112 



aquatic JLitt 



brown, black and white, with large sil- 

 very scales on the sides. The pectoral 

 or breast fins are shaped somewhat like 

 the wings of a butterfly, which gives the 

 fish its common name. The ventral fins 

 have five extended rays, which, I have 

 observed, are used to crawl through 

 thick, floating or surface vegetation after 

 prey without disturbing the surface of 

 the water or attracting attention. The 

 central rays of the caudal or tail fin are 

 also considerably prolongated, contrib- 

 uting much to the graceful appearance 

 of the fish. The anal fin, which is the 

 feature by which the sexes can be dis- 

 tinguished, is single on the female and 

 double on the male, consisting of a few 

 short rays in front, immediately behind 

 which is a semi-circular soft-rayed 

 shorter portion. I have also observed 

 another distinction not as yet, to the best 

 of my knowledge, referred to elsewhere. 

 All the males I have ever seen, and I 

 have carefully examined the five at the* 

 New York Aquarium at one time, have 

 an intermittent organ protruding side- 

 wise on the right-hand side, and imme- 

 diately above and beside the first ray 

 of the anal fin. This organ is formed 

 like a curved tube, about one-eighth of 

 an inch in length. When spawning I 

 saw the male consistently keeping on the 

 left side of the female, both swimming 

 actively at the top, the eggs floating on 

 the surface, white in color and about the 

 size of the head of an ordinary pin. The 

 spawning took place at midnight, so I 

 am inclined to consider the species noc- 

 turnal. It seems to prefer water as warm 

 as 99 degrees Fahrenheit, but can stand 

 65 degrees. 



One may wonder how the scales grow 

 in exact proportion to the size of the 

 fish. If he will examine one of them 

 with a magnifying glass he will see that 

 they increase by adding new matter at 



the edges ; so that each scale increases 

 exactly in proportion to the growth of 

 its owner. The numerous concentric 

 lines on the scales mark the growths of 

 successive seasons, just like the rings in 

 timber. 



There is one point in the scales to 

 which particular attention should be di- 

 rected. If you lay the fish on its side, 

 you will see that there is a conspicuous 

 narrow line which runs from the gill- 

 covers to the tail, and which, in the 

 perch, nearly follows the arch of the 

 back. This is called the "lateral line," 

 and its shape is of great use in distin- 

 guishing one fish from another. It is 

 formed in a rather curious manner. Each 

 scale of this line is pierced near its base 

 with a little hole, which corresponds to 

 an aperture in the body of the fish. 

 Through this aperture is poured that 

 slimy substance with which the scales 

 of the fish are covered, and which serves 

 as a defence against the water. — Rev. J. 

 G. Wood. 



Among the pests apt to despoil the 

 ponds of the fish culturist, especially if 

 large and located in the suburbs or open 

 country, is the Kingfisher, a bird of great 

 beauty. Seldom is the breeder of fancy 

 goldfish bothered, but last year this bird 

 managed to catch a number of goldfish, 

 valued at $75, from the ponds of the 

 Rev. J. H. Houghton, of Denver, Colo. 



The Inland Printer gives the following 

 definition of competitor: "A rascal and 

 a sneak. Not very much is really known 

 about him. Said to have horns and a 

 tail. Generally perniciously active be- 

 tween the hours of 8 A. M. and 8 A. M." 



Correction. On page 100, April 

 number, for Nitella flexilis read Nitella 

 gracilis. 



