HIRSHKIND, PARKER & CO., WHOLESALE AKD RETAIL CLOTHIERS SEYMOUR DURST ~t ' 'Tort nteutv ^Am^ierdam- oj> Je Matihatans When you leave, please leave this hook Because it has heen said "Ever thing comes t' him who waits Except a loaned book." USB, we also have an immense variety of YOUTHS', BOYS' AND CHILDHENS CLOTHING Of same fabrics as our Men's stock at proportionally LOW PRICES. We will remain at onr old. location, cor, Broadway & Grand St, nntill Jan.15th.18 MANUFACTURER, SiS^S? I Cor - Churoh St " Y ' AQUARIA, any size, SQUARE & OCTAGON, With and Without Fountain Attachment, On Stands or not — finished in the various styles of bronzing — at very low prices. FROM SI.25 FROM TO $150 00 each, m $150,00 EACH. All kinds of Ornaments for AQUARIA, com- prising in part of CASTLES, RUINS, ROCKS, ARCHES, &c, &c. GLASS FISH GLOBES, all sizes. FOUNTAINS, VASES, PROPAGATING CASES, FERNERIES, LAWN SETTEES, GOLD FISH, & C. WHOLESALE and RETAIL. QL N5Z COPYRIGHT. 1877- D. I. CARSON & CO, INTRODUCTION. Now that we have a New York Aquarium where we can go and lounge and study Ic- thyology, as Mira- beau wished to die "to the sound of delicious music," w e appreciate what a boon it is, and we have a glimmering idea that it is an abso- lute necessity. All successful affairs are necessities ; it is only the black list of failures that shows how many super- fluities designing capi- talists have endeavored to thrust upon society. But no one, perhaps, in looking at the preserved Octopus, or in watching the rainbow hues of the 1 gold fish tank wourd imagine what a terribly arduous undertaking it- was, this giving to New, 233. THE LADY FISH. (Albula conorhynchus). The general appearance of this fish is similar to that of the Striped Bass, but there is only one dorsal fin. It has been caught occasionally on our shores during last summer. 234. THE ELECTRIC EEL. (Gymtwtus eleciricus.) These interesting creatures were captured in the Amazon River and brought to the Aquarium on July 25th of this year 235. THE LITTLE CUSK. (Ophidium marginatum) This fish which occasionally is found in our waters has a great resemblance to the Slippery Dick, (No. 91 of this Guide) both in form and habits. 236. THE SUN FISH. (Orthagoriscus Mo/a). A stuffed specimen of this fish is exhibited at the end of the table- tanks ; one live specimen, weighing 150 lbs., was obtained in July, 1878, but died the same day. 237. THE MAN-EATING SHARK, or SHOVEL-NOSE. (Eugomp/wdi/s littoralis). This is the most dangerous species of shark, hated and feared by every sailor. Last summer a specimen of this fish killed a boy of fourteen years near Red Hook. 238. THE SWORD PRAWN. (Penacus brasilicusis.) This is the same " Shrimp " that is brought from Charleston to our markets. In summer-time it is occasionally found near our shores. 239. THE WING SNAIL. {Strombu Gigas). A single live specimen was obtained, presented to the Aquarium by Consul C. F. Allen, Bermuda. The shells are used as or- naments around flower-beds. 240. THE SEA CUCUMBER, (Thyone Briarius). There are about 150 specimens burried in the sand at the bottom of Tank No. 4. Many of them protrude their ten beauti- ful tentacles, which resemble the most delicate brushes or pinnated leaves. 241. THE GREEN SEA ANEMONE. (Anthea Cereus.) 242. THE PARASITIC ANEMONE.(Sagarfra parasitica) 243. THE RED ANEMONE. {Actinia mesembrianihemvm) are imported from England. 244. THE SEA CARNATION. (Ac/inohba diant/ms.) This is the most beautiful among our Sea Flowers. Its delicate crown is adorned by hundreds of slender tentacles, its body is stretched in an elegant way. THE NUMBERS CORRESPOND WITH THE NUMBERS OF THE LABELS ON THE TANKS. POPULAR DESCRIPTION OP THE INHABITANTS OF THE TANKS. 2 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. ' CLASS— MAMMALIA. O R d e r — A rtiodactyla . F a m . — Pack) 'dermata; 1. THE HIPPOPOTAMUS OR RIVER HORSE (Hippopotamus amphibius). This animal was captured on April 14th, 1875, by the collectors of Chas. Reiche & Bro. r on an expedition to the White Nile. It was taken from its mother fifteen minutes after birth, the parent being- killed. Three weeks prior to this time the natives had observed and pointed out to the hunting party a pregnant female, and it was at once decided to follow and watch her. When the animal had separated from the herd and selected a quiet, solitary place, the hunters, aided by spy-glasses, kept a careful and constant watch on her from a long dis- tance, and so perfect were their arrangements, that only a quarter of an hour after the birth they were in possession of the young one. The reward of the natives consisted of the carcass of the mother, a prize they were highly satis- fied with, as not only the flesh is well flavored and tender, resembling that of the hog, but the skin, the hoofs, and many other parts of the body are useful to them, in many ways. The hunters only claimed the skull, which was brought with the young animal to New York, on