Aquatic life 1 1919

Jacob C. Cassel 915 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa Manufacturer

oj

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W. A. POYSER JOSEPH E. BAUSMAN .

HUGO

.Editor

Publisher

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I

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Copyright 1919 by Joseph E. Bailsman

Vol. IV.

/

WM. G. SARB ACHER

l^orv-i.

draft

NELLES

Are you looking for first-class stock at reasonable prices?

Then see me. I have what you want.

Manufacturer of the "Faultless Fish Food,"

Entered as second-class matter, September 2, 1915, at the Post Office, Philadelphia, Pa., under Act of March 3, 1879.

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THE BOOK DEPARTMENT No. 5

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AQUATIC LIFE

Philadelphia

sooovk

1

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â&#x20AC;&#x201D; aquatic

58

pending increase by the greatly distended abdomen. When this stage has been reached the female should be placed alone in a small aquarium containing quite a

mass of

which should be grouped

plants,

The tank should be frequently examined, and when the young have been expelled the parent window-side.

at the bright or

Daphnia and the

should be removed.

tropical

supplied

usually

foods

fishes

The temperature should

should be used.

JHU out

ried

practice

in

many

in

;

cases,

through our imperfect knowledge of the

groups that we are dealing with. being

so, scientific

nomenclature

and does, change

to,

This likely

is

accordance with

in

the state of our knowledge.

Incidentally,

I

many

that a great

understand

to

might

people find

the

plants

difficult

it

of

utility

names for animals and

mention,

here

technical

and

;

average from 70 to 75 degrees.

In doing

answer.

cannot do better

so, I

Hux-

than quote the words of Professor

Classification of Fishes ley,

DAVID

G.

STEAD,

F. L. S.

For purposes of reference,

here

I

take an opportunity of giving a suitable

who,

"Many

says: fishes

tific

work on "The

in his

Crayfish,"

people imagine that scien-

terminology

is

a needless

burden im-

why

by Naturalare separated into two main ists Pisces sub-classes known as Blasinobranchii and

posed upon the novice, and ask us

the Teleostomi; with a third and smaller

jector to open a conversation about his

one called Dipneusti or Dipnoi; the latter remarkable lung-fishes. including the

own

These sub-classes are again divided into orders, sub-orders and many families; the families themselves being split up into genera and species; the genus and

and

try

The

interview will not have lasted long

which belong

to a class called

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

species forming

For

tific

name.

the

Nannygai,

what

is

called the scien-

instance, in the case of

the

name

scientific

is

Beryx affitiis; the former being the genus, and the latter the species. Fishes having certain slight affinities with one another

are grouped together under the main di-

while those showing a greater

visions,

and still greater natural relationship one another are placed in the more stricted groups. is

Botanists plants of

in

all

classifying

the idea being to

;

classification

and as

far

formation of

as

as

animals

artificial divisions.

business with

engineer,

or,

how

still

a

carpenter,

or an

with a

sailor,

better,

far plain English will go.

maze Every technical terminology and uses terms of art, which

before he will find himself of

unintelligible

calling has

its

every artisan

sound

like gibberish to those art,

fact,

who

every art

which are

who know

but are exceedingly

convenient to those

tions

lost in a

technicalities.

;

nothing of the "In

an ob-

to such

is

practice full

special to itself

the use of language

is

to

it.

of concep;

and, as

convey our con-

supply signs for those conceptions. There

and

the system

obviating

would suggest

I

ceptions to one another, language must

natural as possible,

possible

In reply

to

Zoologists and

make

be content with plain English.

re-

Generally speaking, this

the plan followed by

we cannot

the

ortun-

ately,

however ardently a person may

desire

it,

the latter cannot alwavs be car-

are two

ways

ing signs

may

of doing this

;

either exist-

be combined in loose and

cumbrous periphrases, or new signs, having a well-understood and definite signification,

may

be invented.

The

practice

shows the advantage of the latter course and here, as elsewhere, science has simply followed and improved upon common sense." of sensible people

;

;

p

Color Changes of the Chub-sucker CARL Museum and

Field

Young Chub-sucker (Erimpzon

)

L.

