第 33 节
作者:
精灵王 更新:2021-04-30 17:23 字数:9317
rapid succession to the surface all over the vessel; and this process goes
on uninterruptedly as long as the rays of the sun are uninterrupted。
〃Now these globules consist of PURE OXYGEN; given out by the
plants under the stimulus of light; and to this oxygen the animals in the
tank owe their life。 The difference between the profusion of oxygen…
bubbles produced on a sunny day; and the paucity of those seen on a
dark cloudy day; or in a northern aspect; is very marked。〃 Choose;
therefore; a south or east window; but draw down the blind; or throw a
handkerchief over all if the heat become fierce。 The water should
always feel cold to your hand; let the temperature outside be what it
may。
Next; you must make up for evaporation by FRESH water (a very
little will suffice); as often as in summer you find the water in your vase
sink below its original level; and prevent the water from getting too salt。
For the salts; remember; do not evaporate with the water; and if you left
the vase in the sun for a few weeks; it would become a mere brine…pan。
But how will you move your treasures up to town?
The simplest plan which I have found successful is an earthen jar。
You may buy them with a cover which screws on with two iron clasps。
If you do not find such; a piece of oilskin tied over the mouth is enough。
But do not fill the jar full of water; leave about a quarter of the contents
in empty air; which the water may absorb; and so keep itself fresh。 And
any pieces of stone; or oysters; which you send up; hang by a string from
the mouth; that they may not hurt tender animals by rolling about the
bottom。 With these simple precautions; anything which you are likely
to find will well endure forty…eight hours of travel。
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What if the water fails; after all?
Then Mr。 Gosse's artificial sea…water will form a perfect substitute。
You may buy the requisite salts (for there are more salts than 〃salt〃 in
sea…water) from any chemist to whom Mr。 Gosse has entrusted his
discovery; and; according to his directions; make sea…water for yourself
One more hint before we part。 If; after all; you are not going down
to the sea…side this year; and have no opportunities of testing 〃the
wonders of the shore;〃 you may still study Natural History in your own
drawing…room; by looking a little into 〃the wonders of the pond。〃
I am not jesting; a fresh…water aquarium; though by no means as
beautiful as a salt…water one; is even more easily established。 A glass
jar; floored with two or three inches of pond…mud (which should be
covered with fine gravel to prevent the mud washing up); a specimen of
each of two water…plants which you may buy now at any good shop in
Covent Garden; Vallisneria spiralis (which is said to give to the Canvas…
backed duck of America its peculiar richness of flavour); and Anacharis
alsinastrum; that magical weed which; lately introduced from Canada
among timber; has multiplied; self… sown; to so prodigious an extent; that
it bid fair; a few years since; to choke the navigation not only of our
canals and fen… rivers; but of the Thames itself: (34) or; in default of
these; some of the more delicate pond…weeds; such as Callitriche;
Potamogeton pusillum; and; best of all; perhaps; the beautiful Water…
Milfoil (Myriophyllium); whose comb…like leaves are the haunts of
numberless rare and curious animalcules:… these (in themselves; from the
transparency of their circulation; interesting microscopic objects) for
oxygen…breeding vegetables; and for animals; the pickings of any pond;
a minnow or two; an eft; a few of the delicate pond…snails (unless they
devour your plants too rapidly): water…beetles; of activity
inconceivable; and that wondrous bug the Notonecta; who lies on his
back all day; rowing about his boat…shaped body; with one long pair of
oars; in search of animalcules; and the moment the lights are out; turns
head over heels; rights himself; and opening a pair of handsome wings;
starts to fly about the dark room in company with his friend the water…
beetle; and (I suspect) catch flies; and then slips back demurely into the
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water with the first streak of dawn。 But perhaps the most interesting of
all the tribes of the Naiads; … (in default; of course; of those semi…human
nymphs with which our Teutonic forefathers; like the Greeks; peopled
each 〃sacred fountain;〃) … are the little 〃water…crickets;〃 which may be
found running under the pebbles; or burrowing in little galleries in the
banks: and those 〃caddises;〃 which crawl on the bottom in the stiller
waters; enclosed; all save the head and legs; in a tube of sand or pebbles;
shells or sticks; green or dead weeds; often arranged with quaint
symmetry; or of very graceful shape。 Their aspect in this state may be
somewhat uninviting; but they compensate for their youthful ugliness by
the strangeness of their transformations; and often by the delicate beauty
of the perfect insects; as the 〃caddises;〃 rising to the surface; become
flying Phryganeae (caperers and sand… flies); generally of various shades
of fawn…colour; and the water… crickets (though an unscientific eye may be
able to discern but little difference in them in the 〃larva;〃 or imperfect
state) change into flies of the most various shapes; … one; perhaps; into
the great sluggish olive 〃Stone…fly〃 (Perla bicaudata); another into the
delicate lemon…coloured 〃Yellow Sally〃 (Chrysoperla viridis); another
into the dark chocolate 〃Alder〃 (Sialis lutaria): and the majority into
duns and drakes (Ephemerae); whose grace of form; and delicacy of
colour; give them a right to rank among the most exquisite of God's
creations; from the tiny 〃Spinners〃 (Ba 塼 is or Chloron) of incandescent
glass; with gorgeous rainbow…coloured eyes; to the great Green Drake
(Ephemera vulgata); known to all fishermen as the prince of trout…flies。
These animals; their habits; their miraculous transformations; might give
many an hour's quiet amusement to an invalid; laid on a sofa; or
imprisoned in a sick…room; and debarred from reading; unless by some
such means; any page of that great green book outside; whose pen is the
finger of God; whose covers are the fire kingdoms and the star kingdoms;
and its leaves the heather…bells; and the polypes of the sea; and the gnats
above the summer stream。
I said just now; that happy was the sportsman who was also a
naturalist。 And; having once mentioned these curious water…flies; I
cannot help going a little farther; and saying; that lucky is the fisherman
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who is also a naturalist。 A fair scientific knowledge of the flies which
he imitates; and of their habits; would often ensure him sport; while
other men are going home with empty creels。 One would have fancied
this a self…evident fact; yet I have never found any sound knowledge of
the natural water…flies which haunt a given stream; except