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to the question； which I hope has ere now arisen in the minds of some of
my readers； …
How is it possible to see these wonders at home？ Beautiful and
instructive as they may be； can they be meant for any but dwellers by the
sea…side？ Nay more； even to them； must not the glories of the water…
world be always more momentary than those of the rainbow； a mere Fata
Morgana which breaks up and vanishes before the eyes？ If there were
but some method of making a miniature sea…world for a few days； much
more of keeping one with us when far inland。 …
This desideratum has at last been filled up； and science has shown；
as usual； that by simply obeying Nature； we may conquer her； even so
far as to have our miniature sea； of artificial salt…water； filled with living
plants and sea…weeds； maintaining each other in perfect health； and each
following； as far as is possible in a confined space； its natural habits。
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To Dr。 Johnston is due； as far as is known； the honour of the first
accomplishment of this as of a hundred other zoological triumphs。 As
early as 1842； he proved to himself the vegetable nature of the common
pink Coralline； which fringes every rock…pool； by keeping it for eight
weeks in unchanged salt…water； without any putrefaction ensuing。 The
ground； of course； on which the proof rested in this case was； that if the
coralline were； as had often been thought； a zoophyte； the water would
become corrupt； and poisonous to the life of the small animals in the
same jar； and that its remaining fresh argued that the coralline had re…
oxygenated it from time to time； and was therefore a vegetable。
In 1850； Mr。 Robert Warrington communicated to the Chemical
Society the results of a year's experiments； 〃On the Adjustment of the
Relations between the Animal and Vegetable Kingdoms； by which the
Vital Functions of both are permanently maintained。〃 The law which
his experiments verified was the same as that on which Mr。 Ward； in
1842； founded his invaluable proposal for increasing the purity of the air
in large towns； by planting trees and cultivating flowers in rooms； THAT
THE ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE RESPIRATIONS MIGHT
COUNTERBALANCE EACH OTHER； the animal's blood being purified
by the oxygen given off by the plants； the plants fed by the carbonic acid
breathed out by the animals。
On the same principle； Mr。 Warrington first kept； for many months；
in a vase of unchanged water； two small gold fish and a plant of
Vallisneria spiralis； and two years afterwards began a similar experiment
with sea…water； weeds； and anemones； which were； at last； as successful
as the former ones。 Mr。 Gosse had； in the meanwhile； with tolerable
success begun a similar method； unaware of what Mr。 Warrington had
done； and now the beautiful and curious exhibition of fresh and salt
water tanks in the Zoological Gardens in London； bids fair to be copied
in every similar institution； and we hope in many private houses；
throughout the kingdom。
To this subject Mr。 Gosse's book； 〃The Aquarium；〃 is principally
devoted； though it contains； besides； sketches of coast scenery； in his
usual charming style； and descriptions of rare sea…animals； with wise and
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goodly reflections thereon。 One great object of interest in the book is
the last chapter； which treats fully of the making and stocking these salt…
water 〃Aquaria；〃 and the various beautifully coloured plates； which are；
as it were； sketches from the interior of tanks； are well fitted to excite the
desire of all readers to possess such gorgeous living pictures； if as
nothing else； still as drawing…room ornaments； flower…gardens which
never wither； fairy lakes of perpetual calm which no storm blackens； …
＇Greek text which cannot be reproduced＇
Those who have never seen one of them can never imagine （and
neither Mr。 Gosse's pencil nor my clumsy words can ever describe to
them） the gorgeous colouring and the grace and delicacy of form which
these subaqueous landscapes exhibit。
As for colouring； … the only bit of colour which I can remember even
faintly resembling them （for though Correggio's Magdalene may rival
them in greens and blues； yet even he has no such crimsons and purples）
is the Adoration of the Shepherds； by that 〃prince of colorists〃 … Palma
Vecchio； which hangs on the left…hand side of Lord Ellesmere's great
gallery。 But as for the forms； … where shall we see their like？ Where；
amid miniature forests as fantastic as those of the tropics； animals whose
shapes outvie the wildest dreams of the old German ghost painters which
cover the walls of the galleries of Brussels or Antwerp？ And yet the
uncouthest has some quaint beauty of its own； while most … the star…
fishes and anemones； for example … are nothing but beauty。 The
brilliant plates in Mr。 Gosse's 〃Aquarium〃 give； after all； but a meagre
picture of the reality； as it may be seen in the tank… house at the Zoological
Gardens； and as it may be seen also； by anyone who will follow
carefully the directions given at the end of his book； stock a glass vase
with such common things as he may find in an hour's search at low tide；
and so have an opportunity of seeing how truly Mr。 Gosse says； in his
valuable preface； that …
〃The habits〃 （and he might well have added； the marvellous beauty）
〃of animals will never be thoroughly known till they are observed in
detail。 Nor is it sufficient to mark them with attention now and then；
they must be closely watched； their various actions carefully noted； their
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behaviour under different circumstances； and especially those
movements which seem to us mere vagaries； undirected by any
suggestible motive or cause； well examined。 A rich fruit of result； often
new and curious and unexpected； will； I am sure； reward anyone who
studies living animals in this way。 The most interesting parts； by far； of
published Natural History are those minute； but graphic particulars；
which have been gathered up by an attentive watching of individual
animals。〃
Mr。 Gosse's own books； certainly； give proof enough of this。 We
need only direct the reader to his exquisitely humorous account of the
ways and works of a captive soldier…crab； （31） to show them how much
there is to be seen； and how full Nature is also of that ludicrous element
of which we spoke above。 And； indeed； it is in this form of Natural
History： not in mere classification； and the finding out of means； and
quarrellings as to the first discovery of that beetle or this buttercup； … too
common； alas！ among mere closet…collectors； … 〃endless genealogies；〃 to
apply St。 Paul's words by no means irreverently or fancifully； 〃which do
but gender strife；〃 … not in these pedantries is that moral