aquatic Uttt 



quired to see the marking. Much stress 

 is laid on this characteristic in distin- 

 guishing the various species. 



The quill wort occurs growing in sand, 

 mud and gravel on the bottoms and banks 

 of lakes and streams. A great many 

 species are always submerged, while 

 others are only partially so, or are terres- 

 trial. It is rather rare and local, but is 

 apt to be abundant when found. Being 

 inconspicuous, it is probably often over- 

 looked. 



While the adaptability of the quill wort 

 is not as broad as some other aquarium 

 plants, it is entitled to consideration on 

 account of its interesting characteristics 

 and position in the vegetable world. In 

 the aquarium it increases in size and 

 luxuriance, but can't be propogated, ex- 

 cept possibly by dividing the rootstock. 

 Snails are very fond of it, hence if one 

 would have quillwort, out must they go. 

 It is remarkably tenacious of life. Throw 

 a plant into a tank with snails, where it 

 will float at the surface, and it will send 

 forth leaf after leaf in spite of their on- 

 slaughts until finally it is overcome and 

 nothing remains but the rootstock. Re- 

 gardless of this, it should be in every 

 tank that is without snails, and those 

 fishes that will attack plants. 



"Say, bub," remarked a woul !-be fish- 

 erman, "are there any fish in this 

 stream ?" 



"Yes." 



"Will they bite?" 



"None of them ever bit me. mister ; but 

 you don't need to go into the water to 

 fish if you don't like." 



We frequently read about cats mother- 

 ing chickens, but up to the present time 

 no correspondent has had the nerve to 

 tell us that a goldfish is trying to bring 

 up a brood of parrots. 



Low Priced Goldfish 



Goldfish enthusiasts remote from the 

 centres of the greatest activity in breed- 

 ing the fancy varieties, are apt to be dis- 

 couraged by the rumors of the prices 

 commanded by fine specimens. It is not 

 the purpose of this note to enter into a 

 discussion of how much can be spent, but 

 how little will suffice to stock an attrac- 

 tive home aquarium. The novice should 

 neither be attracted nor repelled by the 

 fascination of value. The maximum 

 prices for very fine specimens are usually 

 paid by experienced breeders who desire 

 to improve their stud, or to win in com- 

 petition. It seems that the more perfect 

 a fish the harder it will be to keep in 

 condition. This is not a matter of much 

 moment to the experienced aquarist, but 

 to the novice the loss of such a specimen 

 will be a severe shock, and very discour- 

 aging. 



During the late summer and autumn 

 months it is possible to buy very attrac- 

 tive fish at little prices — twenty-five cents 

 up. These will not be show fish, but will 

 make handsome aquarium pets. If an 

 occasional one dies the loss will not be 

 great. Given the proper food and a 

 fair-sized tank, they will grow in beauty 

 and ultimately breed just like their more 

 perfect relatives. Much will be learned 

 from them, and the desire created for 

 better ones. And not the least, these 

 fishes will increase in value. Pet shops 

 should encourage the sale of fancy varie- 

 ties in preference to the common, if only 

 for this reason. The common kind, cost- 

 ing a dime, increases little in value, in 

 fact, pond fish twelve inches long sell for 

 but a dollar. 



I am the wiser in respect to all knowl- 

 edge, and the better qualified for all for- 

 tunes for knowing that there is a minnow 

 in that brook. — Thoreau. 



