WONDERS OF POND LIFE. 1 89 



shaped antenna and legs, the bubble is formed and 

 made to stick fast to fine hairs on the tinder sur- 

 face, and then extended underneath the wing- 

 covers. So completely is it surrounded with air 

 that a white line, in contrast to the rich dark bronze, 

 is seen filling up the space at the junction of head 

 and body. 



What elegant fish are the dace, dressed in light 

 changeable silk ! the belles of the apartment, and 

 managing their trains with exquisite grace. Here 

 are three species : the black-nosed, red fin and 

 pond shiner, each making its own peculiar curve 

 in the water. 



The gold carp are the domestic bodies, notwith- 

 standing their gaudy dress, and are always at 

 home. It is said they first came from China — 

 from some lake in the Celestial Kingdom — to a 

 pond in New Hampshire ! How many generations 

 span it, and by what curious chain of circumstances 

 did their progeny find this little sheet of water in 

 the Granite State ? 



Although these particular specimens of which 

 we speak were taken from the wild waters, the old 

 instinct of contentment in captivity is still appar- 

 ent. Their faces are not so solemn as those of 

 the other inmates. They peer at you through the 



