FRESH-WATER AQUARIUM. 71 



quick running streams will, of course, not be likely to suc- 

 ceed in the quiet of an Aquarium ; therefore the trout, 

 which would be a beautiful creature for a tank, cannot be 

 introduced. 



The Prussian Carp (Cyprinus Gibelis) is recommended 

 by English writers, but it is not, I believe, found in 

 America. 



The common Pond-fish (Pomotis vulgaris, PI. IV., Fig. 2) 

 is beautiful and excellent for the fresh-water Aquarium, as 

 he is easily rendered tame and looks well in a tank, be- 

 ing a slow mover, easily caught, and swimming majestically 

 about ; the sun, when shining upon his sides, presenting 

 us with a gorgeous spectacle, and from which circum- 

 stance he has received the name of Sun-fish. The pectoral 

 fins are beautiful objects, as they are moved slowly about 

 when he stays to gaze on us, with his large eyes, in seem- 

 ing astonishment. He has a black spot, just beyond hi; 

 gills, which is tipped with a beautiful bright scarlet 

 His most popular name (and which he deserves) is Sun- 

 fish, but he is also called Pumpkin-seed, an appellation 

 that is not quite so aristocratic, and is applied to him 

 on account of the many spots on his side. In the State 

 of Massachusetts, this fish is called Bream. 



We have another species of Pomotis in the State of 

 New York, the black-eared Pond-fish (P. appendix), which 

 is destitute of the scarlet spot on the opercle, but is a 

 little more tender than the last named species. 



The Pigmy Dace (Leuciscus pigmceus) is a pretty little 

 fish, being only one inch long, and is found in brooks near 

 Tappan, Rockland county, New York, where it was pro- 



