The Aquarium 3/31 1894

30113

iAjU]

DIVISION OF FISHES S. NATIONAL WUSEUM

U. Vol. III.

APRIL,

1894.^^^^^MAA^Ciii

No. 31

A QUARTERLY

MAGAZINE FOR THE

ACCLIMATIZATION OF

Animals and

Plants.

50 cents a year.

Single copies, 15 cents each.

HUGO MULERTT, BROOKLYN, Copyright.

N. Y.

All Rights Reserved.

Entered at the Post-OfHce at Brooklyn, N. Y., as second-class mail matter.

HEADQUARTERS FOR THE FINER VARIETIES OF

Gold Fish, Japanose Fantails, AND

ALL KINDS OF AQUATIC PLANT5.

For

Descriptive^ Illustrated Catalogue^ send two cents,

EDWARD

ADDRESS,

SCHMID,

S. AQUARIUM DEPOT,

washinbtdn,

Nd. 712 Tweirta street, w. w.,

d.

c

NICHOLAS WAPLER, IMPORTER OF

China and Glassware, EARTHENWARE AND LAVA GOODS,

French Crystal Grlass Shades.

Manufacturer of Round, Oval and Square Glass Shades, Fish Globes, Aquaria, Glass Jars and Floating Animals.

50

GAMELAND T/te A.ng1er'a Y/

tTournal

;

:

'^i^67

THE AQUARIUM, IMPORTERS OF

and

Reveals virgin woods and waters, and tells of hundreds of places to flsh and shoot, It is brimful of practical and authentic matter on woodcraft, landscape and camp-life, and is read by 40,000 bright people. Yearly, $1.00 three trial numbers, 25 cents.

No free copies. Address

^

YORK.

Sportsman- Naturalist's illustrated Magazine of

FISHING AND SHOOTING.

\!>

NEW

BARCLAY STREET,

GM7VTEL-MND. Broadway, NEW YORK.

Game

Fish for Stocking Ponds and Streams.

"ELECTRIC" FUNGUS AND PARASITE REMEDY The only remedy

Buy one

for these tcoubles.

of our Florida

CHAMELEONS,

the

latest fad, change colors, great pets.

Send 10 cents for our Pamphlet on the Aquarium

and Goldfish, just issued. to keep Goldfish, free.

Send for our Instructions

THE AQUARIUM, 404 Smithfield

Street,

I'lTTSBURGH, PA.

Telephone,

696.

Vol.

APRIL,

III.

Copyright

1894.

DENOMINATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF FRESH WATER FISHES. V.

FISHES.

The

is

a

d'or.

com-

variety of the

of Ger-

many.

The body is long, much compressed on the sides, and covered with small uniform sized scales the head is small and the lips without barbies. In gen;

eral

appearance

it is

almost exactly like

The

the American shiner.

which

yellow,

is

is

swim

to-

lately first

introduced

being called

'" golden ide." The name was thought to refer to the golden eyes and degenerated into "golden eyed," a very To coi'rect it, the manifest error. original German name, " gold orfe was thought preferable, and the fish is

the

Vide

which are natives

was but

fish

into this country, at

(Idus melanotiis auratns)

Die Goldorfe. fish

;

having been hatched, and

THE GOLD ORFE.

orfe,

The spawning season occurs in May June the eggs when extrud.ed are very tender, at any rate more so than those of the common carp. The young or

gether in shoals as minnows do.

CyprinidcB {continued.)

This

31.

are of a yellow color immediately after

THE CARP-LIKE

mon

No.

1894.

All Rights Reserved.

dorsal fin,

situated on the mid-

now known by

it.

There is scarcely a fish that for ornamental purposes so fully meets all demands. It is of a lively disposition, is constantly seen at the surface of the water,

where

it

goes to seek insects,

upon which

feeds,

dle of the back and

is

that of a minnow,

consisting of but

and being a shoal-swimmer, presents a

The back and

beautiful sight in the water of small lakes

eight or

nine

rays.

very short, like

Crustacea,

etc.,

sides are of a rich orange, with here

and

or fountain basins.

there small spots of intense black

the

portant fact

belly

is

silvery white

and the abdomi-

nal fins white, tinted with red. full

grown the

in length.

2, Vol. III.)

;

When

measures 24 inches (See illustration on page fish

is

that

it

Another very imit

does not

muddy

the water as the food-carp and goldfish is

very apt to do.

It is exceedingly watchful, the least

suspicion of danger causing

away

into deep water.

it

to dart

THE AQUARIUM,

98

The

flesh

of diet,

is

when

ially

APRIL,

very good as an article

is

1894.

Like nearly

all

other

very much,

very easily digested, espec-

differs

fried.

locality in

which

it

fishes,

the roach

according lives,

to the

and on that

many

In appearance and flavor it may be compared with the lake-trout when

account, too, bears a great

three or four twelve- inch orfes, freshly

full grown it attains a length from ten to twelve inches, takes very readily to the hook and furnishes much sport for the angler. It was not

;

caught, are properly cooked and nicely

upon the

served

table,

they constitute

a most tempting and appetizing dish.

In ancient times the orfe was cultivated in the moats surrounding the castles, and permission to sell it was only given when the fish had reached a certain size, in order to prevent the dying out of the species. of these fish to

When

of

much esteemed lately,

article

women when

in confine-

ment, hence the name ''ladies' fish," which it bore in old, England.

as

a food

fish

until

when the little fish became an of commerce in the shape of

sardines, prepared as such for the market.

It is a

was then customary to send a few

It

differ-

ent names.

all

very

common

this country

much known in

fish pretty

over Europe, but was not

until about twelve years

asfo.

The Roach— (Reduced.)

THE SPOTTED SHINER.

THE ROACH. (Leuciscus rutilus.

Le

Die Plotze.

