328 



The American Ampler. 



tection in change of color, andjust as the Russian 

 or Siberian ( in fact, also the Scotch) hare finds 

 protection in turning white when the snow cov- 

 ers the ground. In this connection I could easily 

 adduce analogies from the feathered tribe. The 

 ptarmigan, for instance, alters his color to fit the 

 tints of this or that particular season. 



We are told by some authorities that the stick- 

 leback is without scales, but lavishly furnished 

 with aureola, filled with a colored oil, whereby 

 the color may be varied at will, or, rather, ac- 

 cording to the automatic action of certain der- 

 mal nerves. I have been unable, whilst collect- 

 ing my specimens, to obtain a scale of the stick- 

 leback ; so I must magnanimously accept this 

 theory as correct. But I have succeeded in get- 

 ting some scales from the minnow. Here is the 

 skin of the minnow, and there you will discover 

 the scales. Mr. C. Pennel, in one of his inter- 

 esting volumes, remarks the curious fact that 

 age and exclusion from the light produce pre- 

 cisely the same effect both on fish and other ani- 

 mals — the skin or scales undergoing a sort of 

 bleaching process — whether from the gradual 

 drying up of the invigorating juices of the body, 

 or from the want of the sun's rays, or from both 

 causes. In the case of fish and reptiles whitened 

 by exclusion from the light, it is almost a uni- 

 versal rule that the eyes are so much undevelop- 

 ed as to produce total blindness. 



As to the question of feeling, I can only find 

 one reference, and this is in Mr. Fennel's book, 

 where, on page 14, he says : "The rigid nature 

 of this scaly covering in the generality of the fish 

 renders it probable that they possess but little 

 external sense of touch." 



Here is a scale of the bleak. You will see 

 how beautifully it is marked, and I should like 

 to say a few words concerning the bleak, be- 

 cause we are told that one cause of the destruc- 

 tion ot bleak (a fish which has very much dimin- 

 ished of late years) was the manufacture of "pat- 

 ent pearls," as they were called, in which bleak 

 scales played a prominent part. On the inner 

 surface of these scales is found a silvery pigment, 

 to which they owe their brilliant metallic lustre, 

 and this coloring matter was universally used by 

 the bead trade for imparting a pearly tint to their 

 wares. So great, at one time, was the demand 

 for this commodity, when the wearing of imita- 

 tion pearls was at its height, that the price of a 

 quart measure of scales varied from one guinea 

 to five. At one factory alone, in Paris, 10,000 

 pearls were issued per week, and when it is con- 

 sidered that each pint of scales co.st the lives of 



4,000 fish, and only produced four ounces of pig- 

 ment, some estimate of the havoc caused among 

 bleak by this traffic may be formed. The Thames 

 fishermen gave themselves no trouble beyond 

 stripping off these valuable appendages, throw- 

 ing away the fish when scaled. Roach and dace 

 and some other species also furnish a coloring 

 substance, though not of uniform quality. The 

 whitebait was laid largely untier contribution for 

 this purpose, and it was the custom amongst 

 hawkers generally, before selling any "white 

 fish," as they were then termed, to supply the 

 manufacturers with their scales. 



Soft and Waterproof. 



If you wish to keep your sho<.)ting-boots .soft 

 and waterproof, soak them for twenty-four 

 hours in a tub of water, let the water run out of 

 them, and then fill them with common castor 

 oil while the leather is still quite wet. Hang 

 the boots up, and let the oil remain in them for 

 three or four days ; at the end of that time they 

 will be as soft and pliable as kid, and will not 

 harden after the longest day's shooting in the 

 wettest weather. 



A Bull Dog Pointer. 



A dentist, of Norristown, is the owner of a 

 remarkable bull dog pointer with all the in- 

 stincts of a field dog and that of a bull type 

 combined. His head has the shape and form of 

 a thorough pointer, but somewhat broader, 

 with a good deal of intelligence sparkling in his 

 eyes. His chest and forearms show the bull 

 dog in perfection. Like his pugnacious sire he 

 walks the streets conscious of his prowess, and 

 while he is quite gentle and kin<l to his master 

 and friends, he will be master of his race, and 

 has never been defeated in a contest. 



He is said to be a most remarkable field dog, 

 having the endurance of a wolf, a fine nose, and 

 a good worker ; in fact he will find as many 

 birds in the field as the best blood. He is 

 tractable and obedient, and does his work 

 admirably. 



A New Theory about Shad Spawning. 



During a talk the other day with an old gill- 

 net fisherman, he earnestly propounded the 

 following theory about the spawning of shad. 

 We give it for what it is worth : 



He said, that on the eastern side of the Del- 

 aware river, at Marcus Hook and Tinicum, lie 

 always caught fine, large shad, that were full of 



