38 



THE AQL^ARIUM, APRIL, 1893. 



have bad sight. Tliis may be acconuted 

 for by the fact that these barbies (wliich 

 are elongated appendages around or in 

 front of the month) assist the fish in 

 seeking food in muddy water or the mud 

 itself, where eyes would be useless, and 

 in a measure render the use or need of 

 eyes unnecessary. It is a law of nature 

 that when an organ ceases to be used, 

 it gradually disappears, as may be 

 proved, so far as the eyes are concerned, 

 by examining the fish found in Mam- 

 moth Cave, Ky., which are entirely 

 destitute of anything like eyes. 



So far as hearing is concerned, opin- 

 ions differ and the question is still dis- 

 puted. It may be stated that if fish 

 hear at all, it is with great difficulty. 



It is the custom in some places where 

 fish are bred, to call them to the feed- 

 ing place by tolling a bell, and they 

 come, but it is a question whether they 

 come because they hear the sound or 

 that they see the motions of the person 

 ringing the bell and that of the bell it- 

 self ; this then cannot be cited in proof 

 of the theory that they do hear. Mu- 

 sic or the report of firearms does not 

 affect them at all, but the flash from 

 the discharged gun will scare them. 



Do fish sleep ? Yes ! 



In the act of sleeping they do not 

 close the eyelids for the very good rea- 

 son that they have none, neither do 

 they select the night for that purpose. 

 Fish have been seen asleep in the broad 

 sunlight of the forenoon, and the same 

 varieties have also been found sleeping at 

 midnight. Their time for resting then 

 does not occur at stated periods, but 

 whenever their surroundings are quiet 

 and peaceable and the desire comes 

 upon them. 



Goldfish may very easily be observed 

 in slumber, remaining perfectly still, 

 the only motion being that of the 



breathing apparatus and the pectoral 

 fins, the action being very slow but 

 regular. All the other fins are at rest 

 and the pupils of the eyes appear to be 

 drawn back. 



To satisfy curiosity as well as to de- 

 monstrate the fact, a dip-net was used 

 on such occasions and slowly introduced 

 into the water, catching the fish every 

 time, not waking it until touched by 

 the net. 



The other senses, taste and smell are 

 very well developed in fish, as can be 

 demonstrated if so desired. 



{To ie eofitinued.) 



PRESERVING CUT FLOWERS. 



It is not every one who has the oppor- 

 tunity of cutting choice flowers from 

 the plants just at the moment when 

 they are required for use. Under such 

 circumstances their preservation for a 

 few days, or even hours, becomes a 

 matter of importance. Even profes- 

 sional bouquet-makers who receive sup- 

 plies of fresh flowers every morning, 

 find it necessary to adopt preservative 

 measures, and we have often thought 

 that if amateurs, and especially ladies, 

 understood more thoroughly what pre- 

 cautions were necessary, they would not 

 be so often disappointed in their at- 

 tempts to keep cut blossoms and foliage 

 fresh. 



The flowers should be cut with a 

 sharp knife, for scissors crush the tubes 

 of the stems, and sojDrevent their j^ower 

 of absorption. 



If the flowers are not immediately re- 

 quired they may be preserved fresh for 

 several days by placing them in flat zinc 

 or earthenware pans of water and living 

 sphagnum moss. Each flower should 

 be placed separately, inserting its freshly- 

 cut stem through the moss into the thin 