HUBBS

Chicago Aquarium Society

sucetta),

snowing

complement of

full

color markings

i

A

well-known ichthyologist tells of an which once befell him while collecting fishes on the reefs Among numerous other of Panama. interesting experience

gaudily marked

little

he obtained

fishes

white almost as contrasting as the ink

and paper on

Anyone

inquire

causes

be a different

pale and plain in color.

fish,

Leaning over

to obtain a closer

view he

chanced to touch the edge of the pail in

the

an instant the whole color pattern of fish

little

former of

similar

in

all

its

the

I

Certain

California.

caught there

in

have had experiences on the

conspicuousness.

somewhat reefs

was displayed

sculpins,

deeper algae-filled

were found to be almost uniform blackish in color when placed in a light sandy pool or held in my hand they tide-pools,

;

brought out on their bodies, before

my

astonished gaze, a pattern of black and

a

normally

color changes exhibited by fishes, would

he placed in a brightly tinned Returning an hour or so later, he rail. was surprised to find what appeared to fish

with

curious frame of mind, upon seeing such

one which he wished to observe further.

This

this page.

favored

through

fish

this

literature

of

subject.

significance

articles

Would

it

and

A

phenomena.

the

number

a

the

into

of

the

search

reveals

quite

dealing

with

not,

however,

prove far more entertaining and instructive to study the problem independently,

by direct observation of the changing of some suitable aquarium and then compare our results with those that others have obtained and coloration fish,

written of

?

For a few weeks past I have kept a young chub-sucker (Erimyzon sucetta), a neat *

little fish

With

by Leon History.

of our

five original

own

creeks, in a

drawings from nature

L. Pray, Field

Museum

of Natural

ftquattc JLitt

60

aquarium on the to day or from top of my desk. it change watched have I hour to hour from forth, and back its color-pattern medium-sized

all-glass

From day

"ruptive" markings, that

is,

those that

an animal or other object by

conceal

breaking

outline

its

what

appear

in

two, making

it

To produce

not.

is

it

camouflage

one type or phase to another, each ap-

analagous

pearing like the marks

paints a black streak, or several of them,

When

cies.

of a distinct spe-

kept in the dark, either dur-

a

results,

Though conspicuous

across a field gun. in itself, the

marking

erence to the fish

artist

is

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or

concealing in refthe gun, de-

to

pending on whether Nature or

Man

is

the artist.

Under

conditions

certain

chub-

the

sucker loses the black longitudinal stripe, but gains in Striped Phase

ing the night or during the day (by covering the sides and top of the aquarium

with pasteboard), the whole complement of dark colors is brought out, as shown in the figure at the

head of

this article:

a black lateral streak, extending tip of the fin,

from

the

snout to the base of the caudal

crossed by about thirteen dark

is

bars; the

fins,

too, are largely blackish.

darkest color and most extensive pattern, it thus appears, are displayed in a

The

The darken-

similarly dark environment.

its

stead a series of vertical

hard to believe that this barred fish is the same individual as the streaked one observed before. But it really is the self -same fish, exhibiting another and distinct color pattern.

By combining the bars and stripes, the chub-sucker develops bars.

It is

the complete color pattern illustrated at

the head of this article.

We

have not yet exhausted the color

phases which the young sucker

is

able to

display at appropriate times. Often

when

browsing over a gravelly bottom it takes on a blotched appearance. This blotched phase,

it

appears on a moment's analy-

ing of the fish by darkening the tank in

would seem

the daytime light,

to indicate that

rather than temperature, influenced

the change.

In the morning hours the actively

swims about

little

sucker

in the increasingly

bright light of the aquarium, usually in clear water

The

away from weeds and stones. now more or less grad-

Barred Phase

vertical bars

ually fade out, leaving the back a nearly

uniform

shade, separated by a from the black lateral band which thus by contrast is ren-

dark

sis,

combines features of both the barred

and striped phases. As the blotches ren-

bright streak

der

or stripe,

(under natural

dered very inconspicuous. tern

tend to conceal the

Can fish

this patin

open

water? Though we cannot be certain our answer, black

stripe

it

in

appears probable that this

enters the classification

of

the

fish

extremely top

gravel background,

inconspicuous

light)

it

is

against

obvious that

the

we

are dealing here with a typical example of concealing coloration.

Thus we discover

that the

Concluded on page

young chub62.

~j

The

carpintis;

it

WALTER LAMNOT

BRIMD,

appearance of Neetroplus

the

easily recognizable as a

is

and somewhat

cichlid

Carpintis

good general

illustration gives a

of

idea

KTeetroplus

like

Cichlasonia

In fact the genus Nee-

nigrofasciatum.

troplus occupies a doubtful position.

claim

genus,

a valid

as

Its

from

distinct

upon certain incisorEugene Meek, who examine numerous opportunities to had these teeth were found that specimens, not always evident. So it will not be rests

Cichlasonia,

Dr. Seth

like teeth.

if we find who works over

surprising

the next ichthyolo-

gist

the cichlids placing

far

as

perfectly good

cerned,

is

course,

is

F. Z. 5.

plants

!

are

con-

'em rough." They will assiduously uproot every shoot. This, of to "treat

incidental to clearing

up pre-

paratory to breeding.

