808 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Dec. 2§, 189?. 
root; by that time the water will be clear and pure, and 
ready to receive some of the 
Animal Life. 
"We will first begin with a few water snails. These are 
a very necessary factor to the success of the balanced 
aquarium, as they act as scavengers and rid us of the de- 
cayed vegetable matter and also keep down the growth of 
confervte that would otherwise cover the glass with a green 
coating so dense that in time we would not be able to see 
through it. This the snails will do effectually. 
The varieties mentioned below are the best for our pur- 
pose, on account of their great size and the hardness of 
their shells, although any of the fresh- water snails will do 
the work; but as they are dainty morsels for some of the 
fish, etc., the soft-shelled ones will soon fall an easy prey 
to their rapacity. 
Paludina— Is much like the common land snail in ap- 
pearance, and is about the same in size; it is found in slow- 
running water, frequently at the base of reeds, among 
water plants, or on the mud near the margin of ponds or 
streams. 
PlanorMs.—This has a trumpet-shaped shell about fin. 
across, and about iin. thick, and is to be found in similar 
places as the above mentioned. 
We will now take a trip in search of them to some slug- 
gish stream or pond. We shall require a ring or landing 
net for this purpose, such as is used by anglers for landing 
fish; the mesh should be about Jin., the handle about 7 or 
8ft. long, which it would be well to have made in two 
joints, being easier to carry. Our two-quart pail will again 
come into use. To find the snails we must run our net, 
mouth down, over and among the weeds and under the 
overhanging banks, where they are often to be found just 
below the surface of the water. Possibly we may not suc- 
ceed in finding them in our first attempt, but with perse- 
verance we will surely be rewarded. Three or four dozen 
will be enough to start with, and they can be replaced 
from time to time as they die or are destroyed by the fish, 
etc. 
The plants in our aquarium should now be growing well, 
and in a thrifty condition, and the water pure and clear, 
therefore ready to receive the 
Animals, Reptiles, etc. 
So with a six or eight-quart pail and our landing net we 
will start out in quest of any fish, etc., that will answer 
for our purpose. Almost anything living in water can be 
used, but it is best to take only very small fish, those 
averaging about 4in. in length or less. 
The few varieties mentioned below are some of the 
best, and some of them most likely the first we shall find, 
but in looking for these we shall probably meet with 
others that can be used. 
Common SuNPiSH OR Pumpkin Seed— Is to be found in 
almost any pond or stream, and is easily taken with the 
landing net. This is an interesting aquarium friend, 
bright and beautiful in color and markings. It is full of 
life, active and very hardy. 
Striped ok Banded Sunpish — Is much more rare than 
the foregoing, but is to be found in a small lake near Bris- 
tol, Pa., and at Brown's Mills, N. J., and no doubt can be 
found in other ponds in central New Jersey and in Penn- 
sylvania, near the Delaware Eiver, above Bristol. It is a 
small fish, seldom exceeding Sin. in length, and is truly 
one of the most beautiful specimens for the aquarium, 
with its alternate bands of deep black and silvery white, 
and delicate, almost transparent, appearance. It is worth 
a long journey to be able to add this to our collection. It 
must be looked for among the pond lilies, under the leaves 
of which it is found. 
Eels— Make very interesting pets, but should be very 
small, not more than 5 or 6in. in length. They are to be 
found among aquatic plants in pools and ditches near tide- 
water. 
Gold and Silver Fish — Can be bought at any of the 
dealers in birds, fish, etc. 
Dace. — Black-nosed, banded and silver dace, commonly 
called minnows, are all small fish, and are to be found in 
holes and pools in swift, clear streams, and are easily taken 
with the landing net, if the water be first made turbid by 
stirring up the mud aboye the pool where the fish have 
been located. 
Stickleback.— This interesting pigmy fish is to be found 
at the mouth of any small stream near tide-water, and 
will, thrive equally well in salt or fresh water. No 
aquarium is perfect without at least a pair of these active 
little creatures. 
They are nest builders, and to have a pair of them, 
male or female, in a half-gallon glass jar with a few aquatic 
plants, makes a very interesting object; the sexes are easily 
distinguished, the male being larger and much more 
brilliant in color. 
