The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-28
NEW Y0RK'S AQUARIUM.
a BEh UTIFUL NOME FOR THE Ma
TIYES OF THE GREAT DEEP.
Where the Aaunrium Orieinntcd-II ouses for
the Finny Tribe In the European Capitals
What IL Expected from MIR. W. q. Coup.

the Rinny Tribe In the European Capitals
Whit IL Expected from MIR. w. q. Coup.
Aquaria have been in vogue in this coun-
try and Europe for nearly twenty years, as
means OF ornament and instruction in private
houses, and within the past seven years have
been constructed on large scale as objects Of
public interest in Paris, Naples Brussels Berlin,
London, Brighton, Manchester, Yarmouth, and
the Crystal Palace, Sydcnham. All are private
enterprises
The first creator OF aquarla was Mrs. Powers,
an English lady, who, In 1872, on the coast Of
Sicily collected quantities Of fishes In glass jars
or globes, in which the sea water was constantly
changed by an effective though inconvenlent
continuance. She improved her arrangements
on reaching England but for many years aquara
were possessed by only few especially inter-
ested About 1858 they came In fashion n
household ornament. The Brighton Aquarium
the largest and most complete in the world
stands on the extensive and level space known as.
the Steyne. The inner wall abuts against "A Gin
and the front faces the ocean. The main build
ing L. paatial In aspect, with heavy columns
against the walls, and balconies upon the roof.
II Is us feet long. with an average width OF 100
feet. Its material Is Of brick. varying In color.
The main entrance Is by an open court o. ieet
long and m wide the floor OF which IL 20 feet
below ground and reached by granite steps.
Passing a restaurant to the left, the main recep-
ton hall, $50 feet long; contains ceiling richly
colored tile work. There are tables covered with
newspapers and magazines, and in their neigh
borhood are luxurious lounging chairs. Among
| the ornaments are small aquara, as "A preliminary
| TO those yet to he seen, These contain many
varieties of small fishes, among which the hip
| pocampus or sea horse, indigenous to Mexican
lakes, Is conspicuous Its body IL that OF hsh,
but the head is almost precisely like that Of a
miniature horse.
HOME OF THE FISHES.
From the reception hall two semi-circuar
| arches lead to a long and somewhat dim, double
| cloister Of Gothic architecture, anordng per:
/ spective OF about Ave hundred feet At the end
| OF this Is II picturesque WATERFALL the effect OF
| which Is heightened by an inburst Of light from
above. which also illumnes the conservatory in
advance Of it. Midway along the corridor.
| where stand several Of the larger aquarium
tanks. On each side OF the tiled and richly -Orna
mented corridor are tanks along is entire length,
| through the crystal fronts Of which may be seen
numerous varieties Of marine creations, animal
and vegetable. The division composing the
| fronts OF these tanks are each composed OF three
sheets ~ plate glass, one inch thick and six
feet high, by three wide. They are constructed
| separately. Tank No. | holds beautiful sea
nnemones, resembling flowers more than h-h,
| yet, as the thOughtless shrimp approaches, the
petals Of the apparent flower become grasplng
| tentaces and seize him. Among the strange,
looking sea cucumbers and stems OF branching
| coral may he seen tube worms and various rep
tiles coiling and gliding. There are also indus
| tfiOus weavers aud mashed crabs, the nc
| tions Of which afford most entertaining
inspection. The succeeding tank displays
mackerel and salmon, gliding among the mimic
| caves. Beyond these. on either side of tho
widened court, are the two grand tanks, where
and other T mon,ers he sV deep Gs sS No
over ITO feet long, and holds llOOVD gallons.
| small whale has abundant space for action,
dophins, porpoises aud SURGEONS display
| their nnny backs and living nsh leap.
dne irb. mG~ wen,y TfIS other 'ne tanks
| No. ~ is found To lie tile home OF the
devil nsh. with its myriad Of long claws. At
! times the femate Is discovered 10 he watching
what appear to he clusters OF white currants,
protecting them by ucea-insmovement- u her
! lets of water from her mouth. The apparent