October 27th, 1875. To feed and transport the baby hippopotamus through the deserts of Africa, twenty-five goats and four strong camels were employed, the former to provide it with their milk, the latter to carry it in a suitable tank between them. Its weight was about ninety pounds when captured, it being a female and not as heavy as a male, which latter, as has been seen in the London Zoological Gardens, weighs nearly a hundred pounds when born. After its arrival it was put under the care of Dr. Kohn, who succeeded in keeping the animal during these two years in perfect health and to whom it is attached to such a degree that it follows him like a dog wherever he goes. Its food consisted entirely of milk during the first three months of its stay in America, and was then changed, to bread, corn- meal and vegetables. Hay it does not like much, refusing even common grass in summer ; but it is very fond of a NOTE. The two Baby Hippopotami now on exhibition were captured in Feb- ruary 1878, by the collectors of Chas. Reiche and Bro., on an expedition to Abyssinia. The party which succeeded in getting these two precious pets left Europe early in September 1877," and pushed on to the region of the Atbara and Setith tributaries of the Nile. Here they saw the Hippos at a distance and tracked them almost every day. The way they hunt them is by means of a harpoon, which consists of a short iron blade with a grapnel hook and a long wooden handle. When the iron is thrown into the skin of the Hippo, the wooden part of the harpoon soon falls off, and a long rope fast- ened to the iron, and bearing a piece of light wood at the other end, points out where the wounded animal is hidden under water. Then the Homrans native hunters of Abyssinia, jump on and try to get the block. They swim like fish, darting hundreds of yards under water, and fearless of the Cro- codiles they pursue the wounded Hippo, and seizing the rope by the block, they drag the animal toward the shore. As soon as it rises to the surface they give it another dose of harpooning. At last it is despatched with broad swords, or the European hunters kill it with a shot from their big Elephant guns. Our party exclusively hunted for females in company with young. The mother must be killed in order to catch the young alive. When the party reached Europe in June of this year, their stock of animals consisted, besides the two Hippos, of seven elephants, fifteen giraffes, twelve lions, six ostriches, twenty antelopes, two leopards, tour wart hogs, eighteen large monkeys, one ant bear, two porcupines, ten Egyptian geese, five secretary birds, two saddle-billed storks, and a host of minor curiosi" ties. NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 3 peculiar kind of short grass growing in the Western States, which it occasionally eats in considerable quantities The Hippopotamus is a lazy, indolent animal ; sleeps many hours in the day and rests without interruption at night. It takes to the water naturally, when moderately warm, and it will enter reluctantly cold water when or- dered. Last winter it occasionally bathed in water of 35 Fahr., its health being uninjured apparently. The thick skin and the layer of fat beneath is a sufficient protection against cold. Yet it must be stated that in cold weather its skin bursts into folds at the neck and sides, sufficiently deep to place one's finger. When left alone, or when it perceives its keeper, it utters short, rough sounds. Even when it is not able to see him, and when separated from him by an opaque wall, it will smell his presence from a distance and act accordingly. All its senses are well developed. It generally is obedient and can be guided by commands, but when frightened, or when its eyes are not sufficiently clear — an occurrence happening once in about a month — it is wild, treacherous, and not to be trusted. At such times it is useless to attempt to drive it or use a whip or to use force in any way; the big, unwieldy mass, now weigh- ing about six hundred pounds, will easily overcome any temporary obstacle. When it expects food or when its keeper orders it, it will open its immense mouth and per- mit an inspection of its teeth, but generally it does not care much for strangers, snaps at them, and sometimes will tear the coat or pants of some careless visitor. At one time it even succeeded in pulling a watch and chain from the pocket of a person. It dislikes children, who should not be allowed to go too near the animal. In October, 1876, it cast its front teeth, in the same man- ner as children do, the new ones absorbing the roots of the primary teeth, which, when fallen out, measure but a quarter of an inch in height. Since that time, the irew teeth have grown considerably, particularly the two mid- dle incisors of the lower jaw; the molar teeth appear to be very small, because the thick, fleshy gum covers the greater part of them. Its skin is almost naked, covered only by a few short, black hairs, but beset with numerous red spots, probably the dried secretion of the dermal glands. When 4 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. it sweats the skin is covered with a kind of blood-red slime, the exact nature or purpose of which is unknown. The Hippopotamus is considered the most valuable of all exhibited animals, and this is the first time that a specimen has been seen as tame and obedient to its keeper. Order — Pinnipedia . F am . — Phocidae. 