This cichlid is a large

fish, reaching a length in nature of twelve inches, though in the aquarium one-half this size will

be a big one.

It

follows that a large,

carpintis in Cichlasonia.

From which

standpoint

a

appearance,

of

of prime interest to the aquar-

is

The

this cichlid is not unattractive.

ist,

large, distinct pearly scales are scattered

apart on the yellowish-olive

sufficiently

or

make Younger

ground color

bluish-olive

them stand out in bold contrast. fish show dark vertical bars which disappear with advancing age. These, however, as in

more or

all

less

fishes of the family, are

evanescent

all

the time.

A

dark spot at the base of the tail, and another on the body, are somewhat more Sexual distinctions are much

persistent.

The males

as in others of this group.

are

angular,

with coarse mouths,

acute dorsal and anal are

more rotund, with

fins.

and

The females

fins blunt.

During

the breeding season the males are

much

brighter in color.

If

at

sessor

any time you become the posof

a

waste plants

pair

of

in the

Neetroplus,

aquarium.

Neetroplus carpintis

to

don't

Like our

boys of the Tank Corps, their slogan, as

shallow

tank

breeding.

In

should it

be supplied for should be placed several

large stones or a flower pot laid on the side.

On either, according to the desires of the pair, the adhesive eggs will he laid in a cluster and carefully guarded until

they hatch.

This being successfully conwill be removed to a hole previously excavated in the sand,

summated, the fry

where they will be kept clean and free from debris by the parents, who carefully

keep the water

in circulation

about

them by means of the constantly-moving pectoral fins. With the absorption of the yolk-sac the fry reach the free-swimming stage, and move about in a shoal, guarded by the parents,

in

search of microscopic

During breeding activities, and for the young for some time there-

live

food.

—

— Aquatic

62

temperature should be maintimes tained at about 80 degrees at other sufficient.

75 degrees will be

JLitt

Concluded from page 60. like most other fishes of tem-

after, the

sucker,

;

This

fish

is

carnivorous,

decidedly

hence should be fed Daphnia, worms, larvae of aquatic insects, meal worms, shreds of raw beef and

perate waters, this case,

as

protectively colored.

is

many

is

In

which we

others,

learn about in our reading, the fish has

which

several color patterns with

to ren-

similar materials.

should, of course, be supplied with Daphnia until large enough to take

The young

the food of adults.

of aquatic life has long accumulating. Those who have con-

Our knowledge been

Blotched Phase

tributed have been of very diverse train-

employed ing and equipment and have very different methods.

Fishermen and

whalers, collectors and naturalists, zoologists

and

botanists,

with

specialists

in

many groups; water analysts and sanitarians, navigators and surveyors, plankand bioloand desorts and gists of many names the For share. grees, all have had a

tologists

and

der

Fishing is one of the most ancient of human occupations, and doubtless the

beginning of this science was simple fisher-folk.

Not

all

made by

fishing

is,

or

ever has been, the catching of fish. The observant fisherman has ever wished to

know more

of the

science takes

its

ways of nature, and

origin in the fulfillment

of this desire.

The live in

from

its

—and thus often the enemies — in

and changing types of environment through which it passes in the course of its hourly and daily wanderings.

way

Plans are under

Island. is

for the construc-

an aquarium on Santa Catalina Novel features are promised. It

tion of

proposed to insert great pieces of plate

glass

every one.

inconspicuous

different

bacteriologists,

water has held something of interest for

itself

to save itself

in

rocks

the

in their haunts.

Food

and smallest of organisms and no one was ever water, the

will

will be supplied

sired location.

Doing business without advertising like

winking

know what you are doing else does.

So why not come world's aquarists

have

may

something good,

you

Life of Inland Waters.

advertising you have

but nobody out into the

where see?

The

life

of daphne and

be lengthened materially

if

coats of asphaltum varnish.

the

all

Then

if

aquarists

you will

"beat a path to your door even though live

in

the

Without

backwoods."

a

wooden

much

about as

man

chance of coming through as a buckets will

is

You

at a girl in the dark.

equipped, or will ever be equipped, to study any considerable part of them.

fish

Loaf,

be viewed

regularly to attract the fishes to the de-

open, in Aquatic Life,

largest

Sugar

near

through which the fishes

leg in a forest

with

fire.

given several

After each

There can be no hours

coat has hardened, bake overnight in a

one's

very slow oven.

work, or even by

leisure

better

than

way

to

by

scientific play.

employ

scientific

Stokes.

