Page:Sea and River-side Rambles in Victoria.djvu/101

82 purpose as river water, but the same caution that we recommended in stocking the Marine Aquarium should be observed here. Our readers will have frequently noticed the floating feathery green scum in our rivers attached to stones and pieces of wood, or the bottoms of boats,—this under the microscope displays forms as lovely as they are various, of what are scientifically called Freshwater Algæ; have some, by all means,—a small plant of the Damasonium—

will be a prize, and its large lobed leaves will form a delightful shelter for many of the creatures we shall select for our tank,—the slender Crowfoot (Ranunculus inundatus) of our Melbourne lagoons and marshes, the pretty Myriophyllum of all the lagoons and sluggish rivers; small "pond weeds " Potamogiton, with the lovely floating Azollarubra or pinnata, soft as velvet, their tiny hair-like roots pendent in the water, are all desirable.

As for stock, it is scarcely necessary to give instructions, since almost everything we can lay hold of, at all compatible with the dimensions of the Aquarium, will be likely to thrive;—those who will accompany us in our "Rambles by Rivers," may glean some information on the subject which it is unnecessary to repeat here.

There are many minor details as to the management of Aquaria, for success in which our readers must use their own discretion;—patience, we have already said, will have to be exercised, but above all things avoid overstocking, and never allow the water to become tepid.'