New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-11-09

I - The Aquarium. ~
tAi Tff M ~ rs X ffi 4LfSiR Isl
| Mr. Charles 3. Hammett, Jr, OF Newport gives
following Interesting description of his experience
| in keeping an Aquarium ~ StYSs Ssss At 5 M 4
The Aquarium, or Aqua Vfpariun, is founded
hs asDAs r.. o Eas s,
life 70 limited extent the plants, in their turn,
forming their solid STRUCTURE BY means Of the car.
bonic acid thrown off by the animals in the process
Of breathing; This is the The theory the applica-
tion is aa follows: IA clean tight vessel, with gass
sides, ID employed for tank The bottom is frat
covered an inch deep with clean, coarse sand upon
which have found it best to put thin covering Of
dark gravel rude rock work adds much to the
beauty Of the tank and the comfort Of its inhabitants
Over the surface there should be scattered few
aquatic plants marine, attached to stones or shells
IL fresh water having their roots buried in the sand
water y then addsd and the whole are LEFT for
ncey
may be added By degrees until the proper balance Of
animal and vegetable lie is Effected ii both marine
and fresh water Aquaria, mucous or fongous growth
is soon developed, which may be kept down by the
pond snails, or the bucinum or salt water snail.
My first attempt was with gold fish, but not being
able to obtain the proper plants stocked confec.
toners glass jar with few other plants from the
sea- and there soon appeared large number Of small
teresting. l have found that very deep and narrow
tanks Of various shapes, have not succeeded 90 we'll
as those having much greater breadth and depth.
The tank which successfully stocked was of an &C.
| eight in depth. Excepting the great difficulty Of
rendering it tight this tank has succeeded admirably
After being in use for long time, the rock work Is
still covered with vegetation, and crabs, minnovs,
I eels and mellusca still sport and wrangle in the
home which they have 50 long occupied.
L The animals which I have found to thrive most
easily, and to accommodate themselves most readily
to their new home, are the innows, or kily fish, the
stckleback, the shrimp, small specimens Of Holsters
hermit crabs. serpnlidans, small common crabs ees
and star fishes. | have been told that the small
sheepshead is also very good The patela, the buc-
cnum, or sea snail, the purpara or whelk, and sew.
eral varieties Of have also succeeded nicely
The scallop one Of the most beautiful Of animals
whose ridescent hues are marvellous in their bril-.
iancy have not been able to keep for any length Of
time The barnacle also SO interesting in its mode Of
breathing and Of it's catching its prey, has not lived
loug The spider crab, which the ancients held EN-.
bematc Of wisdom, and which is noted for his fond.
ness Of dress and mischief has been found altogether
too reckless Of the consequences of his pranks and
has been banished to q tank kept for unruly or
Tenders" 5i8 ..-..s.5- y is55 n - "a,
+ No animal in a tank, however, has behaved with
more proprety, and been productive OF more amuse.
ment than the small species of hermit or soldier crab
They ever active and constantly ready to change
their shells for their own qualification that Of be-
holders. They seldom pass each other without dis
putting the right of way, and yet never injure each
other at all. little incident will show the pleasure
that may be found in observing them. While watch
ing my tank, saw hermit crab cogtating upon the
expedieney Of vacating his shell for an empty one
lying near him. After mature elaboration, he con.
cluded upon the exchange, and suddenly popping his
tail into the vacant shell, he crowded out cloud of
particles probably of decayed animal matter this
cka &c noI.eo1
Immediately attacked the poor hermit, endeavoring
to draw him from his shell. But new claimant i'm
mediatey appeared, in the form of common crab,
who clasped the hermit p bis claws and attempted
unwilling to be thus defrauded, now beset the robber
while the hermit taking advantage of this depression,
crept quickly away from the scene. F51
The shrimp is also an object worthy of admiration.
No bird sails through the air with more gentleness
than these fish float through the water. Star fishes,
likewise, are very pleasing they live long in con-
fnenlent, but are, however, quite greedy and the
larger ones will soon destroy q stock of buccinums.
The small sheepshead is said, by those who have kept
it, to be very hardy. Many other aquatic animals
will doubtless be found to be as suitable as those al
ready named. s.,-.,. ~, ...- t.. ,5..t ..-. s.
The study Of Aqlaria is yet in his infancy in this
country; and we may reasonably hope that when
those who are close observers OF nature become in
terested in this matter we shall learn much more of
the private fe of the inhabitants of the than
we have ever hitherto known. Probably no such
facilities for the study of natural history have ever
been offered as presented by the aquarium.
We have in rooms, where may examine it at
leisure section of the ocean, whose inhabitants
may be examined in their natural abode, and under
most favorable circumstances. With such facilities
it will be easy to learn more in few months observa
ton than we have heretofore been able to learn by
years Of examination of dead or dying specimens.
Tanks may be made OF various forms. The simplest
are made Of cOntectioners jars any open-mouthed
glass vessels. These may very well for small
specimens but the best and most proper for the fish,
and well suited for examination are those made in a
rectangular form, with four glass sides. It has been
found very difficult to make these permanently tight,
and in the same time free from the faint cement.
This has, however, been remeded, believe, by some
of the dealers in tanks that they may be pur
chased SO constructed as to be put into without
fear of leakage. ger WA 5l +a.4s if9t
In fresh water tank we have no anemones nor
hermit crabs but we have nevis, the stickleback,
which builds its nest beneath the waters the water
beetles, the tadpoles, and numberless Others which
fully compensate for the absence of those found only
in sea water. . 49,. RS ~.
The speedy popularity Of this piscatorial and DO.
All that is needed is to exercise patient perseverance,
No decayed matter, animal vegetable, must be per-
or crowd the animals, and determination to over
come Obstacles will insure success and the Aqua-
u will become-what it has already become to thou.
sands in Europa "new pleasure"
Two WAYS TO TELL A SToRY.-Elizabeth Barrett
relates the following episode in her history:
ma. I.