The Inhabitants of the Aquarium 197 



spread its gills so that they appear like a 

 collar. The Betta builds a nest and takes 

 care of its young in a manner not unlike the 

 Macropodes. 



The Shooter (Toxotes jaculator) is one of 

 the strangest fishes known to the naturalist. 

 It is a native of Java, where the inhabitants 

 keep it in their rooms, or in small ponds in 

 the gardens. When full grown it is from 

 six to seven inches long. The color of its 

 back is a dark greenish gray turning to a 

 silvery gray toward the belly. Each side 

 bears four black cross bars, broader above 

 and running to a point below. The anal fin 

 is yellow with a black seam. The iris is 

 light yellow. The first five rays in the dor- 

 sal fin are developed into long but not dis- 

 connected spines. 



As soon as the Shooter sees an insect, it 

 approaches to a distance of from one to four 

 feet, and from its mouth ejects a few drops 

 of water with so true an aim, that it seldom 

 fails to bring its quarry down into the water. 



