Chapter I. 



' ' Every man is a valuable member of society, 

 who, by his observations, researches, and 

 experiments, procures knowledge for men." 

 Smithson. 



THE HISTORY OF THE GOLDFISH. 



Long before the principles upon which the success of an aqua- 

 rium are based were understood, goldfish were kept and tenderly 

 cared for, merely because they are beautiful, and besides being in a 

 sense pets, upon which to lavish much solicitude and attention, 

 served the purpose of an animated ornament, than which it is diffi- 

 cult to find a more beautiful and desirable substitute. The very fact 

 of their being denizens of a different element than that in which 

 the most familiar domestic animals and pets live, served to surround 

 tliem with a halo of fascination that prompted their admirers to 

 expend upon them any amount of time and pains to keep them in a 

 flourishing condition, and ever ready to be displayed before the 

 chosen guest in the household. 



Their wonderful tenacity of life, the gorgeous colors in which 

 they are clothed, both contributed to make them adapted to life in 

 the aquarium and grace the elaborate structures that were framed 

 for the express purpose of displaying them to the best advantage. 



The goldfish, we are told, like many other things, originated in 

 China, though, so far as this is concerned, its history is involved in 



