glaucus-or the wonders of the shore(格劳高斯)-第28部分
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apply St。 Paul's words by no means irreverently or fancifully； 〃which do
but gender strife；〃 … not in these pedantries is that moral training to be
found； for which we have been lauding the study of Natural History：
but in healthful walks and voyages out of doors； and in careful and
patient watching of the living animals and plants at home； with an
observation sharpened by practice； and a temper calmed by the continual
practice of the naturalist's first virtues … patience and perseverance。
Practical directions for forming an 〃Aquarium〃 may be found in Mr。
Gosse's book bearing that name； at pp。 101； 255； ET SEQ。； and those
who wish to carry out the notion thoroughly； cannot do better than buy
his book； and take their choice of the many different forms of vase； with
rockwork； fountains； and other pretty devices which he describes。
But the many； even if they have Mr。 Gosse's book； will be rather
inclined to begin with a small attempt； especially as they are probably
half sceptical of the possibility of keeping sea…animals inland without
changing the water。 A few simple directions； therefore； will not come
amiss here。 They shall be such as anyone can put into practice； who
goes down to stay in a lodging…house at the most cockney of watering…
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places。
Buy at any glass…shop a cylindrical glass jar； some six inches in
diameter and ten high； which will cost you from three to four shillings；
wash it clean； and fill it with clean salt…water； dipped out of any pool
among the rocks； only looking first to see that there is no dead fish or
other evil matter in the said pool； and that no stream from the land runs
into it。 If you choose to take the trouble to dip up the water over a
boat's side； so much the better。
So much for your vase； now to stock it。
Go down at low spring…tide to the nearest ledge of rocks； and with a
hammer and chisel chip off a few pieces of stone covered with growing
sea…weed。 Avoid the common and coarser kinds （fuci） which cover the
surface of the rocks； for they give out under water a slime which will
foul your tank： but choose the more delicate species which fringe the
edges of every pool at low…water mark； the pink coralline； the dark
purple ragged dulse （Rhodymenia）； the Carrageen moss （Chondrus）； and
above all； the commonest of all； the delicate green Ulva； which you will
see growing everywhere in wrinkled fan…shaped sheets； as thin as the
finest silver…paper。 The smallest bits of stone are sufficient； provided
the sea…weeds have hold of them； for they have no real roots； but adhere
by a small disc； deriving no nourishment from the rock； but only from
the water。 Take care； meanwhile； that there be as little as possible on
the stone； beside the weed itself。 Especially scrape off any small
sponges； and see that no worms have made their twining tubes of sand
among the weed…stems； if they have； drag them out； for they will surely
die； and as surely spoil all by sulphuretted hydrogen； blackness； and evil
smells。
Put your weeds into your tank； and settle them at the bottom； which
last； some say； should be covered with a layer of pebbles： but let the
beginner leave it as bare as possible； for the pebbles only tempt cross…
grained annelids to crawl under them； die； and spoil all by decaying：
whereas if the bottom of the vase is bare； you can see a sickly or dead
inhabitant at once； and take him out （which you must do） instantly。 Let
your weeds stand quietly in the vase a day or two before you put in any
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live animals； and even then； do not put any in if the water does not
appear perfectly clear： but lift out the weeds； and renew the water ere
you replace them。
This is Mr。 Gosse's method。 But Mr。 Lloyd； in his 〃Handbook to the
Crystal Palace Aquarium；〃 advises that no weed should be put into the
tank。 〃It is better；〃 he says； 〃to depend only on those which gradually
and naturally appear on the rocks of the aquarium by the action of light；
and which answer every chemical purpose。〃 I should advise anyone
intending to set up an aquarium； however small； to study what Mr。 Lloyd
says on this matter in pp。 17…19； and also in page 30； of his pamphlet；
and also to go to the Crystal Palace Aquarium； and there see for himself
the many beautiful species of sea…weeds which have appeared
spontaneously in the tanks from unsuspected spores floating in the sea…
water。 On the other hand； Mr。 Lloyd lays much stress on the necessity
of a 塺 ating the water； by keeping it in perpetual motion； a process not
easy to be carried out in small aquaria； at least to that perfection which
has been attained at the Crystal Palace； where the water is kept in
continual circulation by steam…power。 For a jar…aquarium； it will be
enough to drive fresh air through the water every day； by means of a
syringe。
Now for the live stock。 In the crannies of every rock you will find
sea…anemones （Actiniae）； and a dozen of these only will be enough to
convert your little vase into the most brilliant of living flower…gardens。
There they hang upon the under side of the ledges； apparently mere
rounded lumps of jelly： one is of dark purple dotted with green；
another of a rich chocolate； another of a delicate olive； another sienna…
yellow； another all but white。 Take them from their rock； you can do it
easily by slipping under them your finger…nail； or the edge of a pewter
spoon。 Take care to tear the sucking base as little as possible （though a
small rent they will darn for themselves in a few days； easily enough；
and drop them into a basket of wet sea…weed； when you get home turn
them into a dish full of water and leave them for the night； and go to
look at them to…morrow。 What a change！ The dull lumps of jelly
have taken root and flowered during the night； and your dish is filled
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from side to side with a bouquet of chrysanthemums； each has expanded
into a hundred…petalled flower； crimson； pink； purple； or orange； touch
one； and it shrinks together like a sensitive plant； displaying at the root
of the petals a ring of brilliant turquoise beads。 That is the commonest
of all the Actiniae （Mesembryanthemum）； you may have him when and
where you will： but if you will search those rocks somewhat closer；
you will find even more gorgeous species than him。 See in that pool
some dozen large ones； in full bloom； and quite six inches across； some
of them。 If their cousins whom we found just now were like
Chrysanthemums； these are like quilled Dahlias。 Their arms are stouter
and shorter in proportion than those of the last species； but their colour is
equally brilliant。 One is a brilliant blood…red； another a delicate sea…
blue striped with pink； but most have the disc and the innumerable arms
striped and ringed with various shades of grey and brown。 Shall we get
them？ By all means if we can。 Touch one。 Where is he now？
Gone？ Vanished into air； or into stone？ Not quite。 You see that knot
of sand and broken shell lying on the rock； where your Dahlia was one
moment ago。 Touch it； and you will find it leathery and elastic。 That
is all which remains of the live Dahlia。 Never mind； get your finger
into the crack under him； work him gently but firmly out； and take him
home； and he will be as happy and as gorgeous as ever to…morrow。
Let your Actiniae stand for a day or two in the dish； and then；
picking out the liveliest and handsomest； detach them once more from
their hold； drop them into your vase； right them with a bit of stick； so
that the sucking base is downwards； and leave them to themselves
thenceforth。
These t
