The Aquarium 3/28 1893 by Akwariat.pl

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iSHE'^'

JULY,

No. 28.

1893.

•

|i'IfOT7.?T|.f

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 Reseevbd.

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

Y UK/

HEADQUARTEB8 FOR THE FINER VARIETIES OF

Gold Fish, Japanese Fantails, AND

ALL KINDS OF AQUATIC PLANT5. For

Descriptive, Illustrated Catalogue, send two cents,

EDWARD

ADDRESS,

SCHMID,

S. AQUARIUM DEPOT,

whshinbtdn,

No. 712 TwBiftn Street, N. w.,

Fregh ^eed? Ludwigia Mulerttii, Sagittaria

Aquarium pianlg.

Francis M.,"

Sisyrinchium Anceps

d. d.

per package, 25 Cents.

{Little Blue-eyes,)

NOlAÂŁ

ReKDV.

SENT PREPAID BY MAIL, ON RECEIPT OF PRICE.

ADDRESS,

HUGO MULERTT, BROOKLYN,

173 Nostrand Avenue,

ESTABLISHED

WATER

N. Y,

1876.

LILIES

OF ALL COLORS.

Aquatic Plants in Greatest Variety. The

finest

Parks and Gardens in America have been supplied from our Catalogue with prices and full instructions for culture,

unrivaled collection. sent free.

Edmund i'iio

ti ur.,^

Sturtevant,

BORDENTOWN, NEW JERSEY.

Vol.

JULY,

III.

No.

1893.

DENOMINATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF FRESH-WATER

The

II.

production in

the

re-

organs for

female.

pregnate the female organs or

most common among fish, contwo sacs uniting towards the posterior end in a single oviduct, which disOn charges outside behind the anus. ovaries, sists of

their inner

nearly

surface

all fish,

these

sacs,

are found leaflets, placed

or lengthwise, and either crosswise which contain the eggs in thousands. These increase in number and size when the spawning season arrives,

greatly distending the ovarian sacs.

In some species of

fish

which

not present the sac-like form, but

re-

semble two ribbons (for there are a pair

them) more or less twisted, running along both sides of the intestine to the dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity such an arrangement can be seen in the sturgeon and the eel. of

;

as before

the spermatic organs

when

bodies which,

which conorganic

small, in

a fresh

move about under the

condi-

eggs, im-

the development These bodies, which are called spermatazoa, consist of an it

and

start

of the embryo.

thicker

part,

the

so-called

head, and a more attenuated part or

tail.

In the water these little organisms can live but one or two minutes, but when taken from the fish and put in a bottle kept at the proper temperature, they

may be

preserved alive for six days.

This discovery was made by a Russian fish culturist in 1856, and is very important to the

the ovaries do

fish

innumerable,

tains

tion,

separates from

secrete a thick, white fluid,

which in nearly all are distributed between two individuals, the male and the

The form

outside, behind the anus.

In the male

to the process of

fishes,

when

oviduct), the opening of stated

come now

ripe egg,

the ovary, passes through a tube (the

FISHES.

28.

1893.

fish, as it

artificial

propagation of

enables the crossing of differ-

ent species.

The fecundation of the egg is effected in the viviparous species, inside of the body of the fish, while in the great majority

takes place

outside of the

body and in the water, wheie the male fish during the spawning season pursues

THE AQL^ARIUM, JULY,

50 the female,

the while ejecting his

all

sperm over the eggs. The eggs when first spent in the water have the shape of a slightly pressed-in rubber ball, and as soon as they come in contact with the liquid they expand and suck it in through a microscojucally-small hole.

The spermatic germs

of the male be-

ing present in this liquid are thus intro-

duced and

nature doeth

many

are

omnivorous man.

THE TEOUT-LIKE

of the

quent

^C!* -B

\ZJ

yT^"

fish

table.

the

germ i n ati Ve disc, which phe-

nomenon ed

)

The

produc-

tion of a subdi^'ision

Fertilization OF Fish Egg.

Enlarged. Spermatic corpuscle. B. Germinative disk.

C. Nutritive yolk.

f ^'^

FISHES.

Salmnnidae.

^^'-.jâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;^^^X

several

are

They

members

of this family

highly esteemed for the are found at

any elevation, snow limit.

from the

sea level to the

They vary

greatly in several particulars,

according to the locality in which they

is call-

thrive, the quality of food

the process apo-monfi segmeuca-

upon which

they subsist and the differences incident

'^'

tion " Or "fur-

rowillg."

Tllis

by a series of successive changes, of which the final result is the embryo, which, subsisting or being nourished by the yolk, gradually de-

There

for larger ones or titillate the palate of

and the subse-

things well."

sole duty it is to devour these superabundant eggs, thus preventing what would otherwise be a destructive overproduction. Insects and Crustacea feed upon them, and are in turn consumed by fish that in their turn serve as food

egg consists in the entry of the spermatic corpuscles

'"*!

all

denizens of the water whose

fertilize the egg.

The fecundation

1893.

followed

upon age and

sex.