2. THE COMMON SEAL. ( Phoca vitulina.) A lengthy description of these pets of the Aquarium is unnecessary. Everyone who has seen their fat supple bodies, their intelligent coun- tenances, their curious flippers, and has observed their great ability in swimming and di v mg has been pleased and amused with their antics both in and out of the water. They have learned to climb, to ring a bell, to answer questions by barking, to make their bows to the audience, etc. 9. THE BLAD- D E R N O S E £ ' SEAL. (Cysto- phoracristata.) A young specimen of this interesting seal was kept alive in the spring of 1877 for eight weeks. Its peculiarity consist in a hood, or hollow bag, right over the nose, which can be blown up at will and made to resemble a cap or hat. Ours was a young male, with a small protu- berance which was raised only under excitement. It was very ferocious, tried to bite whoever approached it, and died at last from refusal of food. NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 5 4. THE NORTHERN SEA LION. {Eumetopias Stelleri) This large and powerful animal was brought from the western coast of North America, where it is found in herds. The extreme length of a male is said to be sixteen feet, but animals measuring twelve feet are seldom captured. Females generally are not half as large as males. Many- thousands of them are slain annually ; their skin is used for glue-stock, their blubber, consisting of a double coating se- parated by a thin layer of muscular tissue, yields oil, in average ten gallons from each animal; the long spires of their whiskers, sometimes eighteen inches in length, are exported to China, where they are manufactured into personal ornaments. This Sea Lion has an elongated head and neck, the latter without the mane which is characteristic of the southern Sea Lion ; its upper lip is projecting and bears strong flex- ible whiskers ; its eyes are full of expression; its ears small, cylindrical at the root, tapering to a point, and covered with short, fine hair. The teeth are strong, glistening and white. As in other Seals, the body resembles more a flex- ible bag filled with fat and meat than the body of an animal with a bony skeleton. Its flippers are encased with a sort of thick shagreen, and are extremely long, the fingers project far over the horny claws so that the flippers appear in a very peculiar way when the animal uses them to clean its skin. Besides, they act in a threefold manner, as legs, feet, and fins. The color of the body is varying; dark brown, reddish brown, dull or light yellowish gray. The Sea Lions are found from the Galopagos Islands to the extreme north, and extend westward to the eastern coast of Siberia. They congregate in large herds on the islands and along the coast during the pupping season, which lasts three or four months in summer. During this time they feed very little ; the males are most lively, bark and roar terribly so as to drown the noise of the heaviest surf, and fight desperately with each other, mutilating their bodies and not unfrequently disabling some of them from further association with their companions. In such strifes the ultimate victor has the supreme control over the whole herd or company. Both sexes unite in caring for the young, which at first have great aversion to the water; teach them their various movements and habits, and 6 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. to capture their prey. At the close of the season, in Sep- tember or October, they return to the sea, where they roam in all directions in quest of food, consisting of fish, mol- lusks, crustaceans, and seafowl, particularly gulls. The whalers kill them with rifles, aiming at the ear-— on. other parts of the body the ball has but little effect — some- times they succeed in cutting off their retreat to the sea and then dispatch them with clubs and spears. Order — Cetacea. 5. THE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (Delphinus tursio). A specimen measuring eight feet in length was captured in the neighborhood of New York and kept alive for nearly tw r o months. 