They should be caught and placed in the jar or 
aquarium early in the spring, , before the breeding season; 
we shall then be rewarded by seeing them construct their 
curious little nest. 
Teyton oe Newt is a lizard-like creature and is to 
be found in shallow weedy ponds. It is a very desirable 
addition to the aquarium; being amphibious, it will make 
use of our miniature island. 
It will be well to cover our little island with moss, such 
as can be found growing on stones in any moist, shady 
wood. It will improve the appearance of the aquarium, 
and also afford a cover for the amphibians. 
Eed Salamander is somewhat like the above in ap- 
pearance, and is to be found in cool, clear streams or 
springs under stones. It is of a pinkish or flesh color, 
covered with minute black spots when full grown, but in 
its immature state is a dull brown. It is also ampljibious, 
but is not so hardy in the aquarium as the tryton. 
Tadpole op Frog can be found in any shallow pond or 
stream. It is interesting to watch this odd-looking 
creature gradually changing into the frog state. It is also 
valuable as a scavenger, devouring everything in the way 
of decayed animal or vegetable matter. 
Emys Picta or Red-bellied Turtle is to be met with 
in ponds and streams, and makes a pretty inmate for the 
aquarium, but for our use they must be very small, not 
larger than will cover a silver dollar. 
"Water Beetles add life to the collection, notably the 
curious-looking boat fly and the large water beetle 
(Ditiseus); these we are sure to find in our net while look- 
ing for fish, etc. 
Water Spider is another very interesting acquisition to 
our collection. This curious spider weaves a balloon- 
shaped nest about the size of a thimble under the 
water attached to the water plants, which it fills with 
air, taking it down in pearl-like globules, which adhere 
to the hair which covers the body. 
These bright silvery-looking nests are found attached 
to aquatic plants under the water in shallow ponds, 
streams, etc., with the spider inside, at the mouth of 
which it sits, ready to dart out at any passing water in- 
sect or animalcule. 
Grawfish or Crayeish is in appearance much like a 
small lobster, and will be found under stones in shallow 
streams and springs. Two or three of these add interest 
to our collection, but only very small ones must be used— 
those 1 or 2in. in length; if larger they will root up the 
plants. 
Fkesh-water Shrimp are plentiful in most ponds; 
they are easily known from their likeness to the com- 
mon wood louse, and when full grown are about |in. 
long. They are good scavengers, and also excellent food 
for some of the fish. It is a good plan to keep a supply 
of them on hand in a jar containing water and a few 
plants. They can then be introduced into the aquarium 
. as required. The fact of their being scavengers and also 
food for the fish is their principal value. 
Our aquarium now being properly stocked, a fow in- 
structions as to the treatment and feeding the fish, etc., 
and general management of the aquarium will be next in 
order. 
Great care should be used in feeding; no food should be 
allowed to remain in the water uneaten. Small earth- 
worms are the best tor most of the fish, etc., but if these 
are not to be obtained, lean mutton or fish may be substi- 
tuted; but it must be cut into very small pieces and the 
blood or juice well washed from it, and afterward laid on 
a piece of clean muslin or other like mateiial until the li- 
quid is thoroughly drained from it. This should be 
dropped piece by piece until all are fed. Pulverized 
cracker and a little flour mixed with water or milk into a 
stiff dough, and small pieces rolled between the finger and 
thumb, is good for the gold fiah, carp, etc. 
Here again let me reiterate the fact that this is to be a 
balanced aquarium, and must not be overcrowded with 
animal life — one pair of each of the previously named 
fish and reptiles being suSicient for the sized tank here 
described; of course a larger tank will sustain more life in 
proportion. 
All decayed animal and vegetable matter must be re- 
moved' frequently, and this can be done best with a piece 
of glass tubing about ^in. diameter and about 16 or 18in. 
long, both ends being evenly cut and open; with it can be 
drawn up any sediment from the bottom by ho' ding the 
finger at one end and placing the other end just over the 
sediment to be removed; raise the finger a Uttle and the 
sediment will flow up into the tube, again press the fin- 
ger on the top of the tube and lift it out, bringing the 
water and sediment with it; this must be repeated until 
the bottom is perfectly clean. 