The body

(

of

the roach

rotengle.

long and

is

compressed upon the sides the head is the small, the lips having no barbies ;

;

Ceraticlitliys dissimihis.

This fish is a bright, lively little fish, and one well adapted for the purposes of the aquarium.

The body is long

and compressed upon head small in fact, it ;

dorsal fin

In

is

color

short.

the

preceding in shape.

back

is

of

a

dark

blueish or greenish cast, the sides and

abdomen body

is

of a silvery white.

sized, shining, silvery scales.

and red.

fins

The whole mediumThe eyes

covered with a coat of

present a beautiful and brilliant

olivaceous,

the

the sides, is

much

the

like the

Color of the back

sides

bright

silvery,

ornamented with a dark lateral band, which widens at intervals into sjDots.

When full grown it attains a length of from four to six inches. It is a native of America, and more especially of the Ohio valley.

THE AQUARIUM,

APRIL,

1894.

THE BREAM.

THE BLEAK.

{Notemigonus Americamis.

As the name a native of very

much

of the

indicates, this fish

this country.

{Albiirnus lucidus is

also

The body

Der

compressed, the lower line a sharp edge. small,

is

the

lateral

This little fish is a native of Europe and closely allied to our common shiner.

In length it is from four to seven inches; is blue ujjon the back and silvery upon the sides and belly.

It is mentioned here, because its scales are valuable and form an important part in the manu-

line

decurved.

The body

back, but is

with which the whole

scales, is

small

upon the

larger below.

The color

covered,

much

are

a dark steel-blue or a green above,

)

U ahlette.

Ukelei.

is

abdomen presenting

The head

99

,

facture of

artificial

They

i)earls.

are

The Bleak— (Reduced.)

The Bitterling— (Natural

Size.)

the sides either silvery or golden, and

put through the process of pulveriza-

resplendent with reflections of brilliant

tion,

green, yellow or red.

mens fine

are paler colors

of

The young

speci-

and do not exhibit the the mature fish.

The

etc

It is

very tenacious of

together with it

its

life,

which,

good appearance makes

a good aquarium

fish.

eventually coming to ' '

the

Essence d'

Orient."

THE BITTERLING.

bream bears a very strong resemblance to the shad and attains about the same size.

,

surface as the celebrated

{Rhodeus cnnarus.)

Der

Bitterling.

This

Europe

little fish

Lehouvier commune. is

found

in Central

in the clear but slowly

running

THE AQUAEIUM,

100

tributaries (creeks mostly) of the rivers

Rhine, Danube

and Elbe.

It is the smallest

known

representa-

Carp family, when fall grown being not longer than two and The body is high and a half inches. much compressed on the sides; the dortive

the

of

sal fin

is

short.

Its

every-day dress

is

an olive green on the back the sides and belly silvery white, with a bright green shining lateral band the fins are ;

;

During the spawning season, which sometime along in April, the male

assumes a brilliancy indescribable, the body presenting all the colors of the rainbow, while the head and fins become blood red. The female also undergoes

minnow. The question is often asked, " What kind of a fish will this minnow be when in gets older ?" Well, a young minnow, if it lives long enough, will become an old minnow; that's all there's of

it.

reasonable to suppose English sparrow, no matter how well fed, will become in time as large and valuable a bird as the turkey just as

It is

that an

as

to think that the

it is

serves the purpose

spect

of

depositing the

mus-

where they remain until hatched.

THE MINNOWS,

fish,

gainsay a law

to

creatures are ?

that

book,

of food for

man."

will be impossible to describe

inhabiting the waters of Europe and

the head,

it

more than a few

The spring is

of the

most

interest-

or breeding dress of

is

a

small fish, but it does not follow by any means that every small fish is a

many

Often the top of and sometimes the whole

peculiar.

dorsal region also, of the males,

minnow

living

all

or less obliged to re-

Nearly a thousand different species of minnows are known to science, but following the rule adopted for this

species

true that every

a.

the

In this light, " plenty of min-

they are most commonly called, are usually very small fish of slender form,

is

more

nows means plenty

ing species.

It

all

as they constitute

Size.)

although belonging to the carp-like family of fishes, constitute a family of Minnows or minnies, as their own.

North America.

will

mental law of nature. The bass and many others prey upon them, and who

is

eggs inside of the shells of river

minnow

carp or a salmon.

almost exclusive food of very many of our table fish, thus fulfilling a funda-

at the sexual parts a some changes little tube makes its appearance, which ;

German

Minnies, however, are not at worthless

The Mountain Minnow— (Natural

sels,

1894.

ever become a

pink.

is

APRIL,

ered with spinous tubercles.

is

cov-

These are outgrowths from the epidermis and are usually charged with pigment, just

THE AQUARIUM, such

found in the true carp.

as are

Thus again we have testimony

to the

APRIL, noticed,

1894.

101

more particularly

the method of

its

truth of the statement, that the male goldfish can with certainty only be distinguished when the tubercles make

tific

their appearance during the

in that direction while

spawning

it

deem

of sufficient importance to the scien-

public, fishculturists especially, to

make known

season.

in regard to

reproduction. We

As

the discoveries

we made

studying the

fish.

their breeding season approaches

In some species the males during the breeding time are adorned with the

in

most beautiful

nent white and horny tubercles aj^pear on the forehead, the entire body becoming blackish, darkest on the back, leaving two lighter vertical bars of a quarter of an inch in width on each side, one of these right back of the gills and the other immediately under' the dorsal fin. The fins also undergo changes in their coloring the dorsal, pectoral and caudal fins become shaded with black, and the dark spot in the dorsal fin becomes larger and deep In addition to this shading on black. the fins the two smaller spines in front of the largest one in the dorsal appear inflamed and are spread in a position pointing toward the head of the fish, which at casual examination makes The female this fin appear injured. keeps its customary appearance with perhaps the only difference that the lateral band is more distinct than usual and its belly larger.