4

••—-«f

A

Simple Heated Aquarium H.

E.

FIKfCKH

Royal Zoological Society of

New

Soutk Wales *

Even

in

aquarian nature-study the war

has taught us to rely upon our

and

sources,

this in

an advantage.

number which

I

my

have

own

re-

case has proven

in

my

collection a

of species of the smaller fishes

I

keep

in

separate

heated individually.

tanks,

each

Until last year

I

and a

—

photograph

construction

details

showing how

inconspicuous the "heating

glass" appears

My

when

the tank

tanks measure

is

by

equipped.

by 10 and are constructed of galvanized This is a handy size, and sheet iron.

15

10,

inches,

best suited to

my

needs, but can be varied

have used the "Thermocon," a blownglass tank with a glass bulb in the centre

as desired.

of the bottom, which answers very well.

drinking glass, measuring two and three-

The "heating

glass"

is

an ordinary

Requiring additional tanks, and the one

fourths inches in diameter and three and

mentioned being no longer obtainable, I decided to make some on the same prin-

one-half high.

ciple.

As

follow

my

scription,

others

may

example, I

feel

disposed to

in addition to a de-

present a

drawing giving

Now

for the frame, bottom

first.

Cut by 12 inches, draw lines an inch from the edge on all sides, snip the square inch from each

a piece of the sheet metal 17

;

Aquatic Utte

64

corner and then

edges, thus

fold the

Then

forming a tray one inch deep.

round hole in

less

with

one-fourth inch

diameter than the glass, one-fourth

a

wood and

inch

cut

is

and

chisel

a

the tray on a solid piece

Lay

hammer. of

in the centre,

a

the

work can be done

ed with a pair of dividers.

Next cut a strip of metal one-inch

wide and as long as the circumference of the hole.

Draw

a line lengthwise in the

that each

Paint the inside of

in fitting the glass.

the frame, not the bottom, and, after

it

has dried, cement the glass in place. Or-

window

dinary

glass will do for a tank

of this size, but

mark-

position of the circle should be

you proceed,

certain, as

square, otherwise there will be trouble

so

neatly that filing will not be necessary.

The

Make is

eighth

inch

it

should average one-

Hold

thick.

the

position while the cement

means

of strips of

is

glass

in

setting by

wood wedged from

and from end to end. Now lay a little cement in each corner, from top to bottom, and let the tank stand for a day to dry.

Fill the groove formed by the two side to side

collars with cement, then press the glass

away

firmly in place, trimming

the sur-

plus cement.

In an ordinary tank

plan described,

water coming

also cement a sheet of bottom to prevent the

in contact

In the present case this so

with tinners' shears,

from one edge

cuts half an inch apart this line.

Bend

make to

the sections thus form-

ed at right angles,

fit

the collar into the

it

over the bottom while hot.

kept warm, as the glue sets quickly

Any but

it

small kerosene lamp can be used,

should be as short and compact

as possible, as the

another collar one-half inch wide and sufficiently large to slip over the first collar and still leave sufficient space for

ed to permit

the glass between both.

ond

collar

should

fit

the

to

loosely

Solder this sec-

bottom.

The

between the

glass

collars,

and will be cemented in place later.

For the balance of the frame cut strips one inch wide 4 pieces 10 inches long for

not possible,

is

In this proceeding the bottom should be

hole from below, and solder into place.

Make

with the metal.

melt marine glue (a sort of pitch)

I

and pour centre and,

after the

I

over the

glass

made

it

aquarium must be

rais-

being placed underneath.

Glass-bodied lamps are to be preferred

amount of unconsumed at any time. I clean wicks and remove the charred por-

as one can see at a glance the oil still

the

tion every other day.

In rare cases the male of Xiphoplwnis

;

the corner uprights, 2 pieces

10 inches

long and 2 pieces 15 inches long for the Bend the strips lengthwise top frame. to

form angles with each face one-half

inch.

One by one

solder the corner up-

helleri

will

not develop the

extension of the old.

tail

This usually means a

men.

mum

When

sword-like

until nearly a year fine big speci-

sword reaches its maxilength body-growth has ceased the

rights to the corners of the tray or bot-

hence precocious tendencies

tom, and then the strips forming the top.

tion indicate the "runts."

in this direc-

Motes on the Breeding Habits of HTie Pigm;9 Sunfish W. A. POTSER More than

through

a year ago,

the

courtesy of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, the

writer received a

number

of specimens of the pigmy sunfish, Elassoma zonatum, collected at Mound, Louisiana. These, barring two or three which have died in the interval, have been under close observation to determine, if possible, the breeding habits.