A small ring net is also a necessary and useful article to 
have, and this can be made with a piece of soft brass wire 
by bending the wire around any cylindrical form about 
Sin. in diameter, twisting the two ends together so as to 
form a handle about 12in. long. Then sew on the ring a 
piece of thin cheese cloth or mosquito net so as to form a 
bag about 6in. deep. This is to be used to remove the 
fish to and from the tank, as may be required. Fish 
should never be touched with the hand. 
Clear water should be added from time to time to supply 
that wasted by evaporation. 
Location of the aquarium should also be carefully stud- 
ied. A cool room— say between 40° and 60° F.— being the 
best, with good light, but very little sun, as too much sun 
induces the growth of confervte. Plenty of light we must 
have, as otherwise the plants will be sickly and spindled 
and lose much of their beauty of form and color; nor will 
they give off oxygen as they should if in a healthy condi- 
tion, 
"BIRDCRAFT." 
The new edition of Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright's book en- 
titled "Birdcraft," issued by the MacMillans, is a large and 
handsome volume, a great improvement over the earlier ones. 
While it IS printed from the same electrotype plates as those 
of 1895 and 1896, the old and very unsatisfactory coloied 
lithograph plates have been replaced by an excellent colored 
frontispiece of the veery, and by eighty uncolored full page 
plates from drawings of Mr. Louis Agassiz Furtes. Most of 
these illustraiions are those which appeared in the book 
called "Citizen Bird," tbe joint production of Mrs. Wright 
and Dr. Elliott Coues, which was reviewed in these columns 
not very long ago, when our opinion of these bird pictures 
wa.s set forth somewhat fully. 
"Birdcrafl" is one of the modern publications on ornithol- 
ogy which are doing and will do so much good in the way 
of "educating young folks in America to study and to enjoy 
nature. No child can see the pictures which appear in these 
pages without being impressed by them, and the volume 
with its illustrations ought to be permanently on the table of 
every country home in the land. It will teach all who read 
it to observe, and when one has learned something of the 
lesson of observation, that of appreciation and admiration 
will be swift to follow. 
Mrs. Wright's book opens with a picture of leafless trees, 
brown bare fields with snow patches in the fence corners, of 
freezing nights and mild gray days, the earliest of the 
springtime. She is waiting the advance of the army of 
northern migrants whose coming she pictures, and on the 
individuals of which she comments in charming fashion. 
Then comes the building of tbe nests, with suggestions as to 
how the birds should he observed at this time, and remarks 
as to where the different species are to be found. The water 
birds are further off and less easily obaerved than? those of 
the upland woods and swamps, yet many of them can he 
reached and there is a charm in the mystery of their coming, 
their absence and their return. Not less interesting is the 
chapter on the birds of autumn and winter, when the strug- 
gle for existence is so severe. These aie Mrs. Wright's intro- 
ductory chapters, and they lead one by a most charming 
path to the body of the book. 
This, which occupies about 350 of the 335 pages of the 
volume, includes the chapters How to Name the Birds, 
Synopsis of Families, and Bird Biographies; and these last 
are divided into sub-chapters on the Perching Song Birds; 
Perching Songless Birds; Birds of Prey; Pigeons, Quad and 
Grouse: Shore and Marsh Birds, and Swimming Birds. In 
each case the English and Latin names of the species are 
given; the description of male and female, the note, tbe 
season at which tbe species may he found, its breeding 
range, its nest and eggs, and the range through which it oc- 
curs the year through. These facts are followed by biog- 
raphies, more or less brief, running from a few lines to in 
some cases more than a page. In all 200 Fpecies are de- 
scribed in Mrs. Wright's very happy vein. Following these 
pages is an artificial key to the birds which in many caees 
will be useful to the novice. 
Taken as a whole the volume is useful, attractive and 
helpful. It deserves and no doubt will have a continued 
wide popularity. The illustrations which we print this 
week we owe to the kindness of the MacMillan Co. They 
are good examples of the pictures in the book. Price $3.50 
Nuthatch vs. English Sparrow. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
For some time there has been a white-breas'ed nuthatch 
{SUta caroUnensis) in this neighborhood. It was first brought 
to my notice by my wife saying tbat she heard a wood- 
pecker pecking somewhere. My first thought was to get my 
gun, supposing it must be a pileated woodpecker for anyone 
to hear while in the house with the door closed. Going out- 
side, I saw on an apple tree 20ft. from where Mrs. D. stood, 
not a woodpecker, but a nuthatch. I watched him for some 
minutes, until he left the tree. I have seen him twice since. 
