142 PRESH-WATER AQUARIA. 



kind of -white, on wliicli are two broad reddish stripes 

 running parallel with the mouth. The scales are small. 



The River BuUhead, or Miller's Thumb (Cottus gobio) 

 (Fig. 102), is a very interesting little fish, and wiU live well 

 in an aquarium. It may be caught in the same places and in 

 the same way as the loach. After turning over a few of the 

 rather large and flat stones of those streams in which Miller's 

 Thumbs are known to exist, one or two will be almost certainly 



Fig. 102. Bullhead (Coitus gobio). 



discovered. Upon the removal of the stone, the cunning little 

 fish wUl remain perfectly motionless, trusting, no doubt, to 

 its chameleon-like power of assuming the shade of the gravel 

 upon which it is resting. Now is the opportunity of the 

 aquarium-keeper, for, if he be quick, he can either catch the 

 Bullhead in both of his hands, or he can throw it with one 

 hand into a net held in front of the fish with the other. If 

 the Bullhead is allowed to escape, it will dart away with such 

 quickness to some other retreat, that it will be almost impos- 

 sible to follow it with the eye, especially when the water has 

 been disturbed by the ineffectual attempt to throw it into the 

 net. It is wiser, therefore, to hunt for another fish rather 

 than waste time in looking for the one that has just evaded 

 capture. 



The Bullhead wiU. Kve more happily in a shallow aquarium 

 than in a deep one. It is a great eater, and when at liberty 

 feeds upon the larvsB of insects, worms, and the fry of fish. 

 In confinement it will be satisfied with small garden-worms 

 or pieces of meat, and will soon learn to take its food from 

 its owner's fingers. The Bullhead is a plucky little fish. A 

 few weeks ago I witnessed an interesting struggle between 