At this time the male selects a stand under a floating, broad leaf, for instance that of a i)ond-lily, and there induces the females to come and deposit their The eggs are deposited on the eggs. lower side of this leaf, one at a time, and being adhesive, remain there. To accomplish this the fish twists its body, and darting against the leaf deposits the egg in the moment of contact.

After one female has deposited all her eggs, others are induced to do thus leaves the same on the same leaf may be found containing in large

them a

which give to any

The dorsal fins in minnows will be found illustration of Banded

other kind of all

colors,

brilliancy not surpassed by fish.

the species of (See

short.

Dace.

TRE BLACKHEAD. (PimejjJtales promelas. )

This

one of

is

the most

minnows and generally the upon which our boys commence their piscatorial studies. Under the name of " nigger," they regard it as object

the most j)recious specimen to be caught

them minnow hunt, and which,

for the preserve jar they carry with

when on

a

an aquarium. fish is somewhat stunted, cylindrical, of a dusky color and covered with minute scales, the dorsal fin showing a black spot.

The head is almost globular, of a black color, and in spring-time covered the eyes and with large tubercles by-the-bye,

is

The body

the

a, b, c of

of the

male

;

mouth are very small.

The female is smaller, more delicate in structure, compressed upon the .

sides, lighter

in

color,

with an indis-

tinct black lateral band.

from two to three found "at home" all

It attains a size of

inches.

It

is

over the entire Mississippi valley.

This

is

one of the most

common

spe-

minnows found in this country, and being only a minnow, this little

cies of

fish

has

heretofore

been

very

spring the head of the male

;

common

species of first

the

turns jet black, and numerous promi-

little

;

THE AQUAKIUM,

102

patches deposits in different stages of development, some ready to hatch, while others may have been deposited only an

hour

before.

The male remains below

the leaf until the eggs are

all

hatched,

allowing nothing to approach them. He does that with so much energy that

even goldfish fifty times his own size he will attack and drive away, and should a dragon-fly alight on his leaf he will jump out of the water and scare

APRIL,

same time as the minnow. What would be more natural than to suspect that these amphibians transplant the eggs from one locality to another on the moist skin of their backs ?

The

minnow by excluding the frog and toad, or rid his pond when already tive

present by destroying their spawn or

As the minnow is spawn himself, he seems to judge others by his own character, and with very destructive to

[Campostoma anotnalum.)

good reason, as such deposits deprived protection are invariably soon

devoured by other fishes.

The black-headed minnow begins to spawn at the age of one year, beginning early in the spring and continuing

throughout the summer. Their eggs hatch after four to six days, according The young minto the temperature. in shoals near the surface.

nows swim

Although minnows fish

are not a worth-

in one sense of the word, as

they constitute the almost exclusive food of many of our table fish, they are a nuisance to the fishculturist,

be ranked

sparrow

among fishes as among the

is

and may

the English birds.

Its

knows no limits; it devours spawn and young of other fish, and continually worries other more use-

leaf.

THE STONE-ROLLER.

fish

less

practical aspect of this discov-

ery the pisciculturist will readily appreciate, for he can exclude the destruc

capturing the male from under the

it off.

of his

1894.

This six

to

fish attains

inches

;

a size of from four

the body

is

and

stout

long and covered with very small scales.

The color above is brownish with a brassy lustre, a black

vertical bar is

situated behind the opercle are

orange and red

the

;

;

the eyes

and

dorsal

anal fins have each a dusky cross-bar

about half way up

;

the rest of the fins

are olivaceous.

In the spring the

fins

of the

male

turn to a brilliant orange and many rounded tubercles appear on the head

and whole of the upper surface. It is also native throughout the Mississippi Valley, frequenting clear running water rather than ponds. '

destructiveness

ful

and peaceful

varieties.

The

THE BLACK-NOSED OK BANDED DACE.

species

{EhinicJithys atronasus.)

above described frequent water of any quality,

and

it

is

often wondered

how

The body and

of the black-nose

covered

is

cylin-

with very small pointed, the up-

minnows ever came into certain water basins which had no connection what-

drical

ever with creeks or springs. This, however, may be explained by considering the adhesive nature of their eggs and the fact that frogs and toads frequent

per jaw longer than the lower, and

same waters and deposit their spawn upon similar objects and at the the

scales.

The head

pears like a nose.

The

is

aj?-

(See illustration.)

is dusky above, paper and dotted with spots of intense black, a lateral band running along the sides from the

color

white below,

THE AQUARIUM,

APRIL,

1894.

103

mouth into the tail. In the spring and summer this band is bright crimson,

they are carried

bordered with bronze at other times changes to bronze or black or disap-

ing out and being

pears

confinement,

;

it

entirely,

in

spots will remain.

which

The

case

black

home should

be cov-

erered in order to prevent their jumplost.

When newly caught and

placed in they should not be dis-

pectoral fins

turbed for some time, as they are easily

of the male also change at this time,

get spasms and die right under the observer's eyes.

becoming a rich orange.

The female is marked the coloring

is

similarly, but

not so brilliant.

frightened,

In captivity they should be fed upon such things as are given to the goldfish.

The Black-Nosed or Banded Dace— (Natural

The black-nosed dace

is

a beautiful

aquarium purposes, is very playful, becomes quite tame and will fish

for

The

Size.)

black-nose

United

States, as

is

is

a native

of the

also the variety

BROWN-NOSED DACE.

confinement for years. As a rule measures from two and a half to four inches in length, though specimens live in

it

have

been

known

to

grow

eight

This

taken from the

they frequent,

little

the bucket

in

creeks

color of

which

fish is

ohtusus.)

marked exactly like the and differs only in the the lateral band, which in this is

preceding

inches.

When

(i?.

brown.

THE AQUAKIUM,

104

The

Kqukriutvt.