For these reasons:

The family has been subdivided into a great number of species, which subdivision is, at best, but nominal. The dominant characteristic by which any may be distinguished and which

species

common to all, is an adipose, or fat fin, back of a short dorsal fin. They may be further characterized by the naked head, a body covered with comparatively very small scales of uniform size, both jaws being armed with sharp teeth, the belly round and the air bladder large and simple. Another distinction is conspicuous by its absence, namely, barbies. There are about 160 recognized species of this family, from which is

velops into the perfect

The young

fish

when

fish. first

hatched

supplied with a sac called the yolk-bag,

from which it derives its nourishment during the early period of its independ-

When

ent existence.

exhausted food,

and

it is

this

has

been

then ready to seek other it

finds in various micro-

scopic organisms that exist in profuse

abundance in the water. As the fish grows larger and gains strength, other and coarser food is sought and devoured. Note. Although fish spawn a great number of eggs, comparatively few of

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

them

select the following ones as the lead-

ing representatives of their type.

THE SALMON.

are destined to develop into per-

mature fish. Nevertheless they cannot be said to be totally wasted, as

fectly

short-sighted enthusiasts suppose,

for

Der Lacks. Salmo Salar.

The body of

this fish

Le Saumon. long, the head

sharp and, compared with the size of

THE AQUARIUM, JULY, the body, small.

During the breeding

season the point of the lower jaw

renewed and generally crowned It is not unusual for the

effort is

with success.

bent upwards, somewhat like a hook.

fish

The back

violence of

blue black or dark

while the belly

silvery,

gray,

and often dot-

ted here and there with spots of red

and

black.

length of

from 40

At maturity three feet and

to 50 pounds.

attains a

a weight of

The salmon,

1893.

to persist until its

killed by the

exertions in accomplish-

ing the object.

The spawning season is in the fall and early winter (the California salmon, however, spawns during the summer). Before entering the fresh water of the

king of fresh-water fish," is migratory in its habits, spending the earlier days of youth in fresh water, but

river,

eventually making

habit prevents the great and

the

from which river

when

way

its

to the sea,

again returns to

its

native

the spawning season arrives.

The speed with which

this fish

swims

the fish remain in the brackish

when

water of tide-ways, as they also do

making

their descent to the sea.

change that would ensue was made abruptly from water or vice versa.

This sudden

the passage

salt

to fresh

It is also at this

The Silver Salmon of Alaska. Oncorhynchus kisutch.

remarkable, and should the depth of the water be favorable for the exploit,

time that they get rid of parasites that

accomplish the distance of fifty miles in an hour's time. Its strength is no less remarkable, enabling it to maintain its high velocity in shooting up

stay, in either salt or fresh

it will

become case

attached,

may

be.

The female

to enter the river

lowing about a month

spirit of true chivalry, the

be,

leaping

twelve feet in height.

falls

The

ten

greatest

perpendicular height to which the

mon

can attain in leaping

to be about fourteen feet.

sal-

the

first

in a suit-

able place for spawning, the male fol-

and

need

water as the

and locate

the most oblique and glancing rapids if

protracted

after

later.

With a

male salmon

wont to engage in desperate battles with other males, for the possession of

believed

the female,' the result of the struggle

Should the

not infrequently being the death of the

attempt at leaping a water-fall be a make the trial again and again, evincing the most obstinate perseverance. Resting between times to recruit its exhausted strength, the

The spawn

first

weaker

failure, the fish will

until the water has receded to a tem-

perature step

which

of about

not deposited

10째 F.

The next

to prepare a receptacle or nest in to

drop the eggs.

The female

THE AQUARIUM, JULY,

does this by digging at the gravel on bottom, all the while fanning

the

away with the

fins

the

mud and

finer

sand, thus cleansing the gravel that is subsequently to be used to cover and

The spawn

protect the deposit. all

not

deposited at once, a portion being

extruded at intervals, each deposition then carefully covered with gravel. During this time the male stands guard against intruders, though he himself resist the

cannot

temptation to devour

any stray eggs that have been overThe weight of looked by the female. the eggs is sufficient to sink them, and in addition they are covered with some glutinous or adhesive substance. These two properties are evidently for the purpose of preventing their being washed away by the stream until covered with the parent

gravel

fish.

the

average each female deposits about 10,000 eggs, each of the size of a currant berry

about

out of these,

;

five

estimated,

per cent, develop to a full The act of spawning, as

sized salmon.

above described,

may

continue through-

and when completed are weak and unfit for the

1893.

When about a year old, say in May or June, the strongest, which then measure

three

change

ing to the

way

make their and when ice

deeper water,

covers the river they go on to the ocean to regain strength.

The eggs

are hatched after a period

of incubation

varying from 45 to 140

days, according to the temperature of

For the first four or six young derive nourishment weeks the from the yolk-bag. The fully developed young are of a light brown color, and marked with some nine or ten dark Although hatched in rapcross-bars. idly running water, they prefer at this

the water.

the newly-hatched

the river until the

succeeding year before the journey to the ocean

made.

Once in the ocean, the young salmon marked grow at a wonderful rate ;

having been caught eight weeks after were found to have attained a weight varying from two to five pounds. Under favorable circumstanspecimens

the salmon will in the lapse of

ces

twa

years' time acquire a weight of twenty-

two pounds.

The food upon which sists

and

thrives,

the salmon sub-

consists of the vari-

ous kinds of Crustacea, so abundant in salt

This rich and nutritious,

water.

aliment gives to the

the

slowly

in shoals,

river.

