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（so minute these last； that their motion only betrays their
presence）； each tiniest atom of decaying matter in the surrounding
water； to convert it； by some wondrous alchemy； into fresh cells
and buds； and either build up a fresh branch in their thousand…
tenanted tree； or form an egg…cell； from whence when ripe may
issue； not a fixed zoophyte； but a free swimming animal。
And in the meanwhile； among this animal forest grows a vegetable
one of delicatest sea…weeds； green and brown and crimson； whose
office is； by their everlasting breath； to reoxygenate the impure
water； and render it fit once more to be breathed by the higher
animals who swim or creep around。
Mystery of mysteries！ Let us jest no more； … Heaven forgive us if
we have jested too much on so simple a matter as that poor spider…
crab； taken out of the lobster…pots； and left to die at the bottom
of the boat； because his more aristocratic cousins of the blue and
purple armour will not enter the trap while he is within。
I am not aware whether the surmise； that these tiny zoophytes help
to purify the water by exhaling oxygen gas； has yet been verified。
The infusorial animalcules do so； reversing the functions of animal
life； and instead of evolving carbonic acid gas； as other animals
do； evolve pure oxygen。 So； at least； says Liebig； who states that
he found a small piece of matchwood； just extinguished； burst out
again into a flame on being immersed in the bubbles given out by
these living atomies。
I myself should be inclined to doubt that this is the case with
zoophytes； having found water in which they were growing （unless；
of course； sea…weeds were present） to be peculiarly ready to become
foul； but it is difficult to say whether this is owing to their
deoxygenating the water while alive； like other animals； or to the
fact that it is very rare to get a specimen of zoophyte in which a
large number of the polypes have not been killed in the transit
home； or at least so far knocked about； that （in the Anthozoa；
which are far the most abundant） the polype … or rather living
mouth； for it is little more … is thrown off to decay； pending the
growth of a fresh one in the same cell。
But all the sea…weeds； in common with other vegetables； perform
this function continually； and thus maintain the water in which
they grow in a state fit to support animal life。
This fact … first advanced by Priestley and Ingenhousz； and though
doubted by the great Ellis； satisfactorily ascertained by Professor
Daubeny； Mr。 Ward； Dr。 Johnston； and Mr。 Warrington … gives an
answer to the question； which I hope has ere now arisen in the
minds of some of my readers； …
How is it possible to see these wonders at home？ Beautiful and
instructive as they may be； can they be meant for any but dwellers
by the sea…side？ Nay more； even to them； must not the glories of
the water…world be always more momentary than those of the rainbow；
a mere Fata Morgana which breaks up and vanishes before the eyes？
If there were but some method of making a miniature sea…world for a
few days； much more of keeping one with us when far inland。 …
This desideratum has at last been filled up； and science has shown；
as usual； that by simply obeying Nature； we may conquer her； even
so far as to have our miniature sea； of artificial salt…water；
filled with living plants and sea…weeds； maintaining each other in
perfect health； and each following； as far as is possible in a
confined space； its natural habits。
To Dr。 Johnston is due； as far as is known； the honour of the first
accomplishment of this as of a hundred other zoological triumphs。
As early as 1842； he proved to himself the vegetable nature of the
common pink Coralline； which fringes every rock…pool； by keeping it
for eight weeks in unchanged salt…water； without any putrefaction
ensuing。 The ground； of course； on which the proof rested in this
case was； that if the coralline were； as had often been thought； a
zoophyte； the water would become corrupt； and poisonous to the life
of the small animals in the same jar； and that its remaining fresh
argued that the coralline had re…oxygenated it from time to time；
and was therefore a vegetable。
In 1850； Mr。 Robert Warrington communicated to the Chemical Society
the results of a year's experiments； 〃On the Adjustment of the
Relations between the Animal and Vegetable Kingdoms； by which the
Vital Functions of both are permanently maintained。〃 The law which
his experiments verified was the same as that on which Mr。 Ward； in
1842； founded his invaluable proposal for increasing the purity of
the air in large towns； by planting trees and cultivating flowers
in rooms； THAT THE ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE RESPIRATIONS MIGHT
COUNTERBALANCE EACH OTHER； the animal's blood being purified by the
oxygen given off by the plants； the plants fed by the carbonic acid
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 i