EIVER GARDENS ; 



the Pike and Perch, the others would agree well 

 together, of almost any size, as they are not vora- 

 cious at all events in a fish-devouring way and 

 are content with much smaller prey. If, however, 

 variety he sought and certainly the elongated figure 

 of the Pike and the fine dorsal hattlement of the 

 Perch add greatly to the diversity of the forms and 

 characters of a group of fish in an Aquarium then 

 the caution just put forth must be carefully 

 observed. 



The Barbel (Barbus vulgaris), a name sug- 

 gested by his seeming beard, will also do well in 

 confinement; but he is rather a clumsy -looking 

 fish, and also somewhat sluggish in his movements. 

 He is represented, though upon a very small 

 scale, in Plate I. Jesse mentions Barbel among 

 the fish kept in the Vivarium in Bushy Park, 

 stating that they were the strongest and most un- 

 tameable of all the kinds. In spring, however, 

 when they could perceive no one watching them, 

 they would sometimes roll about and rub them- 

 selves against the brickwork, in many playful 

 gambols. In the Thames they sometimes attain 

 the weight of fifteen pounds. They become quite 

 torpid in winter, sheltering themselves under some 

 projecting bank, or sometimes under the lee-side of 