The weaker young remain

palate of the

They now

length,

brilliant silver

They gather together

tint.

exquisite

table.

assuming a

and go down stream to the ocean, remaining there for from one to three years, at the end of that time return-

out several days, fish

four inches

color,

however,

flavor

fish

that

gourmand.

will

vary

the color and delights the

The

flavor,

according to the

in which the fish is reared and the quality of food consumed. As an instance of this, the smoked salmon from the Rhine yields just jirice per pound than double the that from the river Wesser (Germany). Throughout the various stages of growth the fish is known by several names during the first year it is called " parr," while on the first trip to the sea it is known as " smolt," on the first

locality

;

return

the

river,

age to remain in quiet, shallow water,

name "salmon"

and where, if need be, they can find shelter and protection among the stones.

age of three years and to

spawn.

The

"grilse."

given to

when

it is

the ready

THE AQUARIUM, JULY, THE

The salmon-trout

the salmon in shape is

Sahno lacustru

frutta.

Die Lachs-Forelle.

ever,

THE GREAT LAKE-TROUT.

SALMOIST-TROUT. Sahno

;

truite de mer.

very

much

This species

the head, how-

blunt, and the body in conse-

the caudal

being forked as

coloring also

dark blue, while the sides and belly

black.

It is

turity

than

somewhat heavier salmon,

the

ma-

frequently

Aveighing between 50 and 60 pounds,

anyways an excepand weight may be

this weight not being Its large size

tion.

trvite de lacs.

best distinguished by

fin or tail,

quence appears shorter. The color varies

are silvery, spotted here and there with

Die See-ForeUe.

considerably, though usually the back is

1893.

which instead of on the edge

as straight

had been cut olf. The is different from those named above. The back is of a dark bluish-green, the sides and belly silverwhite and marked with black spots encircled with a yellow rim. It is found

though

native in the great lakes of

Bavaria,

land,

Austria,

Switzer-

In these countries

Scotland.

and

Ireland is

es-

The Dolly Varden Trout. Salvelmus malma.

the result of a most voracious appetite.

teemed the most valuable of

In the breeding season they obey the same habits as do the salmon, and, like the latter, acquire their growth in the

lake

salt

the

water of the ocean. flesh

varies

The

great

color of

deal

than that of other species, and has been the cause of their receiving two additional names: "Sea-trout" when of a reddish tint, or, as commonly understood, '* salmon colored ;'' and " bull-trout " when the flesh is This difference in white or colorless. color is due to a different diet, the latter being not near as palatable as the tinted

fish.

The young

all

are hardy,

their

and

very readily withstand the vicissitudes of transportation

;

with equal

adapting themselves

the

facility,

changed

The

circumstances of pond culture.

adult weighs somewhere from 30 to 40 is white, and in flavor on a par with the brook-trout.

pounds, the flesh fullv

THE BROOK-TROUT. Sahno

fontinalis.

Die Bach-Forelle.

truite.

This handsome and well-known

fish

native in the United States

fre-

quents

the

clear

water

;

running

THE AQUARIUM, JULY,

brooks, and to this habit undoubtedly owes its name. Care must be taken not to confound riety,

with

about one foot

increased

its size

;

for the deposition

greatest length

its

cultivation has both

and weight, the

latter

The not rarely reaching 20 pounds. body of the trout appears somewhat stunted, which fact

may

blunt and rounded

be due to the mouth. Though

possessing minute scales, they are not

apparent to either sight or touch.

The

eggs, trout will

almost surely be found. Trout spawn at the same time of the year and in the

salmo fario.

In the natural state is

European va-

tlie

1893.

The

manner

little piles of

of the salmon.

gravel containing the

eggs have an appearance

of flattened

mole hills, the eggs being distributed through them like raisins in a pudding. As a rule, the belly of the female is the

larger

near apjiroach of the

spawning season, owing, no doubt, to the increase in size of the eggs as they

near maturity.

The

color of the fish

often

changes at the spawning season, the female becoming dark and sombre, while on the contrary the male becomes

which

brilliant

color of the body varies in the different localities in which the fish is found,

being that of the bottom over It is, however, usually it swims. olive green on the back, though occasilvery on the sionally entirely black belly, but in all cases is the fish marked ;

with red and black spots. The coloring depends upon the kind of food the trout eats and the depth of water in which it lives. In the first instance, trout subsisting almost exclusively on insects are most abundantly marked

with bright red spots while in the second instance, dee]) water having the ;

effect

deepening the shading and

The usual

shallow water the reverse.

food of the trout consists of Crustacea,

but it frequently preys to no small extent upon its own kind. insects, etc.,

The

may

color of the flesh

white, yellow or red, and

the quality of the diet

it is

cious,

be either

governed by

also

let,

each side of his belly.

thousand.

This

impure

The popular

idea that

trout thrive only in rapidly running, cool water,

an error, for they are suc-

cultivated and fattened in ponds and kept in vats to be colored, all of which is done to supply the demands of the market. In almost any clear creek with a gravel bottom, with now and then a shallow spot suitable

cessfully

only in the

;

and commands a high price in

the markets.

