fantastic as those of the tropics； animals whose shapes outvie the
wildest dreams of the old German ghost painters which cover the
walls of the galleries of Brussels or Antwerp？ And yet the
uncouthest has some quaint beauty of its own； while most … the
star…fishes and anemones； for example … are nothing but beauty。
The brilliant plates in Mr。 Gosse's 〃Aquarium〃 give； after all； but
a meagre picture of the reality； as it may be seen in the tank…
house at the Zoological Gardens； and as it may be seen also； by
anyone who will follow carefully the directions given at the end of
his book； stock a glass vase with such common things as he may find
in an hour's search at low tide； and so have an opportunity of
seeing how truly Mr。 Gosse says； in his valuable preface； that …
〃The habits〃 （and he might well have added； the marvellous beauty）
〃of animals will never be thoroughly known till they are observed
in detail。 Nor is it sufficient to mark them with attention now
and then； they must be closely watched； their various actions
carefully noted； their behaviour under different circumstances； and
especially those movements which seem to us mere vagaries；
undirected by any suggestible motive or cause； well examined。 A
rich fruit of result； often new and curious and unexpected； will； I
am sure； reward anyone who studies living animals in this way。 The
most interesting parts； by far； of published Natural History are
those minute； but graphic particulars； which have been gathered up
by an attentive watching of individual animals。〃
Mr。 Gosse's own books； certainly； give proof enough of this。 We
need only direct the reader to his exquisitely humorous account of
the ways and works of a captive soldier…crab； （31） to show them how
much there is to be seen； and how full Nature is also of that
ludicrous element of which we spoke above。 And； indeed； it is in
this form of Natural History： not in mere classification； and the
finding out of means； and quarrellings as to the first discovery of
that beetle or this buttercup； … too common； alas！ among mere
closet…collectors； … 〃endless genealogies；〃 to apply St。 Paul's
words by no means irreverently or fancifully； 〃which do but gender
strife；〃 … not in these pedantries is that moral training to be
found； for which we have been lauding the study of Natural History：
but in healthful walks and voyages out of doors； and in careful and
patient watching of the living animals and plants at home； with an
observation sharpened by practice； and a temper calmed by the
continual practice of the naturalist's first virtues … patience and
perseverance。
Practical directions for forming an 〃Aquarium〃 may be found in Mr。
Gosse's book bearing that name； at pp。 101； 255； ET SEQ。； and those
who wish to carry out the notion thoroughly； cannot do better than
buy his book； and take their choice of the many different forms of
vase； with rockwork； fountains； and other pretty devices which he
describes。
But the many； even if they have Mr。 Gosse's book； will be rather
inclined to begin with a small attempt； especially as they are
probably half sceptical of the possibility of keeping sea…animals
inland without changing the water。 A few simple directions；
therefore； will not come amiss here。 They shall be such as anyone
can put into practice； who goes down to stay in a lodging…house at
the most cockney of watering…places。
Buy at any glass…shop a cylindrical glass jar； some six inches in
diameter and ten high； which will cost you from three to four
shillings； wash it clean； and fill it with clean salt…water； dipped
out of any pool among the rocks； only looking first to see that
there is no dead fish or other evil matter in the said pool； and
that no stream from the land runs into it。 If you choose to take
the trouble to dip up the water over a boat's side； so much the
better。
So much for your vase； now to stock it。
Go down at low spring…tide to the nearest ledge of rocks； and with
a hammer and chisel chip off a few pieces of stone covered with
growing sea…weed。 Avoid the common and coarser kinds （fuci） which
cover the surface of the rocks； for they give out under water a
slime which will foul your tank： but choose the more delicate
species which fringe the edges of every pool at low…water mark； the
pink coralline； the dark purple ragged dulse （Rhodymenia）； the
Carrageen moss （Chondrus）； and above all； the commonest of all； the
delicate green Ulva； which you will see growing everywhere in
wrinkled fan…shaped sheets； as thin as the finest silver…paper。
The smallest bits of stone are sufficient； provided the sea…weeds
have hold of them； for they have no real roots； but adhere by a
sma