Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-10-31
miscellaneous.
THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF A
at sH NEWPORTER,

furnished the following description of his expert.
ence in keeping an Aquarium. Those who desire
further knowledge of this interesting institution"
will do we'll to visit Barnum's Museum.
The Aquarium, or Aqua Varium is founded up
on the principle that aquatic plants, while growing
emit sufficient oxygen gas for the support OF ami
NAL life to a limited extent the plants, in their
turn forming their solid structure by means OF the
carbonic acid thrown of by the animals in the pro-
cess of breathing This is the theory the APP
plication is as follows: A clean, tight vessel, with
glass sides is employed for r tank. Tho bottom is
frs, covered an incl, deep with clean, coarse sand,
upon which | have found, it best to put o thin
covering Of dark gravel, A rude rock work adds
much to the beauty Of the tank and to the comfort
Of It's inhabitants. Over the surface there should
b. scattered a few aquatic plaintiff marine at
tached to stones or shells; if fresh water, having
their roots buried in the sand and water is then
added, and the whole lief, for a week or more, until
the plants arc ~acclimatized and ore growing nicely.
When thus ready, the "stock" may be added by
degrees until the proper balance of animal and
vegetable life is affected. In both marine and
fresh water Aquaria, a mucous or fungus growth
is soon developed, which may be kept down by tho
pond snails, or tho buccinum or salt water snail.
My first attempt was with gold fish Cyprimus)
but not being able to obtain the proper plants, |
stocked a confectioncr's glass jar with a few other
plants from the sea, and there soon appeared a
large number Of small animals, which viewed by
lamplight, were very interesting. | found that
very deep and narrow tanks of various shapes,
have not succeeded 30 well as those having much
greater breadth and depth. The tank which | sue
cessfully stocked was of an o%ctagonal form, of thtr-
ty inches in diameter and about eight in depth
Excepting the great difficulty of rendering it tight,
this tank has succeeded admirably. After being
in use for n long time, the rockwork is still covered
with vegetation, and crabs, miDnows, cells and mol
lusca still sport and wrangle in the home which
they have so long occupied,
The animals which | have found to thrive most
easily, and to accommodate themselves most readi-
ly to their new home, are the minnows,or killey fish,
the stickleback, GdSterOSteuS Hachu1US) the shrimp
small specimens of Holsters, hermit crabs, eels. and
star fishes. have been told that the small Sleeps.
head (SargiS oriS) Is also very good. The patella,
and buccinum or sea snail, the purpara or whelk
and several varieties Of crepidulas, have also sue
ceeded nicely. The scallop, one Of the most beau
tiful Of animals, whose iriddescent hues are mar
vicious in their brilliancy, l have not been able to
keep for any length of time. The barnacle, also
so interesting in its mode of breathing and of its
catching its prey. has not lived long, The spider
crab, which the ancients held emblematic of wis
dom, and which is noted for his fondness Of dress
and mischief, has been found altogether too reck-
less Of the consequences Of his pranks and has
been banished to a tank kept for 'unruly offend
ers".
No animal in a tank, however, has behaved with
more p~ropriety and b.en productive Of more amuse-
ment than the small species of hermit or soldier
crab. They are ever active, and constantly ready
to change their shells for their own qualification or
that of beholders. They seldom pass each other
without ~disputing the right of way, and yet never
injure each other at all. A little incident viii show
the pleasure that may he found in Observing them.
While watching my tank, | saw a hermit crab cog
itating upon the expediency of vacating his shell
for an empty one lying near him. After mature
deliberation, he concluded upon the exchange, and
suddenly popping HE tail into the vacant she'll. he
crowded out a cloud of particles, probably of de-
cayed animal matter this attracted the attention
of a shoal of minnows, which Immediately attack
ed the poor hermit, endeavoring to draw him from
his shell. But a new claimant Immediately APP
peared in the person of a common crab, who clasp
ed the hermit in his claws and attempte to carry
him off by force of arms. The minnOws, un-
willing to be defrauded, now beset the robber, while
the hermit, taking advantage of this diversion,
orept quickly away from the scene of strife doubt
tless convinced that there is no place like home.
Prawns and shrimps are also objects 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 confiu ement, but are, however,
a stock of buccipums. The NAL Sleeps head 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 already named.
The study flor study it isl of Aqudria is but yet
in its infancy in this country and we may reason
ably hope that when those who are close observers
Of Nature become interested in this matter, we
shall learn much more Of the 'private life" of the
inhabitants Of the ocean than we have ever hither-
to known. Probably no such facilities for the stu
dy of natural history have ever been offered, as
are now presented by the aquarium. We have in
our rooms where we may examine it at our leisure,
a sort OF section of the ocean, whose inhabitants
may be exa'sined in their natural abode, and un
der most favorable circumstances. With such ia
cilities it will be easy to learn more in a few months
observation than we have heretofore been able tt
learn by years of examination of dead or dyir
specimens.
Tanks may be made of various forms. The sim
plest are made CT confectionery jars or any open
mouthed glass vessels. These will answer yer.
well for small specimens but the best kind, mos
proper for the fish, and well suited for observation
a-e those made af a rectangular form, with fou
glass sides. 1t has been found very difficult t
make these permanently tight, and at tho sam
time free from the faint of cement. This has how
ever. been rene lied, | believe, by some of the dea
ers in tanks; so that they may now be purchase
so constructed as to be put into use without fear
leakage.
Ia a fresh water tank we have no anemones nj
hermit crabs; but we have nevis, the sticklebac
which builds its nest beneath the waters, the " att
beetles, the tad poles. and Dumberless others, whiC
fully compensate for the absence of those that al
found only in sea water.
t Theispeedy popularity of this piscatorial and b
anical"institution"-the Aqudrium-is updoubte,
All that is needed is to exercise patient perseve
ance, regular attention, and, above all perfe
cleanliness. NO decayed matter, animal or Yege
able, must be permitted in the tank. A strict cal
10 not overstock or crowd the animals, and q d
termination to overcome obstacles, will insure su
Gees and the aquarium will ~become-what it hi
already become to thousands in Europe-a 'ne
pleasure.
CHARLES f. HAMMET, Jr.
NEWPORT, II. l., Sept. 81, 1857.
THE PROPOSED TERRITORY OF CARsoN.-Tl
people Of Carson Valley, and other valleys adj
cent, held a ublic meeting at Genoa, on the s