A QUARTEKLY 50

cts.

a Tear.

cts.

before they can be thoroughly appreci-

Each.

THE KENTUCKY RED-BELLY. (C, erythrog aster.)

Sample Copies Free.

This

similar to

more

Publisher,

Brooklyn, N. Y.

173 Nostrand Av.,

the same size and very

fish is of

Advertising Rates on Application,

HUGO MULERTT,

1894.

ated.

MAGAZINE.

Single Copies, 15

APKIL,

the preceding, but

brilliantly

is

still

There is a side running

marked.

dark band along the through the eye, and along the side to the base of the anal fin above this is another, beginning at the middle of the body and extending to the caudal ;

THE MOUNTAIN MINNOW. (Phozint/s laevis.)

The back

ornamented with disthe belly and spots may be either silvery white or crimson, and the fins orange or yellow.

This little beauty is native in the Kentucky, Virginia and creeks of North Carolina. It is indeed a great pity that the coloring should only fin.

Die

Le

Gehirgselritze.

The mountain minnow

is'

veron.

the Euro-

pean representative of the black-nosed Its habits are the

dace.

same, but

not near so beautifully marked. like our dace,

it is

it is

Un-

exceedingly rare.

THE RED-BELLIED DACE. (

Chrosom us pi/r rliogaster.

grows to the same size as those preceding, and is found native m the small streams of the Middle and Southern States.

The body is of a brownish olive, with black spots on the back. A black or brown band begins from above the eye, runs straight to the tail another below, running through the eye and curved downward along the lateral line.

The belly and space between the bands is bright silvery, which on the male in the spring becomes a brilliant scarlet red, as also do the bases of the dorsal, anal and caudal fins.

The female is not so distinctly marked. In a well-managed aquarium This

well.

is

cross-bars

;

occur at a certain season instead of remaining permanent, as it is in the goldfish.

fish

;

this

tinct

fish

will

captivity very one of our most

tolerate

It is certainly

THE RED-SIDED MINNOW. {Gila EJongata.)

This species

is

larger than those de-

is native in the Ohio and the great lakes. The body is rather elongated and but little comthe mouth is pressed upon the sides very large, the lower jaw nari'owed and projects farther than that in any other

scribed above, and valley

;

species of our dace, a little tip overlapping the

knob

jaw.

The color of the back is a dark bluish, mottled by scales of a paler cast the sides are ornamented with a broad black ;

band,

the anterior half of which

beautiful native fishes. In the sunshine

light crimson in the spring

their resplendent colors appear to the

also a

greatest advantage,

and should be seen

at the

end of the upper

;

there

dark stripe along the back. (

To

he continued.)

is is

THE AQUARIUM,

NYMPH^A

SUPERBA.

extravagant task too herculean to be undertaken.

However, all who have given the matter a fair test are perpractical, and,

to a

great extent, indispensable in systematic

The question now beWhat varieties give the

fish-gardening.

us

fore

is

:

most satisfactory results ?

Almost every water lily with which I have come in contact has some defect which disqualifies it as a forage plant that

may

be consistently extended alike

into our

tanks.

streams, lakes and

Nymphsa

type are too

its

artificial

odorata and

little

and

lilies

of

])uny, besides

they do not bloom enough, producing

The tuberosa

scarcely any seed. is

class

vigorous and quick growing, but very

shy

bloomers.

that

class

are

N. candidissima

and

always in

plants,

fine

nelumbiums less for this

with

(lotus) are

purpose.

necessary

is

to say that

and the

eating the immature seed.

The

seeds, about

sending down their long roots which, on finding a suitthey germinate, able

habitat,

and

soil

up They

springs

as

if

wholly worth-

and furnish ten times more fish forage to the square yard than any other water lily I have ever known.

Fish will not eat

Add

to this its iron-clad habits, car-

any practical value. Some are too some propagate too slow, and some furnish no more forage than weeds.

By years of close and extensive study and no inconsiderable research, I have found a plant that is vastly superior to

foliage, enabling it

costly,

drogen and give

lilies,

others in fish growing.

superba, a

to the

fasten

new colony

soon a

of

pha^a

the size of small

wheat grains, are each furnished with two air bladders which enable them to float to the surface of the water, where

whether it submerged ten feet

all

fish will de-

vour their contents with the greatest relish.

So greedy are they for this mass I have seen them nibbling at the green pods, often bursting through and

with the whole list of hardy and' they are the only ones

it is

When

of the highest nutritive powers.

ripe the pods open

they will increase ten times more rapidly

the seed naturally germinate.

So

to a great

it,

combines the rapid, sturdy growing and propagating qualities of the tuberosa, with the freedom of bloom and size of the candidissima. The seed pods, two inches in diameter, are filled with seed agglomerated in a rich jelly measure,

to

these.

their seeds, roots or leaves, neither will

water

those ac-

The

would indeed be a task

it

our waters

stock

To

quainted with the habits of the various water lilies the only commendation

by the hand of magic. also propagate by tubers, and at the terminal bud like N. tuberosa. In short,

bloom, but the seeds are scarce and very small and the roots increase so slow that

105

aquatics in the country.

Growing aquatic plants in the culture of fish is to some a new idea, to others mere theory, and by the majority of fish culturists it is looked upon as an

it is

1894.

the most skillful growers of.

one of

{Communicated.)

suaded that

APRIL,

It is

nym-

hybrid between N-

candidissima and N. tuberosa, produced after years of patient fertilization

by

ing

little

;

its

off

neat and pretty

high and dry or large spreading to absorb more hymore oxygen gases is

its

;

way

of lifting its

leaves partially above the water on

stiff

which defend the brood-nests and minnows that cluster by the million beneath tliis aquatic grove, and you have a plant that makes a specialty of petioles,

every point that could be desired.