6. THE WHTTE WHALE (Ddphinapterus lencas). The effort made in the early history of the Aquarium to place one or more white whales on exhibition, was met by many serious obstacles, and only by the utmost pluck and perse- verance was the enterprise successful. In the first place, it involved the outlay of considerable capital with the utmost uncertainty of any favorable results ; while secondly, there were innumerable difficulties and dangers to be met and overcome. Early in the spring of 1876, Captain Zack Coup, started on the perilous journey. His route was via Quebec and down the north shore of the St. Lawrence. The mode of travel was by sleighs as far as they were available. After^ wards it was by sleds drawn by a hardy breed of dogs, and on snow-shoes. These appliances being all arranged at Quebec, Captain Coup and his fellow-travelers were soon, on the confines of an uninhabited region of snow, the only sign of life being an occasional wolf, or fox. Nothing beyond the usual incidents of travel, which consist of numerous upsets in the snow, and interviews with hunting parties of peaceable Indians, occurred on the way. The fishing coast was finally reached and an island in the low r er St. Lawrence was selected as the headquarters of this perilous adventure. It being in advance of the season when the whales descend to the coast of Labrador, Cap- NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 7 tain Coup availed himself of the time to make his excava- tions and enclosures. These are the means of capture and safe keeping, and they are built between high and low tide, so that the huge animal is in bondage before he knows it, and entirely free from injury. Two being secured, early in May, the work of preparation for their removal to New s NEW YORK AQUARIUM. York began. Huge and strongly-built boats were made and thickly padded with sea-weed; the Whales transferred thereto, were shipped on board of a schooner and brought to Quebec. Thence they were removed to an Express car and brought by the Grand Trunk Railway to Portland, Maine; one more transfer to a steamer, and the living and curious burden was on its way to New York. Thus was settled the practicability of handling Whales for aquarial purposes, and subsequent expeditions so far succeeded as to bring as many as fourteen in all. It is however a too costly enterprise to continue, and the pro- prietors feel that even 'more than a reasonable expectation on the part of the public has been gratified, and that in dis- continuing for a time the exhibition of Whales they will be free from the imputation of indifference either as to their own duty, or to the gratification of public curiosity and scientific examination. The first two Whales arrived in New York, in May of last year, and were the occasion of great excitement and curiosity. But a greater ovation was given when two others were brought to the Sea Side Aquarium at Coney Island last summer. The Aquarium there was not yet formally opened to the public, but the number of employees and laborers called together to receive and escort these huge animals, was large enough to crowd the place. Two big boxes, each containing one whale, were carefully car- ried inside by twenty-four men, one of the sides of each box was knocked out, and the animals were rolled in over thick layers of sea-weed. Before they were placed in the water, they behaved as quietly as a turtle nailed to the deck of a ship. They breathed regularly through the big spout- hole on the upper end of the head, but neither opened their mouth nor moved their tail ^or fin, and the big, unwieldy body looked almost like a corpse. The grayish-white skin was scratched and torn in many places, and a look both at the big animal in its narrow box and at the gang of rough, weather-beaten men that formed its escort plainly told of the hardships and fatigues which they must have undergone. Both whales and men were happy and contented indeed, when the transfer to the tank was over. The whales showed plainly they were satisfied and at ease, and though NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 9 thev could not give vent to their joy by jolly cheers, as the men did, they made noise enough by a lively splashing of the water with their powerful tails and loudly throwing out the air through their spout-holes. Soon the surface of the water was covered with numerous fragments of the skin, and a few days later the whales appeared in an entirely new covering, of a lighter color than before. As long as they lived in the big tank of the Aquarium, they kept together, always swimming alongside of each other. They never changed their position. One of them was at the outside of the circle all the time, the other at the inside of it. They never turned around so as to swim their way backwards; regularly, as the hands of a watch, and in the same direction as this, they moved around their tank. Even at night it never could be observed that they rested or swam slow T lier than usual, but, on the contrary, as soon as it was dark, they were more lively than before. It does not seem that they ever sleep. The only change in their habits is seen when a fresh supply of eels, their regular food, is thrown in. Then they begin to dive after them and chase them; keep longer under water, and spout more vigorously than before. Another