CORRESPONDENCE—GLEANINGS. 79 
mischief. Carp, roach, and dace are very fond of bread, which should 
be pressed in the hand and made pasty, so that it will not fall to pieces 
y-hen put in the water; drop in small pellets, if possible, not more than 
the fishes will take. I used to keep a number of carp, which always 
became excited when bread was on the table at meals, and would 
continue wriggling and swimming against the glass, as though they 
meant to come through, until I gave them a supply, which I never failed 
todo. A pair of wooden forceps which will reach conveniently to the 
bottom of the aquarium are exceedingly useful for removing either dead 
animals, or any other matter which requires to be taken out. I believe 
there is no cure for the fungus which attacks and destroys the fish, but 
it is highly necessary to remove at once any that may be so diseased, 
and to examine well all new specimens introduced to see that they are 
perfectly healthy.—J. L. 
Aquani1aA.—Some of your readers may be interested in the following 
facts :—I have a small bell glass aquarium, which, asa marine aquarium, 
has been very successful, there having been no deaths for upwards of two 
years, and the anemones have throughout maintained a high standard of 
vitality, attributable, I consider, to regular feeding, aeration, and 
scrupulous cleanliness. Numerous young have been cast off, and one 
stone is closely covered with what are apparently larval forms of the 
starfish. During this winter the anemones have been unusually errant 
in their dispositions, and I have three times, on different occasions, 
observed what seem to be conjugations. In each case the first sign was 
the appearance round the base of the animal of the spermatic cords, and 
these in some cases reach the length of an inch and a half. They 
float in the water, and that they are perceived by other anemones is 
proved by the animals moving up, and with their base partially 
covering the extended base of the first. They remain in this state for 
about twelve hours; the emission of the spermatic cords is increased 
till both are enveloped in the coils, which are perfectly visible, and 
between thirty and forty in number. At least I have counted as many. 
After some interval—about twenty-four hours since the first contact— 
the one that has moved up moves away, each closes, and remains in a 
state of quiescence, from which they do not emerge for some days, no 
matter how tempted by food or aeration. I shall be glad to learn if 
any of your readers have noticed similar occurrences.—G. L. B., 
Denmark Hill. 
[We refer our correspondent to Mr. Gosse’s ‘ Actinologia 
Britannica,” (Intr. pp. xxi.—xl., the Reproductive System and the 
Teliferous System,) and he will see that what he calls spermatic cords 
are the ordinary acontia, which have nothing to do with generation.— 
Eps. M. N.] 
Gleanings. 
Patmontocrapnican Socrrty.—Mr. A. H. Scott White, B.Sc., B.A., of 
the High School, Nottingham, has been appointed local secretary for 
Nottingham and neighbourhood. 
Tur PxHonocrara.—The London Stereoscopic Company (who hold the 
sole patent) are now offering to supply Edison’s speaking phonograph, to 
be worked by hand, at a price of ten guineas each, ‘“ subject to their 
non-exhibition for money payment.” 
