140 rRESH-WATEE AQXTABIA. 



latter the two fins are joined into one ; the Ruffe, too, is 

 without the vertical bands of the perch, and the perch is 

 without the spots on the dorsal fin of the RufEe. The 

 general appearance of the Ruffe certainly seems to justify 

 the erroneous idea that it is a cross between the gudgeon 

 and the perch. It is said to have received its name from 

 the want of smoothness of its scales. This fish does not 

 often exceed Sin. in length. It spawns during March and 

 May, among the weeds of streams and small rivers. 



The Black Bass {Orystes nigricans) is now acclimatised 

 in Britain, owing to the efforts and enterprise of certain 

 noblemen and gentlemen, but especially of the Marquis of 

 Exeter. The Black Bass is common in the lakes and rivers 

 of Canada and the United States, where it affords ex- 

 cellent sport to the fisherman. It is a bold biter, full of 

 fight, and very good for table purposes ; the flesh, it is 

 said, tasting very much like that of the whiting. No 

 fresh-water fish that we have in this country, with the 

 exception of the salmon, is capable of providing more 

 amusement for the angler than the Black Bass. It will 

 take minnows, flies, or worms ; and as it grows sometimes 

 so large as to weigh 71b. or 81b., it generally affords no 

 small amount of excitement, and requires not a little skill 

 to land it safely. The Black Bass, I find, makes an ex- 

 cellent fish for the aquarium ; for it is handsome, hardy, 

 intelligent, and easily tamed. Of course, owing to its 

 predaceous habits, it must not be kept in a tank among 

 small defenceless fish, or ' the aquarium-keeper wUl find 

 them gradually disappear. I keep my Black Bass in a 

 divided part of a tank which is 2ft. wide, 2ft. llin. long, 

 and 1ft. deep, his separate compartment being llin. wide, 

 and running the whole breadth of the tank. The division is 

 of glass, and made according to directions given on page 135. 

 The Bass has for companions two English perch (Perca 

 fluviatilis) nearly its own size. The three perch (for the Bass 

 is a perch) agree very well together. I notice, however, that 

 the English fish do not venture to dispute with him the 

 possession of a minnow or worm. The Black Bass does not 