change was observed in one of the Whales on a Sunday morning. The animal was moving slowlier than usual, and when it came to the surface to spout, the accom- panying sound was loud, harsh and disagreeable. It resem- bled the breathing sound of a man who has an obstacle in his throat and endeavors to throw it out. The Whale is hoarse, he has got a cold, was the general impression. This continued about two hours, when the sound grew less noisy and slowly changed to its normal condition. Exactly three weeks later, on another fine Sunday morning, the same animal seemed to be extremely weak. For the first time it really ceased to move or moved very slowly, at the same time being unable to keep its balance, and turning a little on its side, just as seen in fish when they are weak and dy- ing. The other Whale soon began to perceive that some- thing unusual and alarming was going on. At first he swam a little slowlier, so as to be always near his compan- ion, but when even then he found himself alone, as the other one did not move at all, he made a small circle through a quarter of the tank so as to come up with him 10 NEW YORK AQUARIUM again. Sometimes he dived right under the sick compan- ion — a behavior never seen before by any one present — so that his back coming up really touched the belly of this one to raise and support it. The spectacle of the dying Whale and the touching as- sistance of his companion attracted a great many visitors, and every change in the behavior of the two w r as watched with anxiety. Two hours passed, when a change to the worse was observed. The sick Whale turned completely over and swam on his back. Endeavoring to gain the old position, he used up all the strength which was left to him, and the visitors were right in saying that this was his death struggle. After repeating this three times, and every time trying harder, but with less success, to regain his lost balance, he ceased to move and spout. The Whale died exactly at noon, July 15. At a post-mortem examination it was found that the cold which the Whale had three weeks before, was the cause of his death. The big lungs were congested and unable to contain the quantity of air necessary for the sustenance of life. It may be interesting to mention that the Whale was found to possess two large stomachs, the first one lined on the inside with a great number of compound warts, the second one smooth. Both are connected three inches be- low the end of the gullet, so that the first stomach may be regarded as a kind of c cecum or blind-gut. There were found some fragments of sea-lettuce and buccinum-snails in this stomach, and it is very likely that it serves as a receptacle for vegetable food, which is changed here i:. about the same way as in the first stomach of ruminant animals. The remaining whale did not show any signs of weak- ness. It was lively and hungry as ever, and soon w T as the only captured living white whale in America. All the others, that had been shipped from Labrador to Cincinnati* Chicago, Rockaw^ay and New York were dead. When the season at Coney Island closed, the proprie- tors of the Aquaria, Chas. Reiche and Bro., decided to ship this animal, that had lived longer and was more vigorous than any of the rest, to the other side of the Atlantic. On Sept. 15th, it was brought on board the Bremen Steamer, NEW YORK AQUARIUM. II carefully packed in the same manner as on its first ship- ment and under care of Capt. Zack. Coup, who had directed all whaling expeditions of the Aquarium; and a fortnight afterwards all prominent papers in Europe brought the astonishing news of the arrival of a living white whale in England. It was transported to the Royal Aquarium in London, where it expired four days after its arrival. REPTILES. TURTLES. Reptiles with the body enclosed between two large shields, one on the back, the dorsal shield; the other opposite, the ventral shield. Both shields are composed of many small plates, which either overlap each other, like the scales of fishes, or meet in a seam or suture. Every plate consists of an outer layer of horn and an inner layer of bone, the latter of which is firmly connected with the spinal column and the ribs. Turtles have no teeth, but their jaws are encased in horny sheaths, usually with sharp cutting edges. 7. THE LEOPARD TORTOISE. (Testudo partialis.) Several large and heavy specimens of these were brought by the collectors of Chas. Reiche and Bro. from South Africa, and deposited in the Aquarium. They are objects of curiosity and interest, as they gently and harmlessly move around among visitors. They feed on cabbage and other vegetables. 8. THE COUI. [Testudo radiata.) Smaller than the preced- ing species of the tortoise, in company with which it was imported from Africa. It walks about the floor of the Aquarium, and is admired for the beauty of its shell, which is hemispherical, with flat, grooved, yellow-rayed shields. Length six to twelve inches. