26 



aquatic JLitt 



These Congollies were taken from a 

 pool with a white sand bottom and when 

 hrst obtained were practically colorless. 

 After installing them in a well-planted 

 aquarium with a dark gravel bottom a 

 totally different appearance was assumed. 

 The characteristic chequered pattern 

 soon became apparent, rendering the 

 fishes less easy of detection in their new 

 surroundings. To obtain a photograph 



Portion of skin of Congolly 

 Showing color-cells 



Photomicrograph by the author 



the example whose picture is here repro- 

 duced was placed in a small aquarium 

 standing near a window. In this bright 

 situation the fish at once commenced to 

 pale, the color markings eventually 

 almost disappearing. 



Many fishes alter the intensity of their 

 coloring in protective resemblance of 

 their surroundings, or when influenced 

 by various emotions; even the individual 

 markings sometimes change to a consid- 

 erable extent. Incorporated in the skin 

 are numerous pigment cells which are 

 capable of great contraction ; when so 

 reduced the colors become pale or indis- 

 tinct. Differently colored cells are pres- 

 ent, and when those containing one par- 



ticular pigment are expanded and the 

 others contracted to tiny dots, the pre- 

 dominating color of the fish is that of 

 the relaxed cells. In the same way dif- 

 ferent markings appear and disappear on 

 the skin. Aquarists are familiar with the 

 color changes of the Paradise Fish dur- 

 ing the breeding season. 



The Congolly (Pseudaphritis urvillii) 

 was originally described and figured by 

 Cuvier and Valenciennes in their "His- 

 toire Naturelle des Poissons" in 1831 ; 

 since then no illustration of the fish has 

 been published. 



The Cleveland Society 



The Cleveland Aquarium Society was 

 founded at a meeting held on January 

 12 at the Cleveland Chamber of Indus- 

 try. Rev. Frederick R. Webber pre- 

 sided. 



A committee was appointed to draft 

 a constitution and arrange other details 

 for discussion and adoption at the next 

 meeting. 



The chairman read a very interesting 

 paper on the care of aquaria and fishes. 

 This was followed by a general discus- 

 sion, and everyone became well ac- 

 quainted. It is hoped that the activities 

 of the Society will result in the establish- 

 ment of a public aquarium. — Ralph II. 

 IV hip pic. 



"Delia," said Mrs. Barrows sternly, 

 "I met that policeman today who sat in 

 the kitchen with you so long last night. 

 I took advantage of the opportunity to 

 speak to him." 



"( )h, go on now," replied Delia, with 

 a smile. "Ye needn't think that'll make 

 me wan bit jealous, mum, oi have got 

 him safe enough." — New York Globe. 



Somehow the majority of our habits 

 seem to be bad. 



