NATIVE FISHES 



115 



THE EEL 



Auguilla rostrata 

 Small eels may be kept with a collection of wild fishes, but they look 

 out of place with and are dangerous to goldfishes, having the same habit 



Fig. 114. The Eel (Young) 



as the sunfish and catfish of nibbling at the long fins. They are good 

 scavengers, quickly eating any dead snails or other decomposing matter. 

 Nothing is too bad (nor too good) for them to greedily eat. 



THE GOLDEN ORFE OR IDE 



Idus idiis 

 Originally imported from Southern Germany, the Golden Orfe has 

 become one of the best ornamental pond fishes. They do not stir up the 

 mud as do goldfishes and are more active in avoiding their enemies. 



Fig. 115. The Golden Orfe (Voting) 



The color on th-e back is orange dotted with black, shading to lighter on 

 the sides and white on the abdomen. The extreme length is two feet, 

 requiring probably ten years of growth under favorable circumstances. 

 The young are suitable for aquarium keeping, but the top must be 

 screened to prevent their leaping out. They do best in running water. 



