The family aquarium; or, Aqua vivarium ..being a familiar and complete instructor upon the subject of the construction, fitting-up, stocking, and maintenance of the fluvial and marine aquaria .. . umeraries in costume, and fill up the gaps which, in somediverting performance, might mar the perfection of a bril-liant scene. They are not positively demanded by the exi-gencies of the case. We could do without them, the Aquarium, as an artistical imitation of Nature,who leaves no unfilled hiatus in her scale of nicely bal-anced existences, would not be complete without thisaddendum, an
The family aquarium; or, Aqua vivarium ..being a familiar and complete instructor upon the subject of the construction, fitting-up, stocking, and maintenance of the fluvial and marine aquaria .. . umeraries in costume, and fill up the gaps which, in somediverting performance, might mar the perfection of a bril-liant scene. They are not positively demanded by the exi-gencies of the case. We could do without them, the Aquarium, as an artistical imitation of Nature,who leaves no unfilled hiatus in her scale of nicely bal-anced existences, would not be complete without thisaddendum, and many an hours satisfaction would be lostfor want of such a costless opportunity to study some ofthe more diminutive but not less extraordinary phenom-ena of vitality. As it is advisable to be more fastidiousthan generous in supplying this department, we shall only 70 FRESH-WATER REPTILES AND INSECTS. allude to the animal life of this kind most serviceable inan Aquarium for private purposes. The first one and thebest one, to our taste, is : The Crimson-spotted Triton (Millepundatus), oftencalled the Water Newt, and by many the Eft, or theEvet. No fresh-water tank can be said to be perfect. Crimson-spotted Triton (Millepunctatus). without this droll and playful creature. He is to be fotmdin ponds and similar localities, but readily accustoms him-self to any place where he enjoys comfortable accom-modations and good treatment. Nothing could be morenimble, more eccentric, more curious than his movements,as, now balancing himself upon a leaf, now treadingwater in the centre of the tank, now darting headlongtowards the bottom, and anon dashing gallantly to thesurface and creeping like a pigmy crocodile to the top ofa projecting rock as if for observation, his symmetricalproportions are displayed to the greatest advantage. He 72 THE FAMILY AQUARIUM. is a notable little swimmer, and withal, although his shapedoes put us in mind of the monster of the Nile, an inof-fensive, light-heart
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1858
