104 NATIVE FISHES 



sunlight flashing its bright silver sides, it is a very pretty member of 

 the aquarium family. Of a gentle nature and will take any food. 

 The natural distribution is in the Northern States east of the Rockies. 



THE KILLIFISH 



Killifish, both fresh and saltwater forms are among the most hardy 

 of the smaller fishes. Used largely as bait-fish on account of their 

 tenacity of life, they exhibit the same quality in the aquarium, standing 

 very bad treatment before succumbing. The barred sides and fleeting 

 iridescent colors are most attractive, particularly in the saltwater form. 

 They will eat anything and are harmless to other aquarium fishes. Boys 

 usually know this fish in streams as the "bull-head" minnow, while the 

 popular name on the New Jersey coast for the saltwater form is 

 "Mummychog." Average size about 3 inches. 



THE MUD TROUT 



Pygvia umbra 



Here we have one of the hardiest and most friendly of our small 

 native freshwater fishes. It is not one of the restless kind, seemingly 

 always at high tension, yet it is alert and very much alive to what is 

 going on about it, ready to move to its purpose with the least possible 

 eft'ort. The Mud Trout has a fashion of turning its head deliberately 

 towards the subject of interest in a way that suggests a concentration 

 or mental development beyond that of the average fish. Although 

 their manner is menacing they are perfectly harmless. They may be 

 taught to leap several inches out of the water for a favorite morsel of 

 food, such as a small worm, or a shred of raw beef, held on a tooth- 

 pick. 



Their color is a pleasing brown, slightly relieved by darker lat- 

 eral lines and some dots. 



Found in lowland and swampy waters from Long Island to 

 North Carolina, east of the Alleghenies. Sometimes to be had in pet 

 stores, where they are sold at nominal charges. One should not esti- 

 mate the aquarium value of such fishes by their market prices. 



THE CARP 



Cyprinns carpio 

 The Carp is one of the most widely known of fishes. Its tenacity 

 of life is extraordinary considering that it is not an air-breather or laby- 

 rinth fish. When sold as a food fish it is kept alive for a day or two when 

 barely moistened with water. Common goldfishes well wrapped in wet 

 Anacharis or Myriophyllum and packed in a tight tin box can safely be 

 sent on a 12-hour journey or more if temperature is moderate. 



