lO 



RANDOM NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY. 



Fresh Water Aquaria. 



One of the first things to be learned by 

 the inexperienced person, in attempting to 

 solve some of the mysteries of the rock- 

 pool, or of the populous shades of the 

 "submerged grove" of aquatic plants, is 

 that of reproducing the conditions, as far 

 as possible, under which the animals or 

 plants flourish, that are found there ; they 

 may sometimes be found in places ill suited 

 to their best development ; observation is 

 the best teacher here. 



Some plants, as for example anacharis, 

 or starwort, flourish best in a cool and not 

 too sunny situation ; they grow most lux- 

 uriantly in, or near, cold springs ; while 

 other plants, as milfoil, hornwort, and 

 many other species do well, or best, in 

 warmer situations. 



So of the fishes, some species do well in 

 water at as high a temperature as that 

 suited to the gold-fish ; while the sand- 

 darter {Boleosoma olmstedi) requires, for 

 health, a much lower temperature, and a 

 comparatively shady place. Specimens of 

 this interesting species can be taken at dif- 

 ferent points on the Ten-mile River ; one 

 of the largest specimens I have ever caught 

 was taken near Dagget's Bridge, east of 

 Pawtucket. They are to be found, also, in 

 the other streams and some of the ponds of 

 that vicinity. The darter is one of the 

 queerest little fishes that can be found for 

 the aquarium ; it is from two to three 

 inches in length, and dart-shaped ; its weak 

 fins barely enabling it to struggle to the 

 surface for the oxygen not always in suffi- 

 cient quantity at the bottom ; ordinarily it 

 rests upon some object. It spends the 

 greater part of the time inspecting carefully 

 the rocky recesses, or climbing over them ; 

 glides among the plants, and at every pause 

 makes a careful survey ; the flexibility of 

 its bod}' adding much to the effect of its 

 movements ; it turns its head to either side, 

 changing its general position only after 

 careful examination of the objects about it ; 

 then perhaps takes an upward look, while 

 standing on its bent caudal extremity, mer- 

 maid-like. It is only after weeks of fruitless 

 searching in this fashion for the crustaceans, 

 insects, and minute fishes that, sick with 

 long-deferred hope and gaunt with hunger, 

 Boleosoma olmstedi finally takes the unac- 

 customed proftered food from the hand. S. 



Providence. 



Wild Roses. 



Faik June is at her best when the wild 

 roses open their blossoms to the sunlight. 

 When the meadows are bespangled with 

 daisies and buttercups, and the bees hum 

 about the clover tops, we love to wade knee- 

 deep in the billowy grass upon which these 

 beauties seem to float. It is then that the 

 sweet wild roses which gather about the 

 stone walls of New England come quietly 

 into bloom. It is peculiarlj- inappropriate to 

 say of them that they burst into flower. 

 Creatures so gentle have not so demonstra- 

 tive an evolution. All their movements 

 are like their outlines, graceful. The colors 

 are the highest and most delicate conceiv- 

 able ; an embodied bliish, a sunrise glow en- 

 shrined. The perfume is as sweet as the 

 memory of the loved and lost. It is not 

 o\erpowering, but pervasive, subtle, and 

 delicious. In the season of the roses we 

 keep a cluster of these native blossoms, the 

 full-blown flowers and the opening buds, 

 upon our table. The}' hallow our thoughts 

 and make us at peace with all men. The}' 

 are as transient as all things that we prize. 

 Hardly can one say, how admirable, when 

 the petals fall upon our paper. With the 

 splendid mountain-laurel, they are com- 

 mencement flowers, opening into loveliness 

 at the time when the 30ung graduate goes 

 forth into real life. Yet how different are 

 the}' from the superb shrub that makes glad 

 our highways and smiles over the ashes of 

 the dead I The Kalmia is a type of mature 

 and thoughtful summer ; the rose of spring's 

 later days. For our spring is not confined 

 to May. If we possess such a season at all, 

 it is in June. 



We do not underrate the roses of the gar- 

 den when we express our delight in their 

 unpretending field relatives. The undoubled 

 flower, as nature designed it, is dearer to us 

 than the long-prized and modified horticul- 

 tural favorites. In the early morning when 

 the dew beads its wondrous petals, we seek 

 the rose as a part of our devotion. Surely 

 no sweeter incense rises to the throne of 

 God ! W. Whitman Bailey. 



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