
MARINE AQUARIA 

shallow water. It differs from the Eel in being scaleless and having the 
ventral fins on the throat as long and forked barbels. 
Cods or Gadtide. The Tom-cods are small fishes of which the 
Frost-fish, Microgadus tom-cod, is found from Cape Sable north. The 
young make interesting aquarium fishes. 
Flat Fishes, Soleide and Pleuronectide. A number of species of Flat- 
fishes occur on the Atlantic coast of which the young are frequent seen 
in aquaria. They have the habit of secreting themselves to the eyes 
in the sand, and their pecular movements in swimming and odd appear- 
ance are interesting. There is but one common species of Sole on the 
Middle Atlantic coast, the Hog Choker Achirus fascitus, which will live 
in freshwater. Of the Flounders there are a number of common forms, 
the common Flat-fish or Winter Flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus; 
the Summer Flounder, Paralichthys dentatus; the Southern Flounder, 
P. lethostigmus; the Four-spotted Flounder P. oblongus; the Window- 
pane, Lophopsetta maculata; and the Rusty Dab, Limanda ferruginea. 
Skates or Rajide. ‘The common skate, Raja erinecea, is frequently 
taken on the coast from Virginia northward. It reaches a length of 18 
inches. Sometimes the larger R. radiata strays south of Cape Cod but it 
is a northern form. Another very large species is the Barndoor skate, 
R. levis, which reaches a length of four feet. The first named is very 
hardy and easily kept, and is a common feature of all larger Marine 
aquaria. 
Sting-rays or Dasyatide. Of this family the young of one species the 
Common Sting-ray or Stingaree, Dasyatis centrurus, is frequently taken 
near the shore and in salt bays and inlets. It is common from Cape Cod 
south. The adults reach a length of 12 feet. The long spine on the 
slender tail can inflict dangerous wounds. 
Frog Fishes or Antennariide. In the floating seaweed from the Gulf 
Stream a bright colored little fish, the Mousefish or Sargassum-fish, 
Pterophryne histrio, is often found, which will survive in the aquarium. 
It is of bright orange color mottled with various shades of red and brown. 
Fishing Frogs or Lophiide. The common form is known as the 
Angler or Goose-fish, Lophius piscatorius, which occurs in the shoals and 
flats, and is singular on account of its repulsive ugliness and voracity. It 
grows to a large size but the young are interesting aquarium inmates. 
Salt-water Eels or Leptocephalide. The common form is the Conger- 
eel, Leptocephalus conger; but occasionally some rare straggling tropical eel 
is found by the collector, borne to northern waters in the Gulf Stream. 
Care or THE Marine Aguarium. The maintenance of the marine 
aquarium, when properly understood, is as simple as that of freshwater. 
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