The Inhabitants of the Aquarium 157 



common fish, which is to be regretted, as its 

 qualities, its handsome color and its grace- 

 ful and lively motions make it a very de- 

 sirable aquarium fish. The body resembles 

 in shape that of the common sunfish, being 

 oval and rather narrow. The head is small, 

 the snout short, the eye is large, showing a 

 black line running vertically through the iris 

 and the opercle, where it grows lighter and 

 disappears near the lower part of the head. 

 A number of broad dark bands extend from 

 the back far below the lateral line and alter- 

 nate with lighter bands of equal width. Un- 

 der the changing light these bands show 

 beautiful shades of greenish blue, with a 

 soft, orange-colored border and irregular 

 spots, the latter extending below the lateral 

 line. The belly is of a bright yellowish sil- 

 very color with brown spots. All the fins 

 are large and of delicate structure, showing 

 pronounced markings in the shape of oval 

 orange spots bordered with dark brown. In 

 not all individuals are these markings 



