THE AQUARIUM; ITS INHABITANTS, STRUCTURE, AND MANAGEMENT. BY J. E. TAYLOR, PH.D., F.L.S., F.G.S., ETC. AUTHOR OF HALF-HOURS IN THE GREEN LANES,' 'HALF-HOURS AT THE SEA-SIDE,' 'GEOLOGICAL STORIES,' ETC. PREFACE. WE regard the institution of public aquaria as more or less the result of the deeper interest now felt in the life-histories of aquatic animals, consequent upon that extensive knowledge of natural history which is one of the intellectual features of our time. We believe their extension will be greater, on this account, than those people imagine who hold they will share the fate of "spelling bees," &c. That they are a popular means of education none will deny, and the success they have everywhere met with leads us to hope they are serving a good purpose. This little volume is intended as a handbook or popular manual to our public aquaria, so as to render them still more effective as a means of education. Their history, construction, and principles of management have been briefly described, as also the natural history of the chief animals which have been more or less successfully acclimatised. The list of the latter is constantly being extended, and there appears no |