116 



NATIVE FISHES 



THE GOLDEN TENCH 



Tinea tinea, aureus 

 As a showy fish of golden orange hue the Golden Tench is con- 

 sidered second only to the goldfish itself. Covered with exceedingly fine 

 scales and dotted with black it presents by reflected light an iridescent 

 effect, comparable to that of an opal. By transmitted light they are 



Fig. 116. The Golden Tench (Young) 



sufficiently translucent to show the skeleton and internal organs. 

 Although timid they become quite tame and will live on any kind of fish- 

 food. Harmless to other fishes and otherwise thoroughly desirable. 

 Tenches should be bred in open ponds with mud bottoms. 



The Green Tench is the ancestor of the Golden Tench and differs 

 principally in coloring, its color being of a bottle-green character. 

 "Tench-green" is a popularly recognized shade of color in some parts 

 of Europe. Tenches are liberally supplied with protective slime and it is 

 believed by some that fishes injured by accident search out a tench to rub 

 the injured part against. For this reason it has been known as the 

 "Doctor Fish." 



THE SOLE 



Achirus fasciatus 

 Among the interesting novelties in aquarium fishes is the Sole, 

 often known as the freshwater Flounder. Aquarists popularly call it 

 the "aeroplane fish" on account of its easy, horizontal progress 

 through the water, the swimming being accomplished mainly by an 

 undulating motion of the fins at the edges of the body, as shown in 

 the two upper figures of the accompanying illustration. The third 



