aquatic JLitt 



107 



On Gasteropelecus 



C. J. HEEDE 



About two years ago the Aquarium 

 Specialty Company introduced to the 

 aquarists of America two interesting spe- 

 cies of Gasteropelecus, natives of the 

 Amazon River, of South America. These 

 odd fishes, G. stellatus and G. fasciatus, 

 have a peculiarly shaped body, very thin 

 and very deep in proportion to the length 

 — one and one-half inches. The pectoral 

 fins are held high and look not a little 

 like wings ; dorsal placed near the tail ; 

 ventrals unusually small ; anal long and 



G. stellatus 



G. fasciatus 



extending from middle of the body to 

 the tail. 



The general ground color of the spe- 

 cies is silvery below, becoming greenish 

 on the upper portion of the body. In 

 fasciatus irregular dark hands run from 

 the lateral line downward and forward. 

 These markings are absent in stellatus 

 which has a dark lateral stripe that 

 widens toward the tail. A line follows 

 the contour of the abdomen of fasciatus, 

 but is not so distinct in stellatus. 



These fishes, though seemingly not 

 built for speed, are really quick swim- 

 mers, and make attractive aquarium in- 

 mates. The preferred foods are Daphne, 

 Enchytrae, worms, scraped beef and rich 

 artificial foods. A temperature not less 

 than 75 degrees Fahrenheit should be 

 maintained. 



The Spring Peeper 



Concluded from Page 104 



wandering up the hill to seek hibernating 

 quarters among stones, fern roots and 

 under the many mossy stumps. The 

 Peeper has many enemies. Larger frogs 

 eat him at the pond, crows, grackles, 

 starlings and ducks hunt him by day, 

 owls, herons and bitterns by night. Gar- 

 ter, Ribbon and Watersnakes also do 

 their best to exterminate this bright little 

 messenger of spring. In spite of this 

 constant persecution, his numbers are 

 legion, and it is to be hoped that they will 

 remain so. Every creature has his place 

 in nature, and this tiny frog is of great 

 value for its aid in keeping the smaller 

 insects within reasonable bounds. 



The Chicago Aquarium Society, with 

 characteristic progressiveness, illustrates 

 the monthly lectures with pertinent mov- 

 ing pictures. The "movies" are occa- 

 sionally interrupted to flash a "Chicago 

 live wireless" message such as : 



"Fishes your hobby? Look out for 

 the psychologist." 



"I love my wife, but oh ! you aqua- 

 rium." 



"Roses are red, violets blue. I'm a 

 C. A. S. fish. What are you?" 



"Aquatic Life, the magazine for us ! 

 One dollar per year." 



Passenger — "Er — how far are we 

 from land, Cap?" 



Captain — "About a mile." 



Passenger — "A mile ! Why, I can't 

 see it." 



Captain — "No; the water's too deep." 



"I hope you have found 'Aquatic Life' 

 instructive and interesting." Mr. E. T. 

 Nugent, St. Louis, answers, "Yes, sir. 

 Don't let me miss a number." 