Nothing

glass dish, with dark cardboard beneath

worms into relief, and quickteased apart, the larger being removed with slender dissecting forceps.

These

to bring the ly

worms are obviously preferred, a number being consumed in

able

whereas an equal bulk of Daphnia through several days. Though

time,

will persist

r

-s&tfC/i

has

been

heretofore

connection, in

ceived

fact

published

in

reasona short

this

the species has

re-

attention save at the hands

little

The

of the systematic ichthyologist.

ex-

amples when received were about halfgrown, measuring from one-half to threefourths of an inch long.

Today, fourteen months later, the average

maximum

of one and one-fourth to one and onethird inches has been reached.

Suitable

problem of maintaining this species in Dry prepared foods of the usual sorts and ground dried shrimp will at times

be taken while falling, but

and without avidity, particles reaching the bottom being left unnoticed.

Shredded fresh fish flesh and raw scraped beef did not seem much more delittle

Its predilection for

sirable.

Elassoma zonatum

have used enchytraeids extensively for

number of species of fishes, only pigmy have I seen it penetrate through the gills and wriggle free. This, however, rarely occurred, and only when a particularly greedy fish would seize several large ones.

Beyond a few spasmodic jerks, the affair did not seem a matter of much moment. The pigmy takequite a

food enters largely into the

the aquarium.

very

Pigmy Sunfish I

entomostra-

in

its

the

food with a peculiar

little

snap quite unlike other fishes.

Several color descriptions

sidewise

would be

cans and the larvae of mosquitoes has been recorded by Dr. Robert E. Coker.

necessary to describe

In

changes do not altogether seem in the nature of protection, and because the greatest extremes, in both sexes, are in-

the

absence of the mosquitoes the

writer had recourse to the white annelid

worm, Enchytraeus

albidus,

with

occasional lot of Daphnia pulex. the fish were small

use

only

the

it

tiniest

an

While

was necessary enchytraeids,

to

lest

larger ones be tackled with disastrous effects.

be

To

placed

end a small mass would

this in

a

shallow,

flat-bottomed

varied moods,

cidental to

male

I

say

this

fish

in

its

moods because

the

sexual activity,

and

in

the

combat.

Usually the basal color is given as olive-green, which, taking fishes as a whole, is an "elastic" color,

to

be

to

used when we cannot be more The sides are marked by ten

definite.

ftquatic JLltz

66

to twelve vertical bars, with pale inter-

Technical descriptions give the

spaces.

variation, almost instantaneous, both in

mere

and

intensity

in the

appearance and

bars and interspaces as equal in width,

disappearance of the vertical bars.

and somewhat

times a fish

disagree.

The

th<:

tha-.'

my

In this

diameter of the eye.

mens

width

in

less

speci-

interspaces are quite

so that

it

may

be quite pale, so

At

much

appears nearly uniform in col-

may be dotted or mottled again bars may be either faint or promi-

or, or

it

;

uniform, but the bars just behind the

the

head are three times this width, decreasthe until at ing gradually backwards

nent.

be apparent under identical conditions,

caudal they do equal

but the most intense display

\

the

interspaces.

Among

a

number

all

phases will reserved

is

1

\

Habitat of the Pigmy Sunfish, Elassoma zonatnm, at Mound, Louisiana

When

the coloring

is

deep they are much

more sharply defined than

On

tion.

in the illustra-

the sides, just below the for-

In breeding dress he

for the male.

is

handsome little fellow. The head and the bars become intense black,

altogether a

ward portion of the dorsal, appears a large, more or less evanescent black spot, most pronounced in the male, with an-

green, with deeper spots on the gill-cov-

other spot at the base of the caudal.

ers.

the absence of bars

becoming confluent

numerous at

In

fine spots,

times and forming

blotches, cover the body.

Similar

but larger dots are disposed in

more or

lignt

less regular

The

rows on the

coloration

is

to

wide

dusky,

interspaces

spaces

flashing with

The

fins,

all

forward

the

yellowish metallic

save the

pectorals,

heretofore pale and transparent

become

decided blue-black, just short of being

opaque, with the numerous spots quite

prominent.

which

fins.

subject

the

it

will

When

the

color

recedes,

do momentarily to return

as quickly, the fading

becomes noticeable

aquatic the greater transparency of the fins,

in

and in the tendency of the interspaces to become yellowish.

