

7 



A Stud}) of the Diamond Bass 



MAX TRELL 



Compared to the goldfish which, in the 

 finest of tanks and in the best of health 

 is but a stupid, conventional fellow, the 

 Diamond Bass is, as a representative of 

 the vigorous outdoors, flushed with the 

 spirit of freedom and motion. Few other 

 fishes show that same ceaseless activity, 

 that same nervous restlessness. It seems 

 heartless on my part to confine him with- 

 in the four glass sides of the aquarium, 

 to force him to rub noses with half-caste 

 sunfishes, and, above all, to feed him 

 common house flies and 64-cent sirloin 

 steak, when I know his palate craves more 

 regal fare. But I have a suspicion that 

 he likes his home, with all its incongru- 

 ity, for in every drop of its twenty gallons 

 he is the sole and undisputed master. 



When he was added to the family, sev- 

 eral years ago, I was amazed at the alac- 

 rity with which he fell into the position 

 of leader. He drew an imaginary line 

 behind the front glass and proceeded to 

 patrol his post, keeping a wary eye on the 

 small sunfish, never permitting them to 

 form in schools, as was their wont. The 

 more closely I observed his actions the 

 more firmly was I convinced of the exist- 

 ence of a silent means of communication 

 between them. He had only to stop a 

 moment, cock his eye in the direction of 

 the culprits, when off they would scatter 

 as if the devil was at their tails. Though 

 his attitude was menacing, he never actu- 

 ally mauled them, which made his assum- 

 ed pugnaciousness the more interesting. 

 From the goldfish he remained politely 

 aloof, seeming to reason that if he did not 

 notice he would find no pretext to molest 

 them. Occasionally, however, when a 



big red fellow made a great commotion 

 in his anxiety to extricate himself from 

 plant entanglements, the Bass would rush 

 to the scene, disturb a few inquisitive 

 sunfish, and hover about the spot until he 

 had assured himself that nothing more 

 interesting might be expected. The atti- 

 tude of the goldfish was queer and some- 



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The Diamond Bass 



what amusing. Not only did they fail 

 to appreciate his dignity, but added insult 

 by nibbling his fins at every opportunity. 

 Rather than call him a coward, which 

 would be much too degrading, I will say 

 that he had admirable control of his tem- 

 per, on these occasions retreating to the 

 rear, that he might restrain himself more 

 securely. 



His reactions to live food, especially 

 flies, were remarkable. No sooner did 

 he spy one on the surface than he forgot 

 his likes and dislikes, letting the sunfish 

 gather unnoticed about his nose ; for the 

 moment there was but one matter worthy 

 of consideration. He observed the vic- 

 tim cautiously, making sure it was genu- 

 ine, and, getting the correct angle, poised 

 himself perpendicularly below and sprang 

 upon it, splashing the water with the 