It is

spawning season that the difference between the sexes may be determined Seth with any degree of certainty. Green said that "by handling them much and watching them closely, the trout breeder comes to know the male and female apart almost instinctively, but would be puzzled to tell just how he knows it." Trout if in good condition Avill commence spawning as early as the end of the first year. At two years of age they i^roduce from two hundred at four or five to five hundred eggs years the number spawned is about two

very deli-

;

the abdominal fins turn scar-

;

a scarlet hue, too, often appears at

fish is

not any more sensitive to

water than are

If the proper care

young

specimens

other fishes.

used in selecting for

transfer,

the

chances for keeping them in captivity are as good as with the common sunfish.

The

trout seems to be

endowed

with some degree of intelligence, for they may easily be taught to feed from the hand, and have been taught to per-

form

several tricks.

THE AQUARIUM, JULY,

1893.

THE GRAYLING.

THE RAINBOW TROUT.

TJiymallus.

{California Mountain Trout.)

Die Regenhogen Forelle.

L'omhre.

Die Aesche. Salnio iridea.

found native in the cold waters of both Europe and the Michigan being the United States State in which it is principally found in abundance. It is a handsome fish, the meat thought to be delicious and brings as high a price as that of the brookThis species

This

species

"the trout

sometimes

the

called

future," and

;

think justly, in view of habits that render it more profitable, when bred for It was but lately introduced from California and did not seem to take well with the culturists. They did not expect much from it, thinking that the somewhat iinattractive exterior of the fish would militate against its sale as an article of diet.

the market.

However

may

this

be, the species is a

who

eyes of those

by appearances.

the

did not judge solely

Germany it

now

cultivated,

yielding

large profits to the culturists.

In form

very

extensively

very

much

although In color

it is

resembles the brook-trout, not so beautifully marked. of a dark grayish

brown

;

this fact probably being the objection

urged against

rendering

unat-

Although this is true, the fish possesses a redeeming trait, if judged by coloring alone, and that is, its iridescence, which no doubt is due to some peculiar property of the surface in decomposing the rays of light

a purplish

gray color on the back and sides, the belly,

and

common

silvery.

The

with others, being is very large,

dorsal fin

especially during the breeding time;

ornamented with rosy markings and rows of green or bltie spots, the whole making a pleasing effect. The spawning season, like that of the rainbow trout, occurs in the spring of the it

valuable one and found favor in

The grayling

trout.

year, so that

the fish

is fit

by the following winter for the table, just at a time

when trout generally are out of season. It commences spawning at two years of age, and proceeds in the same manner as the trout.

tractive to the eye.

into

its

primary

colors.

The

effect

beautiful and reminds one of a fragment of rainbow turned loose in the water,

and glistening here and there, back the gorgeous colors of The rainbow heavenly prototype.

flashing

reflecting its

trout possesses the advantage of being for warm rivers and pond water. Its growth also is much more rapid than that of the brook trout, and to add to its value it spawns in the spring of the year. These two facts tend to make the breed-

well

adapted

thrives well in

ing of

profitable.

THE WHITE-FISH. Coregonus albus. Maraene. The body of this fish is compressed on the sides, and is covered with rather large, loose scales. The head is very small, and the mouth devoid of teeth. The color is silvery white, but dark on the back. The form of the fish varies more or less according to age and surrounding circumstances. It is native in all the great lakes of the United States, where it grows to perfection. It has been introduced into the lakes of Germany and other European States.

As a

food-fish, the white fish is preeminently the best, purely fresh-water fish in

the world.

It feeds

upon the microscopic mol-

THE AQUARIUM, JULY,

The

TXquhriutvt.

A Quarterly 50

cts.

HOW TO CREED THE PARADISE FISH.

Magazine.

Single Copies, 15

a Year.

1893.

Each.

cts.

Sample Copies Free.

In the spring of the year when the weather becomes warm and the temperature of the water in the Aquarium

about 70째F. the breeding tank Such a tank is best when narrow and long and in height not less

rises to is

Advertising Rates on Application.

HUGO MULERTT,

Publisher,

Brooklyn, N. Y.

173 Nostrand Av.,

arranged.

than twelve inches, inside. If it is to be made to order, have it as long as the

window is wide. Put sand in the bottom and arrange plants and rockwork which abound in all our lakes and nutritious diet undoubted-

careful not to introduce the carnivorous

ly giving to the fish the delicate flavor

Utricularia vulgaris, which plant also

for which

catches young fish.) one on each end and the third one in the middle. These

liiscs,

;

this rich

it is

so eagerly sought.

White-

and go to the shallow water to spawn in October or Novemfish live in shoals

number

ber.

They

eggs,

which they drop loosely on the Naturally,

sand.

thus

deposit a great

lost,

many

a great

are

either devoured by other fish

what is more destrucwashed upon the shore during

or Crustacea, or, tive, are

storms.

To counterbalance

this loss to

the fishing interest, the governments of the several

States

bordering on the

lakes have established

hatching-sta-

tions" near the lakes, where the eggs of this valuable fish are properly cared

When old

for until hatched.

enough,

the young fish are turned into the lakes to grow.

The eggs

are procured

from

the old fish captured for the purpose.

The eggs and

milt are extruded from

the body by compression in the hands;

the impregnation

artificial

subsequently done

means.

two or three different groups, (but be

three groups are then divided off in as

many compartments by two panes

paradise

fish,

is put in the middle apartment, the female or females to the right or left of him, or one on either side. The food given to

these fish

should

now

consist mostly

worms, scrajjed raw beef, etc. If the weather is favorable, clear and warm, you will soon see the male building his bubble nest and parading in his most gorgeous dress of live insects, cut-up

alongside the glass wall that separates

him from

may

selected for breeding, are

The male

introduced.

his chosen one.

not be improper to state in this connection that all fish of the

pand

maraene family merely dro]) their eggs and leave them to hatch as best they

tions to attract her attention.

can, not protecting

them with sand

gravel as does the salmon.

