142 



aquatic JLitt 



if studded with tiny sparkling diamonds. 

 After a few days these radiant spots dis- 

 appear, but reappear on the females as 

 they approach maturity. The males de- 

 velop the reddish spots. 



Considered from all viewpoints, the 

 Golden Fundulus is worthy of a place in 

 every collection. It endures well — I have 

 had specimens for three or more years. 



Riccia Fluitans 



JACOB MERGET 



There was a time when Riccia fluitans 

 was considered of little value in the 

 aquarium, but in those days little atten- 

 tion was given to the exotic fishes. The 

 books gave it passing mention, with the 



Riccia fluitans 



information that it was a poor oxygen- 

 ator. 



Riccia is a liverwort, one of the so- 

 called flowerless plants, and is related to 

 the mosses. The plant consists of a 

 bright green, expanded and irregularly 

 forked thallus, floating at the surface of 

 the water with the tips thrust above. 

 Growth is by repeated branching and 

 ball-like clusters are gradually formed. 

 These when broken by the activities of 

 the fishes, or otherwise, form nuclei for 

 other balls, until finally a blanket of 

 green is literally thrown over the sur- 

 face of the water in the aquarium. 



The value of such a covering becomes 

 evident when we breed certain fishes, 

 and particularly those species which de- 

 posit their eggs near the surface. To 

 these it offers an ideal place for oviposi- 

 tion. Not less in importance is the fact 



that it harbors countless myriads of pro- 

 tozoans (infusorians, rotifers, etc.), 

 which is the necessary food of the result- 

 ing young fish. The oxygenating power 

 of such a mass is not inconsiderable. 



The cultivation of this plant does not 

 present any particular difficulties. The 

 main requirement is to disturb it as little 

 as possible. It will do well in a glass- 

 covered aquarium in the sunlight, or with 

 little sunlight. I have grown fine clumps 

 in half -pint jars. Algae are its serious 

 enemies, and a contest between the two 

 usually results in the ultimate disappear- 

 ance of Riccia. 



While the species is a native, and thus 

 may be collected in ponds and ditches, 

 this wild material must be introduced 

 with caution, as with it may come some 

 of the pests that work havoc among 

 young fishes. It will be better to start 

 with a little secured from a fellow 

 aquarist, or, if the pond plants are col- 

 lected, to take them in small lots, exam- 

 ine carefully, and then place in "quaran- 

 tine" for a time. Riccia was named in 

 honor of P. F. Ricci, an Italian noble- 

 man, patron of the botanist Micheli. 



Not alone in color do fishes resemble 

 birds. In the home life and love of off- 

 spring a close resemblance obtains. 

 Many are nest builders, erecting struc- 

 tures quite as complicated as those of 

 "some birds, and hardly less elaborate in 

 design and finish. — Dr. Thomas G. 

 Gentry. 



It's the easiest thing in the world for 

 a man to deceive himself. 



I am very much pleased with 

 Aquatic Like and fully enjoy every 

 issue. With its assistance I have come 

 to a fuller appreciation of an aquarium, 

 and have been able to make the large 

 one in my office more attractive and of 

 greater interest.— Russell T. Neville. 



