28 



agnatic lite 



articles will be illustrated by numerous 

 drawings by the author. 



Replying to an inquiry regarding the 

 identity of soy lees, which is used by the 

 Japanese in the propagation of Daphne, 

 Dr. Hugh M. Smith, U. S. Commissioner 

 of Fisheries, answered "that soy is a 

 very palatable sauce made from a bean. 

 The thick part remaining in the bottom 

 of the vessel is the lees, which correspond 

 entirely with the lees of wine, beer, and 

 various other liquids, and is synonymous 

 with dregs." 



Enchytrae, commonly known as white 

 worms, form a valuable live food for all 

 aquarium fishes during the winter 

 months, when other items on the fish bill- 

 of-fare, such as Daphne, are not to be 

 bad. It can readily be propagated in a 

 small wooden box filled with soil. If a 

 large supply is needed, several such boxes 

 should be used, drawing upon the supply 

 in each in turn. Every aquarist should 

 maintain a "white worm farm." 



A vandal recently threw a cigarette 

 stump into an aquarium containing a 

 number of fine fishes. Every one died. 

 Be watchful of strangers. 



Place the aquarium on a steady table 

 or shelf opposite a northern exposure if 

 possible, and if not, near the window hav- 

 ing the least direct sunlight. Under a 

 skylight will do, the main point being to 

 obtain sufficient light to stimulate the 

 growth of the aquatic plants without 

 allowing tbe sun to shine directly on the 

 water. — Mark Samuels. 



A healthy fish exhibits a plump, sym- 

 metrical body, clean-looking fins, close- 

 fitting gill-covers, complete erect dorsal 

 fin. clear eyes, and no missing scales. 



After the aquarium has been planted 

 and filled with water it should be al- 

 lowed to stand several days before add- 

 ing the fishes ; snails may be introduced 

 at once. 



Some native plants are good oxygena- 

 tors ; others are almost useless and soon 

 become slimy, especially if they have been 

 collected in cool, swift brooks. Unfa- 

 miliar plants should be watched. 



The bag-tail is a type of fin develop- 

 ment that apparently has not yet been 

 found among American-bred goldfish. 

 In this "sport" the upper and lower edges 

 of the two tail fins are joined, forming a 

 bag shaped like a cone. 



The water in an aquarium will evap- 

 orate according to the temperature, more 

 rapidly in a warm than in a cold room. 

 When half an inch has evaporated, add 

 an equal amount of fresh water. This 

 water should stand in the room with the 

 aquarium all night, so that it will attain 

 the same temperature. A sudden change 

 is bad for fishes, particularly in winter, 

 and consequently care must be exercised 

 to -see that the waters are alike ; this ap- 

 plies also when changing fishes from one 

 tank to another. 



. The Lorquin Natural History Club, 

 Los Angeles, has commenced publication 

 of a monthly bulletin which has been 

 called Lorquinia. Paul Ruthling is edi- 

 tor. It is sent free to members of the 

 organization. 



A Philadelphia aquarist reports a red. 

 transparently-scaled goldfish, that con- 

 tracted a disturbance causing half of its 

 body to become inflamed and blood-red 

 in color. No attempt was made to treat 

 tbe fish, and within a week the inflam- 

 mation disappeared. 