G. B. M.

THE AQUARIUM,

106

APEIL,

1894.

of the present

Crown

yet

German Emperor, when bred and

Prince,

raised

Paradise fish in his private aquariums.

Lord Russell, for many years Ambassato Germany, devoted every day an hour or so to his aquariums, which dor

^

The

famous.

were

electrician, Siemens,

late

celebrated

and the

late Prof.

Dr. Billroth, of Vienna, a surgeon

of

world-wide fame, both cultivated

the

aquarium. This list could be extended, but these few examples will illustrate

how

A^fr^^-^

YOU, TOO, NEED RECREATION Entirely too

many

!

people nowadays

ticular

and healthful this parhobby must be when such men

found

it

vate

interesting

worth their while to

culti-

it.

On

the other hand this occuj^ation

is

they forget that

a very agreeable pastime to ladies of

sooner or later they will have to pay

cultivated taste and leisure and also to

overtax their nerves for

;

with a broken-down constitution.

Americans speak with contempt of

it

We

and pity the laborers

slavery time

of

Europe because they are compelled to work long hours at certain seasons of the year, while at the same time some Americans make slaves of themselves and work overtime every day in the year.

The only

case

that the latter do this by choice.

is

We

are

so

distinction

often

in

answered,

this

when

speaking to overworked men on the advantage of having a hobby, that " their

invalids.

"Nothing harmonizes

and adorns

the mind more surely than a taste for

ornamental gardening and aquarium It compels the reason to act and the judgment to observe, it is culture.

favorable to meditation,

it

fancy and

system by

braces the

exercises the its

healthful tendency. *'

A

flower garden and an aquarium

for the

young

act

upon the heart and upon the

affections as a nursery acts

business kept

matronly feelings. It attaches them to their home it throws a powerful charm

it, etc.^^

over the spot dedicated to such deeply

them too busy to attempt Now, this is not always the

;

case.

Many business men could arrange very well that a small portion of each day was set aside for recreation of

them from dwelling

some kind.

trials of life

We know

nothing more soothing to overtaxed nerves than the cultivation of plants, flowers and the aquarium.

It is an occupation for which

no

man

eral

is

of

too high nor too low.

Gen-

Field Marshal Moltke, the great

German

strategist,

vate roses.

found time

Frederick

III.,

to culti-

the father

employment, and

interesting

it

lures

too deeply

upon

the unavoidable disappointments and

which sooner or

quiet the heart.

later dis-

'^

When one has concluded to have an aquarium it is not at all necessary to buy an expensive tank of a dealer on ;

the contrary

it

affords so

pleasure and satisfaction

made

his

Of the

own

much more

when one has

tank.

different shapes used for

an

THE AQUAEIUM, aquarium tank we

find the rectangular

shape the best for

all

around purposes.

APRIL, to be the

placing

only be constructed for special purposes.

liberally

first

thing to be considered

about to construct a tank location which

it

is

is

the space or

to occupy.

amateurs make their

rule

A

large.

large tank,

when As

it

re-

a great deal of labor and

time which everybody has not at his disposal

the required

at

properly.

it

'

To

in

this effect all

of the entire lower angles are covered

with

rather

cement, (our

made

stiff

water-proof

aquarium cement is

being especially

for the purpose)

it.

Now take a dry rag and wipe the corners of the plate perfectly clean and lay it gently and evenly on the cement bed. If the frame stands where it should, on a perfect level, the weight of

and the cleaning and

filling involves

be exercised

therefore to

is

tanks too

when proportion-

inconvenient at certain seasons

of the year,

care

forms,

It

and great

particular that the corners are well sup-

makes a grand effect we admit, but its size and weight

make

bottom of the tank.

a

ately stocked, this

107

so to speak, the foundation,

Its advantages over the round, the triangular and the hexagonal shape are so apparent that any of the latter should

The

1894.

time.

We

plied with

the glass will tend to sink tion

if,

;

it

into posi-

however, the cement

very pliable,

by pressing

will

it

it

not

is

be necessary to assist

down with

the hands

;

in

medium

this case the pressure should be gentle,

sized or two small tanks in the latter you are enabled to keep different species that are not on friendly terms with one

uniform, and only in the middle of the

always

one

building

advise

;

which we

The surplus cement is now removed, both below and above, with a putty knife, followed by a dry rag. If examination shows that the cement has

find best suited for a parlor, sitting, or

taken hold of the glass at every point,

dining-room,

it

another.

The medium

sized tank,

has a capacity of about

eighteen gallons.

The

inside

dimen-

from glass to glass (the jjroper way to measure an aquarium tank), is

sions,

plate.

is

left

to

twenty-four

stand hours.

twenty-four by

quiet

for

at

The two

fifteen, that are to

the front and rear, are

now

least

lights,

form

prepared.

twenty-four by twelve inches, by fifteen

These may be cut out of second hand

inches in height.

This tank sets on a stand, the top of which is on a level

polished plate-glass (pieces of broken

with the window-sill.

To make such a tank, get an ironworker to make you a simple iron frame

had, they should be extra heavy double thick

out of one-inch angle iron (see illustra-

the lights should be as straight as they

tion) to correspond with above

dimen-

show windows), or where this can not be French,

or

so-called

twenty-six ounce glass.

can be had.

English

In every case

Should one or the other

at perfect right angles at tlie

be slightly bent, the bend (convex side)

This frame is painted with one coat of red lead. After this is per-

should go towards the outside of the tank.

These also, like the bottom,

sions,

and

corners.

fectly

dry,

piece

a straight

of

one-

quarter inch thick rough plate-glass,

such as cut to

is fit

used for large skylights, is loosely, leaving about one-

eighth of an inch play

all

lower part of the frame.

round in the This glass is

fit loosely into the frame, and if one of the long edges should be rough or ragged, this should go up in order to have the lower edge fit snugly against

should

the bottom.

