NATIVE AQUARIUM FISHES 165 



from most others. It swims principally by use of the pectoral fins, which 

 are so transparent as to be scarcely observable, giving the fish the ap- 

 pearance of moving about by will-power, without physical effort. They 

 greatly prefer live daphnia to all other foods, but do well on scrambled 

 egg or particles of boiled shrimp. They are the only sunfishes that will 

 not kill snails. Found in ponds and slow-moving streams from Penn- 

 sylvania to South Carolina. They are partial to the cedar swamps of 

 New Jersey. At May's Landing is an excellent collecting point. The 

 Chaetodon often contracts a fatal fungus soon after capture, so the col- 

 lector should be particularly careful not to overcrowd them in the carry- 

 ing pail, and to give them the best possible conditions on arrival home. 

 Once acclimated they are hardy if fed correctly. 



THE MULLET 

 Erimyzon sucetta 



Sometimes known as the Chubsucker, the Mullet in the smaller 

 sizes makes a satisfactory aquarium fish, entirely harmless and of rather 

 attractive appearance. The back is green, sides are yellow and abdomen 

 is white. May be fed on ordinary fishfood but has pronounced vegetarian 

 tendencies. The young are sometimes mistaken for Black-nosed Dace, 

 but the difference is easily told by the mouth of the Mullet which is 

 set lower and somewhat resembles that of the Sucker. Habitat, lowland 

 waters of Eastern States. 



BLACK-HEADED MINNOW 

 Pimephales promelas 



The Black-headed Minnow is not well known as an aquarium fish. 

 The contrast of black and silver as shown in illustration correctly indi- 

 cates that the fish adds a note of novelty to a collection. The author kept 

 them for a season and they appeared to be generally satisfactory. Habitat, 

 Central and lower Mississippi Valley. 



THE RED-BELLIED DACE 



Chrosomus erythrogaster 



This beautiful fish reaches a length of three inches and is one of the 

 most satisfactory of hardy aquarium inhabitants. During the breeding 

 season the belly, mouth and base of the dorsal fin of both sexes are bright 

 red. There are two black lateral lines on the sides, separated by a band 

 of pale gold, so that even when not in breeding colors, the Red-Bellied 