Breeding females are consistently pala pale dirty straw, showing,

if at all,

Even

the tiny

lid,

but mere traces of bars. dots

may

be scarcely

The

discernible.

abdominal wall appears salmon-pink, the color extending from the gills to the vent.

When the eggs have been expelled the color has vanished, indicating that it

was

incidental to

females there

In spent

fertility.

deepening of

slight

a

is

JLitt

67

nourishment.

But altogether the condi-

tions probably simulate closely those to

which Elassoma is accustomed.

Until the middle of December nothing unusual was noted. About this time two males took up stations at remote ends and were in rather good color. A number of females were obviously gravid.

As by common consent

the spots selected

were avoided by the others, including the females, in fact it was rather unwise to approach.

If an intruder did appear, it was greeted by a for nests

and becoming Females are uniformly more chunky than the males. The wide di-

color, the dots appearing

confluent.

vergence

in the colors of the sexes

morphism) while breeding

contrast to the sunfishes proper trarchidae), which develop

(di-

marked

is in

^0^:

(Cen-

little

if

:

any

Eggs of E. zonatum

differences in coloration at any season.

Last in a

summer

a

pair

was segregated

tank that had been allowed to be-

come messy, and

intentionally so.

The

usual rubbish accumulated, Algae flour-

courageous

little

warrior with color flash-

and one short dash was sufficient.

One of the sites was amid a dense growth of Algae and nothing could be observed ing,

was probably more pure than that in the

other than that the male was constantly there certainly there was no attempt to

stagnant ponds frequented by the pigmy

form a

nest.

believe

that

ished, but the water

in nature.

remained sweet and

grew

and

This instance leads me to under certain unfavorable bottom conditions no attempt may be

The

made

At times the male was highly

waxed

colored, while the female

fat

lean, but nothing eventuated.

;

to clear a space, if indeed this

is

others, placed elsewhere, fared likewise.

not the normal method.

During September a 20-gallon tank was released by the removal of its fishes to other quarters, so it became the habitat of the pigmies.

This aquarium has been standing for a long time, more than a year, and as a result is rather unsightly.

was more in the open. two inches in diameter and surrounded

Perhaps a dozen plants of Cryptocoryne griffithsi are surrounded by thickets of Sagittaria, with here and there a little Nitella, Tillaea, Elodea and some other things, with a luxuriant

mentous twixt

all.

Algae

growth of

(Vaucheria,

etc.)

Strewn over the sand

is

fila-

be-

con-

siderable debris, mostly decaying

and dy-

show

lack of

ing leaves, for the plants

by plants of side I

was

S.

The other nest This was a space

subulata

fairly free

;

the observer's

from Algae.

While

did not see the operation, the rubbish

was cleared and heaped about the periphery, but not with the nicety of Bupomotis gibbosus, as

much

was allowed

remain.

to

flocculent matter

This

reached, the male at various times

stage

was

observed making obvious efforts to attract a female, indulging in most amusing gyrations for

such a

"stiff" and During these plays the body assumed the most intense col-

usually sedate

fish.

ftquatic JLttt

68

The movements were

oring.

sinuous,

but quick, possibly to be described as resembling peristalsis not unlike the mo-

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

tions of Betta or

"measure up side.

The

to

Poly acanthus when two one another" side by

dorsal

flabby but erect,

was

waving with the movement, while the action of the caudal fin was quickened.

A

peculiar and conspicuous feature of the play was the rapid, rythmic, alternate backward and forward "clicking" of the ventrals, a feature I have not noticed in

any other mating fish.

This remained the extent of my That day, studies up to December 22d. to spend prepared was I being Sunday,

persed in the effort that a half dollar

would have covered

The number was more than fifty.

all.

probably not

small,

Though

seem to be was quite exhausted, sinking to a decumbent leaf close by, where she rested for more than an hour. The male assumed his position "on guard" and ere long was indulging in another love-play, but spawning was not repeatthe female did not

spent, she

From

ed.

this

I

am

inclined to

think

polygamy may be practiced in event of more than one gravid female being present. Should this subsequently prove true, we have in the pigmy a most adaptable

species

far

as

matrimonial

as

monogamy,

more than the usual time in observation.

The result was the discovery of fry in

gamy and polyandry being

the free-swimming stage. Twenty were counted, some near the nest and others

This spawning occurred at 9.30 A. M., with the water at 72 degrees, Fahren-

elsewhere.

these the male gave not

To

the slightest attention and,

I

am

glad to

add, neither did the othersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; at that time.