The last time he was feeding on tbe trunk of a large willow 
tree beside the walk. He attracted the attention of an Englifh 
sparrow, who probably thought he would bully him a little, 
and going up to him asked what he was doing there, any- 
way. Mr Sitta answered by giving him just one punch on 
his head with his sharp bill, and Mr. John Bull dropped 
down among a cluster of small sprouts just below where 
the interview had commenced. His cry for help brought some 
eight or ten of his fellows, but Mr. Sitta was all over them in 
less time than it takes me to write it. He even attacked them in 
their supposed stronghold, the clump of sprouts, and drove 
them out and away from the tree; and then placing himself 
tail upward on the tree trunk within lOft. of me gave me a 
look which seemed to say: "Perhaps you would like to take 
a hand in this scrap?" 1 was so much taken back by the 
whole performance that I did not give him an answer, and 
he quietly commenced circling the tree for parasites more 
palatable than Passer domesiicus. J. L, Davison. 
LocKPORT, N. Y., Dec. 15. 
A Copy of Audubon. 
The past week was signalized by the transfer from Geo. 
H Richmond & Co., of this city, to Mr, Chas. H. "Williams, 
of Buffalo, of one of the best existing copies of Audubon's 
great work, "The Birds of America/' 
The present copy must have been a very early impression, 
as the condition of each copper plate is perfect, no signs of 
wear being visible. 
It is also one of the largest copies in existence, i. e., the 
least injured by the cropping by senseless binders. It is usual 
to find a number of the birds themselves minus beak or tail, 
thanks to the binder's guillotine; but in Mr. Williams's copy 
not a single plate has been injured by cropping. This copy 
is 8;:f XbSiin. ; the work is usually catalogued at 34x37in. 
Mr. Ernest Seton Thompson, who acted as expert for Mr. 
Williams, was six hours in examining the 435 plates. A. B. 
Infertllitv of the Half-Breed Goose. 
A few days ago,, while on a visit to our shooting club on 
the Yirginia coast, our club steward called my attention to 
some half-breed geese he was raising— a cross of the common 
domestic goose with the Canada goose {Brania canadensis). 
During our conversation he casually remarked that, as he 
had learned from a goose-breeder of his acquaintance, the 
eggs of such half-breed geese are sterile and will not batch. 
This, if true, is a new fact to me, and I would like to have 
it verified. Can any reader of Forest and Stream give us 
any information on this point? Shac4Anoss. 
THE MAN IN THE CLOCK TOWER. 
To Preserve the Palisades." 
On the western shore of the 
Hudson River, beginning op- 
posite the northern section 
of New York city and ex- 
tending northward many 
miles, is the long stretch of 
high, rugged and picturesque 
embankment — mostly solid 
rock— known to fame as the 
Palisades. The vandalism 
of commerce has laid its 
grasping, hand upon it. 
Drills are piercing, hammers 
are crushing and dynamite 
is rending this majestic crea- 
tion of nature. ' Taken in 
conjunction with river and 
woodland, sky and earth, 
they are a scene delightful 
to gaze upon. As a 
vehicle for the carriage 
of patent medicine 
signs, or as a deposit 
ot rocks prepared by 
nature to be quarried 
in a vulgar kind of 
way, as any other rocks 
are quarried to supply 
the demands of trade, they are degraded. New York dearly 
loves to gaze across the river at New Jersey, where the 
Palisades are, for there New York cannot see further than 
New Jersey's edge, but New York does not care to gaze on 
stone quarries and defaced grandeur. 
The grim, the silent, the majestic Palisades, rugged, be- 
seamed and lofty, making to the river a wall whose like could 
not be found elsewhere on earth, are no longer a thing of 
beauty or wonder when the hand of man conquers them and 
sends them out piecemeal at a schedule price. But, unfor- 
tunately, New York does not own the Palisades. New Jer- 
sey is the owner. New Jersey does tbe ripping, breaking, 
selling; New York does the nervous part. The roar of the 
dynamite is heard, and New York jumps in startled dismay. 
