THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 153 
were Vallisneria, Elodea, Tillaea recurva, Ceratophyllum de- 
mersum, Ceratophyllum submersum, Ludwigia, Sigittaria, l’on- 
tinalis, Nitella. Wloating plants: Azolla, various Lemnae, Riccia 
fluitans, Wolffia, and various beautiful water-lilies. 
Of Australian fishes the ponds, ete., contained Krefftius ad- 
spersus, Carassiops compressus, CU. gallii, Pseudomugil’ signifer, 
Melanotaenia nigrans (Atherine), Ambassis agassizi (Chanda 
perch), Galaxias scriba. Of exoties, Macropodus viridi-auratus 
(Paradise fish), Orizias latipes: (Medaka), Jordanella floridae, 
Gambusa affinis, and a great number of Golden Carp, amongst 
which were some fine specimens of the Japanese Fantails. 
The terrestrial plants surrounding the ponds are all selected 
to suit their environment, not the least interesting of those in 
the bush-houses was a fine example of the Royal Fern (Osmunda 
regalis), while a magnificent towering Huphorbia in the grcunds 
attracted much attention. 
In the aquaria the crystal clearness of the water and perfect 
growth of the aquatie plants were very noticeable. 
Most of the exotie fishes were imported by Mr. Finckh, and 
were the first of their kind to reach Australia. They came 
from Brayil, Mexico, Barbados, Florida, Trinidad, Venezuela. 
and U.S.A., also Singapore and the East. 
The interesting viviparous tooth-carp family was represented 
by Lebistes reticulatus (in colours like a living opal), Limia 
caudofasciata, Gambusia holbrooki, and the wonderful Xipho- 
phorus helleri (Mexican swordfish), with the lower rays of the 
caudal fin drawn out sword-shaped as long again as the whole 
body of the fish; this fish is also most gorgeously coloured. 
This is the first season in which Mr. Finckh has succeeded in 
breeding Xiphophorus, and the young born in September have 
matured and reproduced young in six months. 
The oviparous species shown were Betta pugnex (Siamese 
fighting fish), Ctenops vitatus (Croaking Gurami), Lepomis 
pallidus (Sunfish), Anabas scandens (climbing perch), and Jor- 
danella floridae. 
All the viviparous species have been successfully bred, and it 
is a most interesting sight to see 100 or 150 of these beautifully 
coloured fish congregated in a small aquarium and crowding to 
the front to be fed. 
All the tropical fish are housed in specially constricted 
aquaria, which during the winter months are heated by ad Small 
lamp beneath. The total number of fish in the collection is be- 
5 
