.|P«SB>i^;^^Mri 



Fig. Sg. Rasbora hetcramorpha (Slightly enlarged) 



Of a light reddish color, with a vivid triangle of black on the side, this fish is 

 most striking in appearance, particularly in a small aquarium. It lives for years if 

 kept at a warm temperature, but it is difficult to breed, nobody in the United States 

 having yet succeeded in propagating them. Here is an opportunity for a clever 

 aquarist to accomplish something well worth while. See pages 253 (B la) and 

 260 (N 1). 



Fig. po. Torpedo eleetricus (Electric Catfish) 



This most curious aquarium fish, when taken in hand, gives an electric shock 

 which may clearly be felt as high as the elbow. How this is accomplished is not 

 clearly understood, as it is supposed to be necessary to touch two electric poles to 

 receive a current, li the head and tail of the fish were the poles, the current would 

 only pass from one part of the hand to the other, instead of up the arm. The fish 

 is able to cause the shock either in or out of the water. This is doubtless a means 

 of self-defense, as the current is scarcely strong enough to kill a victim intended 

 for food. See pages 2S9 (B 13) and 261 (N 6). 



95 



