The Naturalists’ Co3irANioN. 
19 
themselves in these northern Provinces. 
Since their distribution in these parts 
the Northumberland Straits have proved 
a barrier to their movements which 
they have not yet learned to overcome. 
In studying the botany of the Mari¬ 
time Provinces we find that the same 
thing exists in regard to the plants of 
Prince Edward Island. Many plants 
of more southern habit, common to the 
Provinces of the mainland, have been 
excluded from the Island by its early sep- 
eration from the continent. 
In the birds the fact shows the ex¬ 
ceeding tardiness with which they adopt 
new lines of migration, and, conse¬ 
quently, the tenacity with which they 
adhere to established habits in their 
migrations and distribution. 
It also reveals something of the great 
northward movement of the feathered 
tribes which must have followed the re¬ 
cession of the cold of the Glacial Peri¬ 
od, pointing out those which were the 
last to arrive within the limits of these 
Provinces. 
THE END. 
A FISH STORY. 
BY C. H. JENNER, 
Professor of Natural and Applied Scii-nces. 
It is stated that there is now over 
1,870 different kinds of fishes in the 
waters of North America, but of all 
the finny family—though we have won¬ 
derful accounts of individuals of the 
various kinds exhibiting evidences of 
marked intelligence—I doubt if there 
wa s ever a specimen found that would 
compare favorabh^ with one that I had 
in my aquarium a few years ago. Its 
color was brown; shape, nearly as 
round as a cigar, with iierfect “water¬ 
lines ” from tip of nose to tail, with 
dorsal fin, two flippers set well forward 
and rather well up on its sides, with' 
tail-fin of the codfish order, all well 
proportioned for the body, which was 
about three inches long, rather slender, 
and faultlessly formed. This finny 
little creature was very pugnacious 
towards all living creatures excepting 
his master; allowing himself at any 
time to be lifted from the water and 
layed upon the table where he would 
remain for a half hour without the least 
sign of uneasiness ; in fact has been 
known to remain on a dry board for 
five hours at one time, and when put 
back into his native element he would 
at once commence his favorite freaks, 
as standing on his head (on the bot¬ 
tom), then upon his tail, then nearl}" 
half of his length, tail up, out of water 
then head up, wdth about one-third his 
length out of water and turning his 
head from side to side at an angle of 
about twenty degrees, to see if he stood 
vertical; or some have said he was 
looking at his companions below, as 
much as to say: “What do you think 
of that ?” then taking a position about 
mid way in the tank, he would com¬ 
mence a vigorous breathing, and work¬ 
ing his caudal fin in proportion, would 
remain in the same place, when of a 
sudden he would stop breathing (i. e., 
stop taking in water at his mouth and 
forcing it out at his gills),but keeping 
his tail moving precisely the same, 
which would cause him to glide stem- 
wise until his tail fin would touch the 
tank, his tail-fin w ould then stop w^ork- 
ing and he would recommence breath¬ 
ing, wdiich would carry him forward 
across the tank ; then reversing the 
order w'ould move back to the centre, 
wcej'c he would exhibit to his best 