{To

Continued.)

These should fit loosely, their support being the sand in the bottom of the tank and wedges of cork on the The tank is now filled to one half top. of its capacity with water, and after this has attained the room temperature, the glass.

all

of his fins,

grace he will execute

all

kinds of evolu-

impressed her favorably she close to the

acting, as

male

tries

glass wall,

now

were,

will ex-

and with wonderful

Has he come

will

turning pale,

The way through

"bashful."

to force his

THE AQUARIUM, JULY, the glass wall; not succeeding of course,

overleap

tries

it,

which

with

attempt he is often successful; often, however, it causes his death when he happens to jump too high and out of the tank. For that reason the tank is only half full of water and it is best to also cover it with wire gauze or mosquito

this period we remove the and sometimes in less than ten minutes they spawn immediately under his nest. Both may be seen for minutes after this collecting stray eggs with their mouths and spitting them on top of the bubble nest. This being completed, he takes charge of the nest and drives her away in a rather rough manner. She will seek shelter under the rockery and amongst the plants, and

netting.

glass wall,

soon as we notice

we should

this

1893.

remain in company of their father, as he will not injure them. Some females are also harmless to their young, but as a rule they are not. Another way is to remove the old ones from the tank, the glass partitions are taken out, too, in that case and the tank filled up to within one inch from the top. The young are fed with finely, scraped raw beef mixed with drops of water to a with jiowdered prepared thin paste and as they gain in size with fish-food mosquito larvaes, etc. Should, as it sometimes happens, the parents eat their eggs or young, do not worry there was a good reason for their doing so, which, however, these fish alone un;

;

They

derstand.

and prove

will soon

spawn again

you that they understand

tlieir affairs well.

drive her to her apartment and replace

The presence

the glass wall.

female

the eggs are deposited, and cruelty

the

absolutely unneccessary after

leave

her exposed to

Mrs. N. P. Millard,

breeding aquarium need not be Paradise fish will spawn in one

large.

an oblong

gallon of water

;

battery jar will

do very

all-glass

well, as

far as

the spawning part goes.

Thirty-six hours after spawning the

young later

parents and

The mate

About ten days

hatch.

will

they have

shape of their can support themselves.

builds a

the

new

and goes

nest

through the same performance over and over again until the cold weather puts a stop to

it.

Only two broods should be allowed to remain in one tank together the third brood would be devoured by the :

first,

may

as soon

IN FRUIT.

his,

then, very bad temper.

A NIGHT-BLOOMING CACTUS

would be

as hatched.

The young

be fished out of the aquarium with

the aid of a white saucer, or they

may

has a

curiosity

Iberia, La.,

a night-blooming

cereus (P. phyllanthus), which

ing

bear-

fruit.

This is the first time a plant of that kind has been known to bear fruit in this country. In its native country the The fruit takes two years to mature. fruit is about seven inches in length, nine in circumference, of a blood red color, in appearance very much like a Balsam apple, having a rough skin. It has bursted open on one side showing a white, mealy interior like an apple. The plant measures about eight feet in height, branching ont about nine feet Two years ago in diameter at the toj). it bloomed in the day time at eight ;

o'clock

beautiful

the

flowers

morning twenty- five expanded.

THE AQUARIUM, JULY,

1893.

aided eye) almost invisible molds,fastens

CAENIVOROUS PLANTS.

strong and healthy plants causing them to present a sickly appearance

itself to

(With Plants

that

Illustration.)

attack

their

like,

nourish themselves at another's cost, the Flatters

so-called

are

known

in large

and

finally killing

them.

All of this

has come to our knowledge by experience, but that there are higher orders

Carnivuhoi's Plants.

numbers they most betray themselves by outward appearances, being of a pale color or only showing a trace of green. The smallest form of these (to the un;

of bright

sume relish,

and

who conEnglish beefsteak with

brilliant plants,

a small

live to

trapped game,

an extent from enknown through

only

THE AQUARIUM, JULY,

and

now a

1893.

intelligent de-

with a needle or piece of straw, it would close, but on perceiving it had

scription of these rooted 'Fra Diavolos'

no insect inclosed, would soon unfold

late investigation,

The

settled fact.

first

definitely

was forwarded by the naturalist Ellis, He in a letter to Linne about 1768.

had one

the

swamps

of Carolina, so

himself

that he could habits

plants sent to

of these brutal

him from

trapjiing

observe these

its

game.

described this bandit in about the fol-

lowing manner

The

plant sends out

of a peculiar shaped leaf rosette a spike of flowers of a beautiful white color.

itself,

while this does not occur

when

an insect is caught. Linne held to his belief. Only the elder Darwin concluded there must be some use for this system of preying, and thought that the flower was surrounded by the leaves to prevent insects from making their ascent to th-e flowers and there causing destruction. The son of Darwin, next to the German botanists, Sprengle and Miller, has given the clearest explanation of this habit of catching insects by

This plant Ellis named (Dionea niusVenus' fly-trap, which name Linne also adopted. The margin of

these plants.

the leaf

dation of the honey-like substance would

cipula)

encirled by small delicate

bristles, and on the ujiper surface of each half of the leaf three to four of these sharp bristles are also found.

