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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
small disc； deriving no nourishment from the rock； but only from
the water。 Take care； meanwhile； that there be as little as
possible on the stone； beside the weed itself。 Especially scrape
off any small sponges； and see that no worms have made their
twining tubes of sand among the weed…stems； if they have； drag them
out； for they will surely die； and as surely spoil all by
sulphuretted hydrogen； blackness； and evil smells。
Put your weeds into your tank； and settle them at the bottom； which
last； some say； should be covered with a layer of pebbles： but let
the beginner leave it as bare as possible； for the pebbles only
tempt cross…grained annelids to crawl under them； die； and spoil
all by decaying： whereas if the bottom of the vase is bare； you
can see a sickly or dead inhabitant at once； and take him out
（which you must do） instantly。 Let your weeds stand quietly in the
vase a day or two before you put in any live animals； and even
then； do not put any in if the water does not appear perfectly
clear： but lift out the weeds； and renew the water ere you replace
them。
This is Mr。 Gosse's method。 But Mr。 Lloyd； in his 〃Handbook to the
Crystal Palace Aquarium；〃 advises that no weed should be put into
the tank。 〃It is better；〃 he says； 〃to depend only on those which
gradually and naturally appear on the rocks of the aquarium by the
action of light； and which answer every chemical purpose。〃 I
should advise anyone intending to set up an aquarium； however
small； to study what Mr。 Lloyd says on this matter in pp。 17…19；
and also in page 30； of his pamphlet； and also to go to the Crystal
Palace Aquarium； and there see for himself the many beautiful
species of sea…weeds which have appeared spontaneously in the tanks
from unsuspected spores floating in the sea…water。 On the other
hand； Mr。 Lloyd lays much stress on the necessity of a塺ating the
water； by keeping it in perpetual motion； a process not easy to be
carried out in small aquaria； at least to that perfection which has
been attained at the Crystal Palace； where the water is kept in
continual circulation by steam…power。 For a jar…aquarium； it will
be enough to drive fresh air through the water every day； by means
of a syringe。
Now for the live stock。 In the crannies of every rock you will
find sea…anemones （Actiniae）； and a dozen of these only will be
enough to convert your little vase into the most brilliant of
living flower…gardens。 There they hang upon the under side of the
ledges； apparently mere rounded lumps of jelly： one is of dark
purple dotted with green； another of a rich chocolate； another of a
delicate olive； another sienna…yellow； another all but white。 Take
them from their rock； you can do it easily by slipping under them
your finger…nail； or the edge of a pewter spoon。 Take care to tear
the sucking base as little as possible （though a small rent they
will darn for themselves in a few days； easily enough； and drop
them into a basket of wet sea…weed； when you get home turn them
into a dish full of water and leave them for the night； and go to
look at them to…morrow。 What a change！ The dull lumps of jelly
have taken root and flowered during the night； and your dish is
filled from side to side with a bouquet of chrysanthemums； each has
expanded into a hundred…petalled flower； crimson； pink； purple； or
orange； touch one； and it shrinks together like a sensitive plant；
displaying at the root of the petals a ring of brilliant turquoise
beads。 That is the commonest of all the Actiniae
（Mesembryanthemum）； you may have him when and where you will： but
if you will search those rocks somewhat closer； you will find even
more gorgeous species than him。 See in that pool some dozen large
ones； in full bloom； and quite six inches across； some of them。 If
their cousins whom we found just now were like Chrysanthemums；
these are like quilled Dahlias。 Their arms are stouter and shorter
in proportion than those of the last species； but their colour is
equally brilliant。 One is a brilliant blood…red； another a
delicate sea…blue striped with pink； but most have the disc and the
innumerable arms striped and ringed with various shades of grey and
brown。 Shall we get them？ By all means if we can。 Touch one。
Where is he now？ Gone？ Vanished into air； or into stone？ Not
quite。 You see that knot of sand and broken shell lying on the
rock； where your Dahlia was one moment ago。 Touch it； and you will
find it leathery and elastic。 That is all which remains of the
live Dahlia。 Never mind； get your finger into the crack under him；
work him gently but firmly out； and take him home； and he will be
as happy and as gorgeous as ever to…morrow。
Let your Actiniae stand for a day or two in the dish； and then；
picking out the liveliest and handsomest； detach them once more
from their hold； drop them into your vase； right them with a bit of
stick； so that the sucking base is downwards； and leave them to
themselves thenceforth。
These two species （Mesembryanthemum and Crassicornis） are quite
beautiful enough to give a beginner amusement： but there are two
others which are not uncommon； and of such exceeding loveliness；
that it is worth while to take a little trouble to get them。 The
one is Dianthus； which I have already mentioned； the other Bellis；
the sea…daisy； of which there is an excellent description and
plates in Mr。 Gosse's 〃Rambles in Devon；〃 pp。 24 to 32。
It is common at Ilfracombe； and at Torquay； and indeed everywhere
where there are cracks and small holes in limestone or slate rock。
In these holes it fixes its base； and expands its delicate brown…
grey star…like flowers on the surface： but it must be chipped out
with hammer and chisel； at the expense of much dirt and patience；
for the moment it is touched it contracts deep into the rock； and
all that is left of the daisy flower； some two or three inches
across； is a blue knot of half the size of a marble。 But it will
expand again； after a day or two of captivity； and will repay all
the trouble which it has cost。 Troglodytes may be found； as I have
said already； in hundreds at Hastings； in similar situations to
that of Bellis； its only token； when the tide is down； being a
round dimple in the muddy sand which firs the lower cracks of
rocks。
But you will want more than these anemones； both for your own
amusement； and for the health of your tank。 Microscopic animals
will breed； and will also die； and you need for them some such
scavenger as our poor friend Squinado； to whom you were introduced
a few pages back。 Turn； then； a few stones which lie piled on each
other at extreme low…water mark； and five minutes' search will give
you the very anim