44 



Aquatic JLitt 



slight variability according to the water 

 temperature. There is much still to be 

 discovered concerning the proper treat- 

 ment of the eggs during the hatching 

 period. 



This Cynolebias is a native of the 

 Argentine Republic, being found espe- 

 cially in the La Plata River. It is said to 

 inhabit cool, clear waters which contain 

 a small percentage of nitrate of potash, 

 the mineral salt commonly known as salt- 

 peter. A certain amount is considered 

 essential to the welfare of the fish when 

 kept in the aquarium. Specimens have 

 been imported that measured from three 

 to four inches long, but at half this length 

 have been found sexually mature and 

 have bred in aquaria. It is a fish well 

 worth while. 



Miscellaneous Notes 



NICHOLAS NACKS 



A male of Dan'w albolirieatus has been 

 found sexually mature when four months 

 old. A male of that age bred by the 

 editor was used with an older female by 

 George W. Price. 



■ Hybrids derived from the following 

 combinations have been reported : Heter- 

 andria formosa x Lebistes reticulatus, 

 Phalloptychus januarius x Lebistes retic- 

 ulatus, Xiphophorus heller i x Limia 

 caudofasciata. 



In the spawning operation of Haplo- 

 chromis strigigena, the common mouth- 

 breeder, according to a recent observer, 

 the eggs are gathered by the female as 

 soon as fertilized, without waiting for the 

 extrusion of the full complement. 



Speaking generally the species of 

 Xiphophorus kept by aquarists do not 

 agree in color patterns with the species 

 of similar names as described in system- 

 atic works. This is probably the result 

 of indiscriminate cross-breeding. Pure 



species have apparently not been im- 

 ported for several years. 



Boxes of soil used for the propagation 

 of the white worm, Bnchytraeus albidus, 

 soon become populated with a variety of 

 forms of life — larvae of various insects, 

 mites, common earthworms, etc., none of 

 which seems to be detrimental. The 

 mites are not relished by the fishes, prob- 

 ably because of the bitter taste incidental 

 to the presence of formic acid. In one 

 box podurids made their appearance in 

 great numbers, and proved a good food. 



During the winter meal worms, the 

 larvae of certain bettles, are splendid 

 food for the larger, "strong- jawed" 

 fishes. In the fall of the year any whole- 

 sale grocer, and some smaller fellows, can 

 supply "wormy meal," in fact, they'll be 

 glad to have you carry it away. 



Away off in Australia the aquarists 

 have a number of exotic fishes which 

 would be highly prized in America today, 

 among them Barbus phutunio and Ras- 

 bora cephalotaenia. Some of the native 

 Australian fishes are mighty interesting, 

 and could be carried through our winters 

 at ordinary house temperature. 



The hornwort, Ceratophyllum dewier- 

 sum, is a peculiar plant in several par- 

 ticulars. It is one of the few species in 

 which fertilization is effected under 

 water. The plant floats freely in the 

 water ; when found attached the condi- 

 tion is purely accidental, as it possesses 

 no roots. The embryo develops a single 

 rootlet, but this soon disappears, and 

 none are subsequently formed. The 

 functions of life are performed indis- 

 criminately by all parts of the plant-body. 



Mr. William Guild, 33 Main street, 

 Winter Hill Postal District, Boston, 

 Massachusetts, desires to enter into cor- 

 respondence with aquarists interested in 

 snails and willing to exchange specimens. 



