THE AQUARIUM BULLETIN 



light, but not direct sunlight. Too 

 much cxi)osure to the light will cause 

 the unsightly growth of algae which, 

 while benehcial, obscures the view of 

 the contents. Tocj little light, on the 

 other hand will cause the plants and 

 \egetation to decay and the fouling 

 of the water will follow as a natural 

 result. 



A tine layer of gravel, thoroughly 

 washed, should cover the bottom of 

 the aquarium to a depth of about ly^" 

 to 2", though many i)refer, and this 

 really is the better way, the adoption of 

 containers for the plants. The latter 

 will admit of removing all the plants 

 and syphoning off the bottom of the 

 tank when it is required or desired. 

 If the bottom of the tank is fully 

 covered, this is dit^cult and permits 

 the excrement, etc., to settle and if 

 not absorbed by the plants, will in 

 turn generate and throw oft" gases to 

 the detriment of the ftsh. 



In selecting your first sepcimens, it 

 is well to study your facilities. By no 

 means procure the tinely bred fish. 

 While they are without any doubt 

 more beautiful, they are equally 

 delicate and harder to maintain. A 

 good strong scaled fan-tail, either Jap 

 or Telescope, as your fancy may 



dictate, will beautify the aquarium and 

 will gi\e you little trouble. .Vny of 

 the reliable dealers who advertise in 

 this i)ublication can be thoroughly 

 trusted to hel[) you select specimens. 

 You undoubtedly will wish a pair, 

 male and female. They can likewise 

 help you to [)ick them out as regards 

 sex. 



The aquarium should be prepared 

 and allowed to stand for a few days 

 to permit the water to ripen. When 

 the fish are brought home, they should 

 be given a mild salt bath. This may 

 be prepared by dissolving a table- 

 spoonful of pure (not prepared) salt 

 in two gallons of water. Let the fish 

 remain there for a half hour, after 

 which they may be gently placed in the 

 aquarium. Do not attempt to feed 

 them now, or the next day for that 

 matter. They are in strange surround- 

 ings, and what is of greater 

 importance, new water, in all 

 probability. They will gradually get 

 over their nervousness and grow 

 accustomed to the new tank and on 

 third day may be fed very lightly. If 

 they do not appear hungry, refrain 

 from further feeding for another day 

 or so. 



C. F. F. 



Snail Uses Its Brain 



That a snail can pass over a razor's 

 edge without the slightest harm has 

 been demonstrated by a French 

 scientist. The snail walks with the 

 whole undersurface of its body and 

 is provided with means to lubricate 

 the road on which it travels. A 

 complex system of muscles enables it 

 to cling in any position to the smooth- 

 est objects. 



In liftin<: it^^elf over the razor's 



edge it clings with the hind part of 

 its walking surface to one side of the 

 blade and extends the forepart and 

 bends it down over the other side. 

 Then it draws itself over gradually 

 and without exerting any pressure on 

 the edge of the blade. 



While the common snail has lungs, 

 heart and a general circulation, it is 

 able to live without inhaling air. Ex- 

 perminents have demonstrated that 