The lights are now cleaned

with water and wiped perfectly dry.

THE AQUARIUM,

108

The

angles on the bottom and those at

the uprights, but not the upper horizontal ones, are next filled with cement, as was done

when

'the

bottom glass was

placed, and the lights are then set in place,

using gentle force to malie a

uniform

Two

fit.

wooden

sticks

(braces) are then placed across from one to the other to hold them in position, then the surplus cement is removed and the glass again wiped clean.

Our next move is to measure the distance between the two lights just now set, as the two end lights should fit snugly, but without any strain, against them. Double-thick French glass is best suited for these, and the edges that will meet the other ghiss should be clean

We

cut.

then proceed to

set

them

as

APRIL,

1894.

same principle

in

as

the larger tank

described above.

Do not

attempt to make an aquarium in nine case out of ten

out of wood

;

Neither take out-

they are a failure.

side advice regarding

the size of the

Some one will tell you you make it such and such tank.

that, size

"

if

the

glass will cut to better advantage, etc.,''

but an inch or two out of the way one

way

or the other

makes a very big

dif-

ference in the appearance and also in

the welfare of your collection.

These are the

details to be observed

in the construction of the inner hull,

or the tank proper

;

the outside hull, or

ornamental part, is easily put on afterwards.

This can be a simple coat of paint and varnisli, or it may consist of a rustic decoration of tree-bark or tuffstone, or a stylish mantel of

no rules are

wood-work and one ;

set for this part,

may exercise his individual taste. Regarding the stand for the aquarium, however, we find that a closed pedestal, for instance a little cabinet, tends to

advant-

set the collection off to its best

age. ^ Plain Frame, with Rustic Decoration.

described above for the others.

LITTLE BLUE EYES.

After

two or more days, according to the season or weather, the cement has sufficiently hardened and the tank may be filled

with water.

For the small tanks above mentioned we find fifteen by seven and one-half inches, by eleven inches height (all inside measure), the

The frame tinner, out

most desirable

in this

is

of

case

made

made by

a

galvanized sheet iron,

The bottom

in this size

is

of double thick Pittsburg glass,

set as well as all

jardiniere in

dwarf tulips growing

the other glass, which

should be double thick French, on the

which all

I

had

winter

the centre of attraction.

is

The

my

again bulbs,

being out of bloom, were removed and replaced by half a dozen small clumps

Blue Eyes" (Sisyrinchium

of "Little

Dozens of bright blue flowers, new ones each morning, are now the

anceps).

delight of size.

bent into right angles and soldered at the corners.

The

them

in

many

my

passers-by

window.

I

who

notice

collected these

plants myself in a pasture last summer, when visiting in the country. On my return home, in August, I potted them in flower pots, and treated them as I did my other house plants.

I am delighted with my success and hope that others may try a similar experiment

next summer.

Mrs. B.

THE AQUARIUM,

APRIL,

1894.

10<)

.^^K/

^T^

DEVELOPMENT OF THE FROG. Single Egg, Natural Size. 2. A Lump of Spawn (Eggs), as Deposited by the Frog, very duced, i. First State of the Tadpole, enlarged. A. Appearance op the Gills, enlarged, .t. fect Tadpole, Natural Size. 0. Formation of the Hind Legs. 7. Appearance of the Front Transformation of the Head. 8. Development of the Lungs and Absorption of the Tail. 9. fect P'rog.

1.

WHAT ALLIGATORS ARE GOOD When, as down South,

a young man,

we

lived

a fisherman brought several large, ugly looking live alligators to

town, for

us.

In a

little

while quite

The PerLegs and The Per-

exterminated his virtues are recognized.

The

FOR.

much re-

alligator

was never beloved by the

people living in the regions where

abounded it

;

it

the farmers anathematized

as a destroyer of

young

every one agreed that

But

it

pigs, while was an ugly,

demand

had gathered and the question was discussed " what such ugly creatures were good for anyway."

The remark made by one of the natives

useless animal.

''that they were created to eat niggers,"

of the alligator the residents of the bay

approved of by the majority.

The following clipping from an exchange proves that every creature

and bayou regions

a crowd of spectators

seemed

to be

has a function to

fulfill

in the house-

hold of Nature, and that shortsightedness of to see

is

man when he

only fails

it:

''a

"

it

Now

valuable saurian." that the alligator

is

nearly

since the

for its skin for valises, pocket books,

and a thousand and one such

uses,

has

resulted in the ahnost entire destruction

of

Louisiana and

Florida have discovered the huge saurian's

value.

With

its

disappearance

there has been a great increase in the

number

of muskrats, rabbits, raccoons,

and other mischievous animals, and in some parts of Louisiana, since the disappearance of the alligator, these animals have lately become a dangerous pest.

The rats burrow through the

THE AQUAEIUM,

110

APRIL,

1894.

which

species, because so gentle,

on the rice growing season, and fields during the watchConstant immense damage. do fulness and much hard work is required to keep up the levees, which oftentimes are so honeycombed as to need entire reconstruction.

The rabbits and raccoons make great havoc on the truck

native of the Southern states bordering

farms, destroying lettuce, cauliflower,

the ocean,

from

and cabbages wholesale. Some farmers have had to build wire fences about their fields while others have abandoned

Louisiana.

It is a

levees built to keep water

the raising of these vegetables. years ago a law was

made

Several

in Plaque-

mines parish forbidding the killing of alligators, and with their increase the destructive vermin decreased. But that law has since been repealed."

eleon,

was

so

lucky

to find favor with

(?) as

the ladies.

The American chameleon

is

properly

called the Red-throated anolis (Anolis

owing

principalis),

the red

to

the male can display at

destroying

many

South

and becoming quite

entirely harmless pets,

live for

They should be

Carolina to

very useful creature,

injurious insects.

