The morning call., 1891-03-01
al Water- Cabinet.

If we describe the measurements OIL our
own cabinet it may serve as guide to any
who may desire to. have one constructed OF
similar pattern, though. as matter of
course, the plan admits of endless modifca-
tiOns, to suit the means OF the student or the
position in which such a cabinet is TO be
placed. -. e." -
The table measures. nfnetesn inches from
back to front across the center drawer, anu
from back to front across the two side draw
ers, twelve inches. On this is placed a row
Of seven-inch cylindrical glasses :of clear
flint glass, and in the. center, behind
the Jars, stands a twelve-lnch, bell
glass aquarium, to- be stocked with
choice fishes or superfuOuS cabinet spee1-
mems The first shelf has a breadth of eight
inches to receive a row of Sx-inch glasses;
the second shelf breadth Of five inches,
and the jars upon it measure four inches In
diameter. -Tht top shelf Is only three and a
half inches wide, and the glasses measge
three inches across the top. The entire
frame work has a breadth OF about thirty
two inches, and q height from the floor OF
the room to the level OF the top shell OIL
about thrty-Six inches.
The breadth and height of the window in
which the cabinet is to be placed must have
the first consideration with any one who
may intend 70 construct such piece OF fur
niture; the respective sizes OF the vessels
must be an after consideration, because,
unless the whole be so adapted as that It
shall enjoy a full share of uninterrupted
daylight, very little progress can be effected,
especially if the growth OF the more delicate
forms of aquatic vegetation be attempted.
In the absence of {. properly constructed
set of shelves few plain ones may be htted
up in a window A single strip of deal, on
brackets would afford room for dozen
jars. ard in these, by jndieiouS groupings,
specimens of from fifty to hgndred kinds
could be kept, whether for observation BY
y fR-tE a frf
Our lars are now stocked with minute
AQUATIC plants, beetles OF several species,
diving spiders, water worms and mites,
Larvae of beetles and flies, tadpOles in pre-
gress of transformation, mollusks of choice
kinds and spawn of all kinds, re-
moved from the tanks Species that
do not agree may be introduced to the
bell glass, for the sake of teaching US the
nature and incidents OF the strife maintained
in tie great world out of doors; the battle
may there have its way. and we may study
destruction with as much profit as we may
the momentary creation, by which the system
of Nature is maintained in It's completeness.
In fact, the bell glass is a reservoir into
which we may dip for almost anything we
want to I'LL up vacancies in the jars, and to
which we may cOnsign the supertiuitieS of
days collecting, having first assorted and
set apart such as are wanted Tor separate
observation and study.
The Humming- Bird.
The little sunbeams of birds, as the West
ern Indians called them, are only found in
North and South America and the Islands
adjacent. They are more thickly distributed
in the equatorial section. aud are there
known as ''Sun birds" The peculiar and
often beautiful formation, and the lrIdeScent
coloration of their plumage, are characters
tics that excite the wonder and admiration
of all observers, naturaliStS and laymen.
The long-tailed hummlng-bird OF Jamaica
(Trochilus polytmus) is more transcendent
in beauty of form aud color than the cele-
brated emerald Paradise bird OF New
Guinea.
While in the their flight some of the wad-
ing birds cleave their way through the clouds
and sweep whole hemisphere, little fam
lily of humming-b birds have only arose bush
for their universe. Like an elegant vase Or
namented with lchens, a downy nest of
cotton is balanced on the extremity OF the
most slender branch OF the plant, while
these aerial diamonds make prey of the in
Sects which the flowers attract, or drink tn.
pearls of dew which their petals distil.
Such, Pouchet tells us, is the life Of the
sparkling tailed hnmmlng-bird. In the same
manner, according to Gould, the ''emeTaIds
| of Brazil" as they are. commonly
called, robed in changing green, set up
| their family nests vi on the slender, pen
| dent stems of the creepers, from the vicinity
| of which they never move. Rocked by the
| zephyr, the female hroodss TRANQUILITY on her
| eggs, while her lord fits .amor0uslynear her
| here are spent all the happy days of the
| gentle pair All from Natures Realm.