368 SUN-FISH OF AMEKICA. 



then, we have an excellent hint for those who wish to 

 rear young fish which otherwise it is difficult to nourish. 



On the beauty of these Chinese fish M. Carbonnier 

 called them the Paradise-fish. He was kind enough 

 to present me with a j)air of them, and they lived some 

 time in my museum, where they eventually died, I 

 think, on account of its being too cold. They were cer- 

 tainly the most beautiful little fish I ever saw. They 

 would, I feel convinced, do exceedingly well in this 

 countr}^, not, of course, as fisli to turn out, but as 

 aquarium or, to coin a phrase, a hot-house fish. 

 Should any lady take a fancy to looking after these fish, 

 keeping them in a warm room, feeding them regularly, 

 and seeing that the water is properly managed, they 

 would, I am convinced, become acclimatised in this 

 country. It has been proved they will breed in France, 

 why not, therefore, in England ? M. Carbonnier has 

 shown us how to feed the young ones, and I have no 

 hesitation in saying that with proper care and attention 

 they would thrive in England. 



Should an opportunity occur, of course I should spare 

 no pains to get these fish over from Canton and other 

 parts of China. 



SUN-FISH. 



There has been alive in one of the aquaria at my 

 museum, South Kensington, for some months past, a 

 very beautiful little American fish brought me over by 

 Mr. Begg when he brought the black bass ; this is the 

 Sun-fish or Sunny {Poniotis viihjaris), a small species of 

 Centrachus. Extreme length is eight inches. It is 



o o 



ovoidal in shape, and is of most lovely colours— green, 

 brown, and pale blue. 



It is common in the middle and southern States, 