The bright

exclude the idea of

colors

and exu-

j^i'otection,

readily serving the purpose of a bait.

AYe often see illustrations of spiral

Between these last are found glands which secrete a reddish, viscid fluid, by means of which the insects are induced

snake root (Aristolochia clematatis), the

to venture on this dangerous parquette.

flowers of

The

The mouth of semble a mouse trap. the flower is covered with stiff hair, the

instant this occurs the two halves

of the leaf close, the marginal bristles close

over the

edges like the hands

clasped in prayer, the force being so great that the leaf becomes torn, if the effort

open

it is

persisted in.

asserts that the insect

Ellis

imi^aled on the

and a

plants, with heart-shaped leaves

tube-like flower.

which

This

the

common

to a certain degree re-

points of which are directed to the in-

allowing an insect to readily find

terior,

entrance to the interior of the

but with difficulty making

This does not occur before

flowei',

its it

exit.

has de*

central bristles, not unlike the victims

posited

middle ages, being inclosed in the machines of torture. This idea of impalement was erroneous and Linne seems to have considered the whole letter as such, he refused to accept the

some other plant and has again taken up some new in place of that deposited, when the hair will become smooth with the body of the blossom, allowing of an

of the

theory of digestion, of which Ellis had hinted. He (Linne) considered Venus' fly-trap as a

new

easy exit, the insect leaves, soon

fall

now being a new

into

free,

trap,

there again to perform the same duties.

species of the Sin-plant

and therefore reasoned, the leaf only remained closed as long as the irritation was kept up, when it would again open, without having utilized the cadaver. Already Ellis had noticed that by irritating the upper surface of the leaf

the pollendust brought from

Before the investigations of Darwin it

was thought that these arrangements Venus' fly-trap were of no use to the

plant.

sects

Dr.

Curtis,

Wilmington, dead in-

in 1834 noticed that the

became dissolved in the exudation and finally disappeared.

of the leaves

THE AQUARIUM, JULY,

1803.

This observer also noticed the seat of namely, the three bristles on the upper surface of the leaf. If a

less

walked between these without touching them, it would escape

and Drosera intermedia. (See illustration.) The margin and upper

excitability,

cautious- insect

danger.

all

Thirty-four

years

later

the Drosera

The other varieties appear

frequently, namely, the

Drosera

longifolia

surface of the leaves are covered with

another American naturalist substanti-

numerous

ated these observations in so far that,

colored

numbers

greater

rotandafolia.

reddish,

hair

several

lines

red

lively

in length.

a small piece of

Each one

leaf

point a drop of fluid as clear as crystal,

meat was laid on the would close and not open again until it was fully digested, when the leaf would unfold itself ready for another meal. He noticed also that cheese was undigestible and very often destroyed the vitality of the leaf. These already wonderful observations were partly exit

which of

gives the

being

Burden Sanderson,

peared

he declared is

the appearance with a band of

leaf

encircled

During the heat of the dew had disap-

a grand sight.

day, after

in that

its

diamonds. The contrast between the green leaf covered by these reddish hair and tlie never coalescing fluid, presents'

plained by the English physiologist, Dr. that the nerve of this sensitive leaf

of these hairs carries on

of the

all

from

the grass,

investigators

noticed that these plants only showed

consequence of

traversed by a current of electricity, not

this

unlike the muscles and nerves of ani-

which they named them Sin-dew or Ever- dew; later the name Eos sol is was conferred on them. In those days when they thought to read the use and medical properties of a plant from ex-

mals, so that

presents some resemb-

lance between the organs of motion and digestion of animals and this plant.

the turf

swamps and moors

of middle

Europe are found plants not unlike our Diona?a, and belong to the finest of the We refer to the Sinflora found there. dew, which is unknown to most of the

The

readers.

oldest

German

botanists

looked upon these with awe and mysThe appearance of wonder. tical

cannot be

these plants

forgotten

any one who has seen them

their

beauty.

summer may

the height of

middle of the moor a small rosette of light green, with proportionately long stemmed leaves, from the centre of which a flower about a

found

foot in

the

height makes

its

appearance,

which only unfolds itself to the noonday sun. This flower is white and star-shaped; this last is of less interest to us than the leaves.

The one

variety appearing

crystal

fluid,

ternal appearances, they

conclusion

they

that

came

surely

to the

had

remedy for wasting diseases, to wit, consumption and other chronic troubles.

arrive

this

conclusion

they

reasoned in the following manner, that the sun being unable to dry up this secretion on the leaves, the plant

must

surely possess the life-giving properties.

Alchemists also became interested in and thought they had now

this plant

found the

thing

yield

them the

and the long sought for Arnoldus material for gold tincture. de Villanova, the chemist, who was professor at Barcelona, at the end of the elixir of life,

sixteenth century, but later banished

by the Spanish clergy under the stigma maker and scholar of the devil,

of gold

contributed greatly to the fame of this plant.

prepared in Italy, to which

THE AQUARIUM, JULY,

country he fled, his celebrated gold water (Aquae auri), from the plant, which should heal all diseases, so that it

was made

nxme

mixture, under the

tasting

pleasant

into a

Rosoglio

(from Ros soJis, sun-dew), and it is still to this day prepared and used in Italy.

