THE PARADISE FISH 
ARADISE fish also come from China: its 
, colors are as exquisite as those of the butter- 
. fly. The sides of the body are ornamented 
with cross-bars of alternating bluish green 
and brilliant orange; it is gray above, 
spotted with darker; the fins are orange, bordered 
with blue, and the ventral fins are mere bright 
orange threads. The male can always be distin- 
guished by the spot on his cheek of dark blue bor- 
dered with orange. The dorsal, anal and tail fins 
are prolonged until they are as graceful as wings. 
The fins of the female are not so long as those of 
the male, nor does she have the cheek spot. 
The Paradise fish has habits of breathing most 
convenient for lifein an aquarium. It has a peculiar 
convoluted organ beneath its gill covers, which 
enables it to utilize the oxygen from the atmosphere. 
Thus these fishes will live in aquaria where no other 
fish could live since, when the water becomes stale, 
they come to the surface for air. 
The Paradise fish are also convenient in their 
breeding habits for they will build their nests, lay 
their eggs and hatch their young before our admir- 
ing eyes. The mating season is naturally during 
June and July. However, when the aquarium is 
kept in a warm sunny place, they breed at other 
times of year. At this period the color of the male 
becomes peculiarly brilliant; he begins his courting 
by spreading his fins and swimming around and 
around his mate, to show her his graceful form and 
glowing tints; he often comes close to her, and seems 
233 