Within a week all but one had disap-

were with pigmented eyes, and approximately three-sixteenths of an inch long. A few days later a single fry, much smaller and

peared.

The

quite transparent,

fry

with yolk-sac

still

unobsorbed, evidently

affairs are concerned,

weather cloudy.

On the 31st another spawning was witnessed. This took place on the edge

heit

;

of the nest just below the surface of the

water (depth, for

the

a

attracted by the antics of the male in the

sort of

when

visible,

best

approached

a

female

unostentiously

quite

without the slightest hesitation.

When

and the

two met, the play of the male gave way to rapid trembling

on the part of both,

the male taking a position immediately

mediately

over

the

nest,

the

non-ad-

inches below.

So

little

were

they

dis-

late

time

of

the

seconds,

eggs

being

The female seem-

spent

and

immediately

the plants. Both

males guarded the nest and maintained hours,

an armed neutrality for several one none too gently per-

until

suaded the other to depart. But this was decidedly under protest, as it loitered about the outskirts, making an occasional foray into the nest. Time 8 A. M., weather clear and sunny temperature ;

to

hesive eggs falling to the bottom seven

number

swam from view among

trusion and fertilization took place im-

not unlike a

in

legitimate

ed completely

71

his

was too

arriving

preliminaries the

ejected continuously.

mouth snapping person with a chill. Ex-

below the female,

11 inches). I

male and an intruder take a position, side by side, just The orgasm lasted below the female. see

to

from another brood, was noted trying to rise from the bottom.

On December 27th it was my good fortune to observe the spawning operbefore the tank ation. I had paused nest

poly-

practiced.

-

The endeavors of

the male do not

seem

extend beyond guarding the site of the nest. At no time, not even when the eggs were entangled

among

the Algae in

plain view, did he evince the slightest in-

aquatic His usual station is five or six above the nest or immediately by. Occasionally he has dashed quickly to the bottom, which merely seemed to stir up the humus. The infrequency of

69

JLitt

Kichigoro Akiyama

terest.

inches

these dashes inclines

me

to regard

them

Last month, figuratively speaking,

and looked with wonder

beautiful

aquarian conservatory

the

at

of Mr. Albert Gale, wherein plants and

and birds

as caused by the fancied presence of an

finds

enemy

and

in the nest.

From remove

the last spawning

number

a small

The

were entangled are given

in

I

was

able to

of the eggs which

Goldfish

Drawings and twelve

hours after fertilization. At thirty-six hours all the remaining eggs had been destroyed by fungus. I am unable to explain the pecular process

shown

encircle-

were was present on all at the second period it had disappeared. ing the eggs at the

examined and

The

first

period. Six

it

;

loss of the eggs effectually preclud-

ed the possibility

of

period of incubation.

determining

The eggs

vie with fishes, for Mr. Gale everything in nature worth while

Homeward bound we

interesting.

Orient and become acquainted with Mr. Kichigora Akiyama, will

visit

the

Breeding Plant of Kichigoro Akiyama

the Algae

made one hour

we

visited Australia

the

are very

the largest goldfish

Perhaps

we the

breeder

in

this qualification is inapt.

really

mean

is

What

Mr. Akiyama has

that

breeding

largest

Japan.

establishment

in

Japan, both in area and in number of fishes bred. More than 25 acres of ponds are in service, all devoted to the fancy or

we may

toy breeds, so

further say that

fancy goldfish hatchery the world.

It is to be regretted that single photograph cannot show all

this is the largest in

a

the

interesting

transparent and measure approximately

Some

one millimeter.

r-imitive.

of the

A

features

devices

in

of

use

the

are

farm. quite

well-sweep will be noted

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

:

aquatic

70

where an occidental would use a windnot to mention an up-to-date pump.

We are indebted to Mr. Eiichiro Nalass,

who

kashima,

took the photograph, for Akiyama before

thoughtfully posing Mr.

the portal of one of his sorting and equipment houses. Several other views are in

liiit

and others During the past eight months excursions and meetings have been held, including visits to various aquaria, and the reading of papers by members. On Tuesday evening, its

who may

be

interested."

November

5,

showing the various implements used hy Japanese

W.

breeders.

sheet and

hand,

a

including

series

ing

in the store of

The work

Mr. George

S. Breneiser.

of the past year was reviewed

and plans formulated for 1919.

Accord-

1918, the first annual meet-

was held

Mr.

at the residence of

Hosking,

Hale,

The annual meeting of The Reading Aquarium Association was held on Tuesday evening, December 17, 1918,

members

association of

The

Norwood.

report,

secretary,

J.

balance

read by Mr. H.