The German

botanist

1779 was the

first to

and use

Roth

in the year

describe the nature

dew

of these so-called

drops.

noticed on several small hairs bent

and also that the was slightly curled towards the centre. When he examined several of these closed leaves he generally found inclosed a more or less decomposed insect. The closed leaf he

a central point,

margin

of the leaf

compares

many

to a

fingered

mens

in pots at

his

home,

venting period

its

After

the hairs

the

their

a leaf

short

were

It the marginal hair also. took several hours before the leaf had completely closed, when it resembled a new leaf making its appearance. The little later

same careful observer

also noticed

that

warm air and

sunshine than during cold and rainy weather. Further observations showed that they were not so sensitive to inor-

ganic substances, as to live insects, also that the long leaved plant to possess

prey rolled up on

English

the

Darwin and Bennett, and the Frenchman Ziegler, an American lady, Mrs. Mary Treat, of Carolina, has distinguished herself as an observer of these plants.

She experimented with

ordinary ones found in the swamps, and

more rarer one, the Drosera and saw not only small insects, such as ants, spiders and flies caught, but sometimes larger ones, such as the ordinary miller, which flies around our lamps during summer evenings. If she placed insects or small pieces of raw mtat on the leaves during the warm hours of the day, it was observed that also with the

filifera,

commenced

substances as grains of

to fold up,

salt,

lime, grains of corn, etc., had

twenty-four hours.

Wet

pieces of

effect in

lime naturally

on account of its caustic propThere is no doubt that the leaf has the power of distinguishing between Mrs. mineral and animal substances.

irritated erties.

Treat even believes to have observed that they are acted on by these from a distance,

because in July,

fastened a living

fly at

1873,

she

a distance of one-

half an inch above the leaf,

and

after

minutes noticed that it was strongly bent upwards, and in ten minutes more had seized it Avithin its arms of prey. [To he Continued.)

forty

it-

from the point, while in the RofundifoUa, it merely formed a trough, the work of destruction being carried on by the hair. These repeated observations of differ-

self of its

Besides

naturalists.

which was generally complete in two While a piece of raw meat hours. irritated it as readil}^ as an insect, such

noticed to bend upon themselves, and a

they were more sensitive in

naturalists,

the leaf soon

a live ant or small

escape.

when

to be

so as

bug was placed on the surface of the leaf, it was observed that the exuded fluid adhered to the feet of the insect and forming small threads, in this way prenature.

recently,

for eighty years, until

the plants again attracted the attention

speci-

able to more accurately observe

When

fist.

this discovery he planted several

1893.

itself

ent botanists were not further studied

A Reference Table

shape of a

bookmark, containing the Fahrenheit, Celsius and Reaumur thermometer scales, inch and centimetre measure, foreign money, etc., sent gratis on receipt of two cents postage. Address The Aquarium.

THE AQUARIUM, JULY, AQUATIC PLANTS FROM SEED. To grow aquatic

THE SAGITTARIA FRANCIS

plants from seed,

take an ordinary square crockery pud-

1893.

Our seedling

" Francis

Sagittaria,

ding-dish,

M.," which is now two years old, proves to be an aquarium plant of the very

sand

through its broad ribbon-like leaves (blades), which are of a delicate, but brilliant green. The network of

cover the bottom of same one half inch deep with clean, sharp sand which has been baked in an oven to kill all germs of convervae. On this sprinkle

cold

sufficient

water,

which has also been freed from any spores by boiling, to make it reach to

just below the surface of the sand.

All

highest order.

winter

veins in these leaves are almost tinct

those

The

leaves, although rather by no means stiff looking they are always in graceful curves, no two being alike. Last February the

crispus.

wet surface sow the seeds and cover them by sifting dry sand prepared as above over them to a thickness of less

strong, are

The moisture from the than a straw. sand below will soon penetrate to the

aireal leaves appeared.

new

surface and

the

seeds are thus Cover the dish with

;

stem these

rapid evaporation, keep in strong light but protect against the direct rays of

five

water that has been

course

when used

ary temperature.

boiled

;

should be of ordin-

When

the seeds be-

gin to sprout and show above the sand, use the water more liberal and keep on raising the water depth

from time

a triangular

strong in texture

lance-shaped,

gracefully curved.

use

eighteen inches above the surface of the water. They are rise

a pane of window glass to avoid too

Never allow the surface to the sun. become dry, but when sprinkling always

as dis-

Patamogeton

the

this

evenly imbedded.

very

attractive

and Never more than

leaves are in perfection

once

;

whenever a sixth one appears, the oldest one turns yellow and is promptly re-

moved with the ning of March it

In the begin-

knife.

sent

up the

first

flower

which bore twenty-four perfect These opened in succession, flowers. each day three, thus the spike remained in bloom for nearly ten days. The in-

spike,

dividual flowers are of the size of a

time at the same rate as the young They should always seedlings grow. If, in spite be near the water surface. of all precaution, fine green convervae growth begins to appear on the young

quarter of a dollar, jiure white, with

plants or on top of the sand, introduce

the surface of

some young

Ijloomed a third one appeared, and now,

frog-tadpoles, the younger

rich yellow stamens.

grant however.

