3§4 



RECREATION 



Do not take risks. You will probably pretty and thrive well. The fresh-water 



not use more than three or four species stickleback is fairly hardy, and, if well 



of plants at one time ; if well rooted, cared for, will build a nest and produce 



they will stay down when buried in the young, but the stickleback is a great 



gravel. If not, it will be necessary to fighter and makes trouble with his 



wind a strip of sheet lead loosely around neighbors. For amphibians, tadpoles are 



the bottom of each small cluster of easily procured and are interesting. 



stalks, before placing in the gravel. The 

 lead need not be conspicuous. 



A little rock work will add much 

 y ,■ to the beauty of the aquarium, 



GROUP OF BROWN ANEMONES 



The fine plant-like fronds are a species of 



The oddly acting acrobatic little 

 newts are the best, and will afford more 

 pleasure by their comical antics 

 than all the other members of 



Metridium marginatum. 

 hydroid. 



TO 



and furnish fine hiding 

 places for the fish. 



It is well to exercise 

 care when putting in 

 the water, that the 

 plants may not be disturbed. Let 

 it stand for a day or two, at least, 

 before adding the animal life, that 

 the plants may have time to begin 

 their function of supplying air to 

 the water. 



There are many species of ani- 

 mal life which can be collected 

 from waters in the vicinity if the 

 person so desires, or they can be 

 purchased from dealers in stock 

 for aquaria. Some of the most 

 beautiful and best adapted for a 

 balanced aquarium are small gold- 

 fish. There are several species of 

 the sun-fish family. All are very 



\v-:^||y% ■•£'' ,-.<■ tants, 

 ;OX9%0 : found 



mw 6 ^ 



^A 



aquarium inhabi- 

 and they can be 

 d in almost any 

 pond or small lake. 

 Snails are useful, as 

 they are something of scavengers. 

 They will eat some of the small 

 particles of food which the fishes 

 leave. The best kind is Physae; 

 they are common and will breed 

 in the aquarium. Another species, 

 the Planorbis, does fairly well. 

 There are other members of the 

 snail family which may be used, 

 but it is best to be cautious at first 

 and not try to keep too great a va- 

 riety of animals unless you have 

 had considerable experience. 



Be sure never to overstock your 

 aquarium with animal life. Al- 

 ways have an abundance of thrifty 



