970 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



and probably no fish is gifted with a more dia- 

 bolical disposition. 



Among the fishes which always appear to be 

 hunting trouble with others of their kind are 

 the puffers or swellfishes. It is difficult to keep a 

 tank of these fishes in decent condition for ex- 

 hibition. The sharp, scissor-like teeth of the puf- 

 fer seem especially adapted to the removal of 

 the fins and tails of his neighbors, and while 

 these appendages will grow out again if not in- 

 jured too deeply, some time is required for this 

 process. The toadfishes often fight like little 

 bull-dogs, biting and retaining their hold with 

 great tenacity. They sometimes seize each 

 other at the same time by the jaws and hold on 

 until the necessity for breathing compels them 

 to let go. Their teeth are sharp, as anyone 

 who has tried to investigate a toadfish nest 

 with his bare hands can testify, but beyond 

 scratching each other considerably, they seem 

 to receive no particular damage as a result of 

 their altercations. 



The classical examples of pugnacity in fishes 

 are the stickle-backs, the Siamese fighting-fish 

 and the Hawaiian Uu. The male stickle-back 

 is especially quarrelsome, and if the little fel- 

 low's courage were equalled by his size, he 

 would indeed be a terror. 



The Siamese have taken advantage of the 

 mimic warfare of the tiny "fighting fish" (Betta 

 pugnax) to obtain a great deal of amusement 

 and even excitement. Dr. Jordan writes of 

 this : "The Siamese are as infatuated with the 

 combats of these fishes as the Malays are with 

 their cock fights, and stake on the issue con- 

 siderable sums, and sometimes their own per- 

 sons and families. The license to exhibit fish- 

 fights is farmed and brings a considerable an- 

 nual revenue to the King of Siam. The kind 

 kept especially for fighting is an artificial varie- 

 ty, cultivated for the purpose." 



The Hawaiian natives seem to be the only 

 people who have been able to make practical 

 use of the bellicose disposition of any fish. 

 They capture the Uu alive and suspend it near 

 the lurking places of the species in crevices of 

 rock. Jordan states : "It remains there with 

 spread fins and flashing scales, and others come 

 out to fight it, when all are drawn to the sur- 

 face by a concealed net. Another decoy is 

 substituted and the trick is repeated until the 

 showy and quarrelsome fishes are all secured." 

 It is left to the reader to draw his own moral. 



TEETH OF PUFFER 



They are sharp, very powerful and cut like a pair of shears. 



Natural size. 



THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM NATURE 

 SERIES. 



The following papers in this series of publi- 

 cations may be obtained at the Aquarium or will 

 be forwarded by mail on receipt of price: 



Sea-Shore Life, by A. G. Mayer, 181 pages, 



fully illustrated, cloth $1.30 



The Northern Elephant Seal, by C. H. Town- 

 send (reprinted from Zoologiea), 15 pages 

 and 21 figures 25 



The Cultivation of Fishes in Ponds, by C. H. 



Townsemd, 32 pages and 13 figures; cloth... .50 



paper... .20 



Chameleons of the Sea, Some new Observa- 

 tions on Instantaneous Color Changes 

 among Fishes, by C. H. Townsend, 7 

 pages with 10 figures and a color plate 

 by Charles R. Knight 15 



A booklet on the care of small aquaria and 

 their inhabitants is in course of preparation by 

 Raymond C. Osburn. 



The Aquarium numbers of the New York 

 Zoological Society Bulletin, which deal entirely 

 with aquatic subjects, may be obtained in the 

 same manner as the above publications. The 

 back numbers up to and including March, 1912, 

 may be had for 10 cents. Beginning with No- 

 vember, 1912, these Bulletins are considerably 

 enlarged and are sold at 20 cents each. 



Post cards, both in black and white and in 

 colors, showing various animals in the Aquarium, 

 may be obtained at two for five cents or the set 

 of twelve for twenty-five cents. 



