4 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [March. 



his peculiar style of motion, he is named the DsLYter {Boleosoma 

 tesselatum.) He is said to have no air bladder, which accounts for 

 the difficulty he has in rising to the surface. He is a quiet 

 retired character, but always manages to be on hand at feeding 

 time. 



The Striped Minnow (Rhinicthjs atronasiis) is the dandy of the 

 tribe, — always sporting himself in the fore-ground. He is a little 

 forward at times, and sometimes makes mistakes, such as rushing 

 at a fly that has alighted on the outside of the glass, and only 

 knows his real position (a dandy in prison) when his nose comes 

 in contact with the glass. 



We have a tyrant in our colony, the common Sun-fish (Fomotis 

 auritus.) He must be king, and his rule is despotic. None are 

 allowed to eat until he has finished, and even afcer getting the 

 lion's share he chases all who dare to attempt to help them- 

 selves. One day he nearly fell a victim in consequence of his 

 bad temper. A fine Cray-fish (Astacus Bartonii) had his home 

 in the corner of the aquarium ; at the close of feeding time he 

 would sally forth to pick up anything that was left ; the sun-fish 

 made a dash at the antennae of the cray-fish (which are always 

 in motion when on a purveying expedition) ; like lightning the 

 claws of the crustacean were thrown up in self-defence. He 

 caught our finny friend above the tail, and only our timely inter- 

 position saved the sun-fish's life. After this we made a close 

 prisoner of him in one of the corners of the tank, by placing a 

 square of glass against the side and end. 



The most graceful fish in our family is the American Perch (^Perca 

 flavescens), his proportions are so elegant, and his shape is so well 

 adanted for swimming. He has a powerful stroke-oar in his tail, 

 and few can match him on a trip round his domain. His powers 

 of eating are extraordinary. Many a poor minnow pays the 

 penalty of being a little too small for his company. Still, when 

 reo-ularly fed, he behaves himself as well as a respectable perch 



ouo-ht to do. 



A very pretty Black Basse (^Centrarchus fasciatus') , is our next 

 friend ; we were not long favoured with his company, — he was 

 too o'ood for such a station. The waters of the St. Lawrence or 

 the Ottawa were his home, and he pined for their gravelly bottoms 

 and rippling waves. . His retiring manner was our admiration j 

 he always loved the shade of the rock-work. Many a stray fly 

 was quietly dropped into his corner, which he never took without 