The anolis are make very nice tame and

throat It is a

will.

years in captivity.

fed oh live insects, and

during the cold season Avhen such can not be jirocured a live meal-worm twice a week will keep them

should be bathed

warm

all right.

now and then

They

in luke-

and should be supplied As we have seen above, they come from a warm climate, and to expose them willfully to a cold water

with drinking water.

temperature

But

is

to those

cruelty.

who now

feel sorry for

the poor innocent creatures which were sacrified this winter, not

through

will-

but simply by excu^ble ignorance, we say, that these hundreds of thousands of anolis that were sold on ful cruelty,

the

DESIGN FOR A TREE-FROG HOUSE. An ordinary Candy Jar

set in a rustic frame-

The cover is formed by a thatch roof made of blades of the common Bullrushes. This house will also answer as a terrarium for Lizwork.

ards, Salamanders, etc.

THAT "LIZARD FAD." We

did not endorse the wearing of chained to breast pins, re-

live lizards,

gardless

of

the

temperature, and we

never sold one for that purpose, because it is cruelty to animals.

All species of

and American cham-

lizards are very sensitive to cold

especially the so-called

streets

and

in

fancy

stores

last

winter, have died the death of martyrs.

The very same ladies who would have been scared at the sight of one before they became ''fashionable," and would not have bought one at the customary store-price of 10 cents each, bought them from

the street-peddlers or else-

where at one dollar apiece, became, unknowingly, benefactors they supported ;

a

new industry (which,

in spite of the

hard times of last winter, grew to fabulous dimensions), and which enabled many a poor fellow who was out of employment to earn a dollar and keep his family from starvation.

THE AQUARIUM,

APRIL,

hanginCt baskets.

The

refS

Ill

Queries.

making hanging nearly endless. Our florists

devices

baskets are

for

a great variety of patteriis

offer

1894.

;

our

wire manufacturers offer some pretty designs, and our pottery and

tile merchants have equally attractive models of elegance and beauty.

Choose any-

thing you

only we

like,

recommend

to

you not to get them too small. We would select nothing less than eleven or twelves inches in diameter and six Let the

inches deep.

soil

be

filled

in

even with the edge of the rim, and then rise toward the centre like a small

mound.

but one or two large plants in the basket, cover the If there are

surface of the

soil

with moss, which

moisture in the soil, needing watering only at occasional inwill retain

tervals

;

the

the moss from trees

is

not as

For the small sum of

non-porous material, without a hole at the bottom for drainage, must be used only for holding other and more porous joots inside, the interstices being filled with moist moss.

Very pretty wire baskets are found at some of our stores; and these, being open, must be filled with moss first, and then a little soil in the centre, and the plants added afterwards.

Large sea shells (nautilus or conch) will hold soil enough to support trailers, tasteful window ornaof the prettiest baskets ever seen was made from a single sea

and are usually mervts.

One

Holes were bored large. through the edge to fasten cords to hang it by the interior of the shell was filled with light, rich soil, and Lycopodiums and Lobelias were planted in it.

The rind of the gourd and of the scallop squash make elegant baskets for drooping j)lants.

Cocoanut shells, whether in their natural state or embelshell, quite

regarding the aquarium or the window We offer no other premium to our subscribers than that of putting

garden.

our 25 years of practical experience in these branches at their disposal.

rustic

work around,

are

Ask

many

questions as you please, but please to enclose postage for reply. All as

questions are answered by mail, and we

publish only such in these columns as are of general interest.

is ''

issue,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

The name of the microwater plant, described in last

Dr. B. 0. scopic

Wolffia."

Aquarium -The two spined stickleback (Gasterosteus noveboracensis) is the best species to keep, if one wishes them build nests. The season them begins now (March), which

to see

for

lasts until

the

warm

weather.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Mrs.M. C The old fashioned "Lady Washington Geranium" (Pelargonium) requires very rich soil to bloom well.

Sandy loam, to which about one-third of pulverized rotted cow manure is mixed,

Mrs.

tub

is

such it

is its

warm

nice,

;

lished with acceptable.

cents in

scription to The Aquarium, you are entitled to ask information on any point

desirable as that usually found growing

on the ground in some low, moist place near a swamp.

Pots of lava, or

fifty

advance, which pays for a year's sub-

delight.

It also

wants a

location.

Clarke â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A made

readily

as is used

saucer for a plant

out of sheet lead,

by the plumbers.

to a circle to correspond in size

Cut with

the base of the tub, allowing a margin of

about two inches

all

around. This done,

turn up an edge (scalloped) by means

THE AQUARIUM,

112 of a clothes-pin,

hand.

We find

no better tool

if

is

at

this saucer a perfect pro-

tection to the floor and carpet, greatly adding to the appearance of the tub.

C.

S.— The

fish, all

different varieties of gold-

belonging to one family, will

This fact makes goldfish culture so highly interesting, because one is enabled by ingenious selection, or by mere accident, to produce beautiful or

cross.

forms and

curious raising

Goldfish

colors.

much more

is

interesting than

most people think and it can be done in a limited space and with a small outAll that is needed is two wooden lay. tubs, made by sawing a whiskey barrel in two, and one or more pairs of parent

APRIL, cations

1894.

we

do hear, at

MissE.

now and

receive

then, fish

least certain sounds.

McL.— The

Hyacinth bulbs

that have bloomed this winter, in the

house, in water, moss or

now

should

soil,

away in a dry, cool place in the cellar, where the Next mice can not get at them. be dried

October they

off

and

may

laid

again

be planted

either in boxes with soil for the house,

or in the garden.

Avill

reward the

In both cases they

little

trouble they have

caused by a second crop of

which although not

flowers,

gorgeous in shape

as

or size as this year's flowers, will be just

The

as brilliant in colors.

glasses

and

dishes in which the bulbs have been

only, the other being reserved for the young after having been hatched in

growing should now be washed and wiped inside and outside, especially inside, and put away until fall in a closet where they are out of the Avay and out of danger of being broken.

