110 PEESH-WATEE AQTTAEIA. 



their owner, and come to the side of the tank on his 

 approach. 



By the help of the aquarium we are able to learn very- 

 much concerning; the habits and characteristics of fish, which 

 knowledge, without its assistance, we should fail to obtain. 

 It is very pleasant to see healthy fish in a tank when the 

 water is bright and clear, the plants are green and growing, 

 and everything is quite clean. But, on the other hand, it is 

 distressiag to see fish swimming with their noses close to 

 the surface of thick, unwholesome-looking water, vainly en- 

 deavouring to get a sufficiency of oxygen ; to see plants 

 partly dead and decaying, and fungus growing upon food 

 which, in excess, has been carelessly thrown into the aquarium 

 and left there until it has introduced disease. To see a 

 miserable bird in a dirty cage is bad enough; but it is far 

 worse, I think, to see dying fish in foul water. There are 

 few pets which require siich little care as fish, but it is 

 absolutely necessary that they should have some attention ; 

 and he who keeps fish and neglects them is just as much 

 guilty of cruelty as he who is summoned for working a horse 

 with sore shoulders. 



If the aquarium- owner would keep his fish in a healthy 

 and happy condition, he ought to carefully observe the 

 following rules : 



(1) Provide shade for the fish. 



(2) Never let the sun shine for any length of time upon 

 the water in which fish live. 



(3) Never keep more fish than the aquarium can contain 

 in comfort.* 



(4) Never put large fish in a small tank. Prefer small fish. 



(5) Never forget to feed regtJarly, and on suitable food. 



(6) Never allow discarded food to remain in the water. 



(7) Remove diseased fish at once, and never introduce 

 strange ones about whose health there is any doubt. Keep 

 them in quarantine for a short time. 



* There are too many fish in an aquarium when they swim with their noses 

 close to the surface of the water. 



