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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
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