You have made notes, we presume, of the varieties that took your particular fancy, and no doubt also noted the sorts that did not come up to your expectations, and wherein you can improve for next season regarding the time of

For more particulars we

jjlanting the different varieties in order

these tubs are to be or garden where the yard placed in the them in the mornupon sun will shine fixed upon the are they Here ing. fish.

Both

of

of

principle

parlor

ordinary

an

and would devour the goldfish eggs and also the young fish. as

tadpoles,

The parent

glass-jars.

refer

the

omitting

aquarium,

snails

these

fish are

placed in one tub

you to our book, Culture."

"The

Goldfish

Besides

"raising

to have a succession of bloom.

All these notes should be your guide

and young goldfish in these tubs, you can grow choice aquatic plants in them and

year and you should bear in

enjoy their flowers until late in the

place your order early to secure the

fall.

sorts

Its

The

when making your

you most

selection for next

mind to

desire.

best varieties of goldfish for a

basin in which the fish are seen from above are the double-tailed varieties.

—

D. W. The question regarding the hearing " of fish appears to be settled.

Our own facilities for proving one or *'

the other side of

we have

so

many

it

are not reliable, as

fish,

and these

quarters that a reliable test question.

is

in such

out of the

But judging from communi-

THE ARROW-HEAD. Green and polished and pointed, fit for tlie river-god s bow, Rise thy sliafts from the pool, with wondrous blossoms agleam.

Frailest petals, white shining, of water drops all

Hover

compact, like tiny naiads, the fairest birth of

the stream.

J

W. F

.

KE

S

I

,

MANUFACTURER OF

K Q U H R 39 and 41

I

H.

PARK PLACE, NEW YORK.

AQUARIA STOCK ALWAYS ON HAND, Gold, Pearl, Silver, Sun,

and Rock Fish, Turtles, etc.,

IN

THEIR SEASON.

Japanese Gold Fish ALSO

Aquaria Plants,

all vaiieties.

line of Grottoes,

Full

Arches, Rocks,

etc., car-

ried in stock.

Also Manufacturer of Fountains, Drinking Fountains, Settees, Chairs,

Lamp

Posts,

Railings,

etc.

CATALOGUE FURNISHED GRATIS UPON APPLICATION.

SIFTED BIRD SEED. IF

DIRT,

MCALLISTER'S

YOU WANT BIRD SEED FREED FROM

GRAVEL

and

SUPERIOR PREPARED

MOTES,

ASK YOUR GROCER OR DRUGGIST FOB

•f

MCALLISTER'S.

FOOD MOCKIHG-BIRD —

.••

— FOR

carefully selected best quality of canaiy, German rape, and imported millet seeds, and is put up fresh in one-pound boxes.

This seed

is

Mocking-birds, Thrusties, Blackbirds, Robins, Nightingales, Skylarks,

'Birds which can sing and won't sing, are

made

to sing with

+

ppard's Song RestDiBi,

KND

SOFT-BILU BIRDS.

7XI-I-

••

This preparation is the purest, healthiest, and cheapest bird food known, its ingredients approximating closely to the food of birds in their natural state and its use in all cases causes a marked improvement in their song and appearance.

OR A TREAT. Also an Invigorating Tonic for Canary Sirds^ O old finches, lAnnets and all Seed Jiirds.

;

This preparation will in every case restore to their natural notes birds who have lost tlieir song- from the effects of cold or excessive moulting.

For breeding Birds and their young, and old Birds it is invaluable, strengthening their voice and iaiproving their plumage. Also valuable for Taming Jiirds.

SHEPPARD'S GENUINE PREPARED FISH FOOD.

A

perfectly pure

article,— specially prepared for etc., kept in aquaria or globes.

feeding Gold Fish,

FOR SALE BY ALL DRUGGISTS AND AT ALL BIRD STORES. 'B'.

E.

IsJ:oj!LIjIjISTEI2/, — DEALER

IN

—

FLOVyER AND GARDEN SEED, 22

DET STREET,

-

-

ETC., NEVT TOHK.

MARK SAMUEL,

New

Seif-SnstaiDios AiiariDo, Iteqtiirea

change of water

but once a year.

CATALOGUE FREE.

10 East 16th Street, Bet.

Broadway and

nsrE"v;r iro:E^ic.

Fifth Av.,

HUGO MULERTT, BROOKLYN,

173 Nostrand Avenue, Oldest

Oor

Hbw

Fisli

Aquarium Establishment

FooJ/I.LloHas Won Many

YOU SHOULD TRY 25

cts.

a

box prepaid by

IT

America.

Friends.

TOO.

mail, 5 for $1.00,

SEND FOR PRICE

NO STORE.

in

N. F,

LIST.

The Hiericao' MagaziDi of It is

Natural Science.

a Magazine

for Naturalists,

in every sense of the word.

THEY ALL SAY ITS THE

BEST.

Subscription Price, only 25 cents per year,

Monthly. '

Jl7

•.

BRPADW/Hy

NEW

Fish

Several features are being intro-

AND OYSTeRCuLTURe.

PR.6SH Ann salt wATfeR AM6ur«i.Be^TirtQ.ETC,.

YORK-

(Established 1884.)

in America exchisivply devoted to everything pertaining to FISH andFlSIIINCJ. A valuable niedi<im for the advertiser. Try it!

The only publication

Subscription price $f.GO per year, post paid.

SEND fOR SAMPIE COPY.

Q, E.

JENNINGS,

duced, which make this magazine as good and better than many of Ihe Sample higher priced magazines. copy sent for stamp. Circulation, 2,500 monthly.

I

PUBLISHER,

EEC B. STEASiTS & CO PuUishers, Sac City. la., and Des Moines, ,

la.