Page:Sea and River-side Rambles in Victoria.djvu/100

81 muslin or fine netted bag, attached to a long handle, (the small utensil used for poaching eggs will explain what we mean). We have grieved to see many fine specimens destroyed on removal, and this makes us give a few words of caution on the subject.

And now having a family about us, we must needs feed them, or we may have to appear before the Bench for maintenance;—"an unfortunate Hippocampus and fourteen little ones," or "a poor old crippled Starfish, (rendered blind by disputative authorities) and a family of orphans" would settle the matter unfavourably for us very speedily, in which event we should decidedly have to sue for a divorce a mensâ, to say the least of it; but most of the inhabitants find ample sustenance in the water, and for those which desire something more nourishing, a small portion of raw meat may be lowered by a string into the tank daily, so as to be withdrawn at will, and thus decomposition be prevented.

To remove or secure any small objects, a small glass tube of a diameter of about a quarter of an inch will be of service; to use it, the forefinger should be placed on the top, and the tube placed over the object, which, on the forefinger being withdrawn, will rise into it, and the finger being again applied, it may be removed in safety.

The formation of the Freshwater Aquarium will vary but little from that already described: a few inches of sand wherein the plants may root, and a few stones laid on it is desirable, but rock work is not necessary, in fact to our taste, decidedly objectionable and unsightly. Good well water, the experience of many writers has proved to be as well adapted to the