SS ees SSS 
38 THE FRESH-WATER AQUARIUM. 
‘“‘ The best die first, 
But they whose hearts are dry as summer’s dust, 
Burn to the socket :”’ 
and hence as to longevity they prove themselves the worst. 
Dace are very tameable, and soon grow bold and familiar 
in captivity, comporting themselves in their attitudes and 
motions much like Prussian carp. Of the three, dace are 
the most hardy; I have some which have survived eighteen 
months’ confinement, and are now enjoying the sunshine 
in the garden. 
The aquarian, contemplating the silvery spangles of his 
white fish, may like to be reminded that the scales of dace, 
roach, and bleak, were formerly used in the manufacture 
of Oriental pearls, and are still used to some extent in 
making the imitations of pearl that occasionally gleam 
under the chandelier upon the brows of laughing belles, 
C. phoxinus, the mimnow. An aquarium without 
minnows is no aquarium at all—it isa makeshift. With 
a shoal of minnows and afew Prussian Carp an aquarium 
may be considered fairly stocked, because there is really 
something to look at, something to amuse, and something 
to instruct. The minnow is a bold and impudent fish; he 
is at his ease in less than an hour, and ina week will show 
a sign of attachment and familiarity. They do not live 
beyond three years, but will reach that age in the confine- 
ment of a tank. Like carp and tench (and asses), min- 
nows may be said never to die, for they survive the severest 
trials of heat and cold, neglect and bad treatment, The 
colours are pleasing, and bear some close resemblance to 
the mackerel; but fright will make them assume a pale 
fawn colour in an instant. Disease seldom attacks them, 
