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[Illustration: CABINET AQUARIUM.]

THE BOOK

OF

THE AQUARIUM

AND

WATER CABINET;

OR

Practical Instructions

ON THE FORMATION, STOCKING, AND MANAGEMENT, IN ALL
SEASONS, OF COLLECTIONS OF FRESH WATER AND
MARINE LIFE:

BY SHIRLEY HIBBERD,

AUTHOR OF "RUSTIC ADORNMENTS FOR HOMES OF TASTE," &c., &c.

LONDON:
GROOMBRIDGE & SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW.

1856.

W. H. COLLINGRIDGE, PRINTER, 1, LONG LANE.




CONTENTS.




THE FRESH-WATER TANK.

                                                             PAGE

Chapter I.--What is an Aquarium?                                6

  The Name and the Object--Philosophy of the Aquarium.


Chapter II.--Proper Kinds of Vessels                           10

  Rectangular Tanks--Construction of Tanks--Warington's
  Stope-back Tank--Bell Glasses and Vases--Stands for Vases.


Chapter III.--Fitting-up--Rockwork                             17

  The Bottom--Mould--Planting--The Water--Aspect.


Chapter IV.--Plants for the Aquarium                           21

  How to stock a Tank quickly--Selection of Plants--Water
  Soldier--Starwort--Vallisneria--Anacharis--Myriophyllum--
  Potamogeton--Nuphar Lutea--Pipewort--Utricularia--Isopelis--
  Subularia--Ranunculus--Hydrocaris--Alisma--Lemna, &c.


Chapter V.--Fishes for the Aquarium                            32

  Cyprinus Carpio, Gibelio, Carassius, Auratus, Brama,
  Leucisus, Rutilus, Alburnus, Phoxinus, Gobio, Tinca,
  Barbus, Barbatula, Cephalus--Percidae--Gasterosteus.


Chapter VI.--Reptiles, Mollusks, and Insects                   44


Chapter VII.--Selection of Stock                               46


Chapter VIII.--General Management                              48

  Feeding--Confervae--Uses of Mollusks--Objections to
  Mollusks--Use of Confervoid Growths--Periodical
  Cleansing--Exhaustion of Oxygen--Temperature--Dead
  Specimens--Disease of Fishes.




THE MARINE TANK.


Chapter I.--The Vessel                                         53

  Points in which the Marine differs from the River Tank--
  Stained Glass.


Chapter II.--Fitting-up                                        56

  The Bottom--Rocks, Arches, and Caves--The Water--Artificial
  Sea Water--Marine Salts--Management of Artificial Water--
  Caution to the Uninitiated--Filtering.


Chapter III.--Collecting Specimens                             66


Chapter IV.--The Plants                                        69


Chapter V.--The Animals                                        71

  Fishes--Mollusks--Annelides--Zoophytes--Actinia
  Mesembryanthemum--Anguicoma, Bellis, Gemmacea,
  Crassicornis, Parasitica, Dianthus, &c.


Chapter VI.--What is an Anemone?                               84


Chapter VII.--General Management                               91

  Grouping of Objects--Sulphuretted Hydrogen--Preservation
  of the Water--Aeration--Filter--Decay of Plants--Death of
  Anemones--Removal of Objects--Density of the Water--
  Green Stain--Feeding--The Syphon--Purchase of Specimens.




THE WATER CABINET.


Chapter I.--Construction of Cabinets                          101

  Distinctions between the Cabinet and the Aquarium--
  Construction of a Cabinet--Glasses.


Chapter II.--Collecting and Arranging Specimens               106

  Implements for Collecting--Nets, Jars, and Phials--
  Pond Fishing.


Chapter III.--The Stock                                       110


Chapter IV.--Larva                                            114

  The Dragon Fly--The Gnat--The Case Fly.


Chapter V.--Coleoptera                                        130

  Dytiscus Marginalis--Hydrous Piceus--Colymbetes--
  Gyrinus Natator.


Chapter VI.--Heteroptera                                      139

  Hydrometra--Notanecta, Nepa, &c.


Chapter VII.--The Frog--Notes on Management                   140




LIST OF ENGRAVINGS.


  Cabinet Aquarium                                _Frontispiece