They

We were

the last faded flowers

are not fra-

just looking at

when we

a second flower spike shooting

the water

;

noticed

up above

this

having

the better; these feeding on the conver-

June 30th, while we are writing

vae will soon clean the plants without

the

injury to the latter.

When

the seed-

have completed their third or fourth leaf, they should be transplanted or thinned out, but they must be kept under the same careful treatment until they are strong enough to outgrow any

lings

injuries.

fourth

flower spike

this,

about six

inches above the water and will display its if

flowers in about three days.

we consider that

from seed

ium near

this plant

Now

was raised

in an ordinary parlor aquar-

window in our room, from which was obtained by crossing two distinct species, which were also

seed

THE AQUARIUM, JULY,

growing in aquariums in our sitting room, the result is remarkable, and shows what can be done in an aquarium The plant which is properly located. grows in ordinary aquarium sand and gold fish and tad-poles are its companions.

1893.

always risky to introduce plants

It is

aquarium that were collected

into an

may

creeks or ponds, as they

contain

the eggs of injurious insects and mollusks, or the spores of undesirable fungi.

B.— N.

Mrs. H.

Putting a whole

or a half sheet of prepared fish-food in

aquarium

?r^

Queries.

with

the intention

the fish their weekly allowance

give

can be compared to placing enough fresh beef on a dinner table at once,

to last for a week.

Offer your fish food every

the water.

cheerfully

queries

made

answer

once,

all

regard to Aquariums

Window Gardening

enclosed.

return postage

they don't seem to care for At no time any, don't give them any. should any food remain on the bottom day, but

of the

E. H. H.

— N.

There are a great Ludwigia in this coun-

not only lose

It will

value as food, but will also poison

its

aquarium; remove

by means of

a dipping tube.

—

own, are useful for an indoor aquarium.

Mr. G. a. L. To secure free bloomAnthurium scherzerianum, of transplant in August and not disturb

The Polyconum

many try

;

species of

only three, however, including

very beautiful in

ing

in spring.

— D.

ponds or basins, where seen from above, especially when in bloom, but they

profusely, nip off the tip end in July

amount

and cause them

to but little indoors. Aquatic plants should be grown on

Mrs. N.

enrich the

soil,

the same principle as house-plants are.

Small glass salve jars are excellent 'pots' for them; sharp sand is most suitable

them; some

species,

however, delight

in a soil consisting of

two parts sharp

for

river sand

and one part

peat,

again some prefer a heavy

while

rich clay.

Water poppy (LimnocharisHumboldtii) do best if grown in rich soil in a

Mrs.

To make to

branch

but keeji

— C. If

over night.

night

air.

out.

not

well worked.

your rubbershaded from there is no danger of

getting stolen,

its

bloom

Place

plant out doors where the hot sun.

dahlias

it is

leave

out doors

Rubber plants delight in Never let it suffer from

want of water.

will

water depth of about three to eight

Our native water plants may all be grown for a short period in a par lor aquarium, but most of them Avill

formed

soon perish, so soon that

Duering was elected president and Mr. The H. V. Letkemann secretary. " Salamander " had an exploring excursion to Bronx River Park for its members May 31st, which was well attended.

inches.

introduce

them

into

The only reliable plants

hardly pays collection.

are those which

were grown under cultivation and conditions similar to those that await them.

second aquarium society has been

last

name

issue is

New York city since of The Aquarium.

''Salamander."

the Its

Dr. A. von

Eine Zeitschrift

Deutscher Sprache

FUER

Practische Naturkunde, Aquarium, Terrarium und Zim=

mergaertnerei in Nord=Amerika. Alle viertel Jahre erscheint ein Heft.

Probenummer

Das

gratis.

Abonnementspreis, $1.00 das Jahr.

erste Heft wird

im September erscheinen.

HERAUSGEGEBEN VON

173

NOSTRAND AVENUE,

BROOKLYN,

HUGO MULERTT, (Oldest

173

N. Y.

Pi^iffH^fflW W'WWW'fftW ffiSfi^W?^

Aquarium Establishment in America.)

NOSTEAND

NO STORE.

New

THE

AV,,

BROOKLYN,

N. Y.

Catalogue and Price List noio ready.

FISHING GAZETTE, A.

IWEEKX-Y JOX7R1VAX..

THE ONLY PUBLICATION IN AMERICA EXCLUSIVELY DEVOTED TO THE

Fishing Interests, Fish and Oyster Culture, Fresh and Salt Water Angling, Etc. A VALUABLE MEDIUM FOR THE ADVERTISER. TRY IT.

SEND FOR A SAMPLE COPY. $1,50 per year, post paid*

To Foreign Countries, $2.00. jd^fjjj

G. E.

JENKINGS &

CO., Publishers.

THE FISHING GAZETTE, 3,7 groadway,

New

York.

W. FI SKE,

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etc., car-

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

Lamp

Posts,

Railings,

etc.

CATALOGUE FURNISHED GRATIS UPON APPLICATION.

SIF=TED

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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.

carefully selected best quality of canary, rape, and imported millet seeds, and is put

This seed

German up fresh

Robins, Nightingales, Skylarks,

one-pound boxes.

;

YOUR BIRD HAS LOST

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an invigorating tonic that is sure to get the bird into song again.

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