M.

the

in-

indicated

that

augural period had been eminently suc-

and that the organization was and extending its The following operations. were re-elect-

cessful,

justified in continuing

ed to their respective officers

President,

:

Edgar R. Waite, F. L,. S. vice-president, J. W. Hosking; committee, C. G. Pilkingauditors, ton, R. Rash and E. R. Catt A. E. Wadey and B. B. Beck honorary secretary and treasurer, H. M. Hale. A syllabus of meetings and outings was arranged for the coming year. ;

ing to the report of the secretary the or-

most of

may

lections

common fishes

whom

members,

forty-three

has

ganization

are active, in whose col-

be found "anything" from and wild

goldfish to lionheads,

from native minnows

to the regal

Pterophyllum scalare. The financial condition

is

sound.

The following were President, dent,

elected to office

Kershner

John

T. Ralph Wilson

treasurer,

S.

D. Mellert

vice-presi-

;

secretary

;

;

and

assistant sec-

Oscar A. Becker; official judge, George S. Breneiser.

It was decided to continue awarding ribbons at the monthly competitions, with

;

;

Of

all

the fins of a fish the pectorals are

the most transparent and usually so de-

void of color as to escape ordinary attenThis, to originate an expression,

tion.

retary,

member who number of firsts

a special prize to the

tures the greatest

ing the year.

conclusion

of

A

cap-

dur-

dinner was served at the

the

Oscar A.

meeting.

is

The pecconstant motion even when

"protective absence of color." torals are in

the individual

ored ing

it is

is

still.

If they

were

col-

obvious that the eye of a pass-

enemy

or prey would at once be ar-

This was shown in an interesting way by a poeciliid hybrid in the collec-

rested.

tion of

George

W.

Price.

The

fish

was

one of the "darks" or dominants of the

BACKER, Assistant Secretary.

deep orange and black. One pecwas deep velvet black, while the other was normal (transparent). When viewed with head or tail toward the observer the effect of the waving black fin was startling. cross,

The inaugural meeting of the South Aquarium Society was held last March, the formation of which was Australian

suggested partly by the interest taken in aquaria, established in the tralian

Museum.

The

South Aus-

society

was

estab-

lished "with the object of promoting the

study of aquaria and aquatic

life

by the

toral

You

think your job

the world, but

it's

soft

is

the hardest in

compared

one your mother had raising you.

to the

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WITH THE COLLABORATION OF 25 DISTINGUISHED SPECIALISTS All interested in aquatic biology will find here answers to their queries on methods of study, conditions of existence, types of life, and inter-relations of the organisms that inhabit our fresh-water bodies, together with data on their life histories, habits and range.

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Aquarium Fishes

A

GOOD FISH FOOD

most

All Kinds of Aquatic Plants

&

Aquaria

Supplies

Wholesale and Retail

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Terraria

Welcome

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Varieties received

1163 Myrtle Avenue. Brooklyn, N. Y.

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Near Broadway.

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Sample Box 10c

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Imported Shrimp Fish Food

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Sample Can 15c

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Imported Wafer Fish Food

Large Sample Box 10c

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Upon Request.

AQUARIUM STOCK CO 273 Greenwich Street <

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1919-21 Bush Street, San Francisco, Cal |

Importers

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Dealers

Japanese Goldfish and Supplies

"ART AQUARIUMS" Sent

PETERS,

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Mail Orders Promptly Attended to Special Prices on Quantity Lots.

Cash With Order.

50c.

Nippon Goldfish Co

Combination Natural Fish Food

Catalogue

P.

Warnock

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GOLDFISH, FOODS, PLANTS, DIP NETS

Agents for

HARRY 1210 North

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All Colors

Fine Assortment of Lionheads

regularly

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Veiltails,

Shipping Cans,

Plants and Tropical Fish a Specialty Importations of

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of Blues, Blacks and Calico Telescopes and Japs at Reasonable Prices.

must be seen to be appreciated Visitors

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$5.00 Dozen Up BREEDERS— Largest Assortment

PERMANENT DISPLAY OF Aquatic Life

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HERMAN RABENAU,

one of the

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necessary to keep fish in good health. After the test of years Green River stands out It as the best food on the market. keeps the fish in good color by promoting a healthy, robust growth. It Ask will not sour ot cloud the water. your dealer or send for it today things

essential

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Special Combination Offer: 12 Sagittaria

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6 Valli-

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box

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Sagittaria

box

gigantica,

Ground Shrimp,

Mikado Fishfood

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All for $1.00 Postpaid

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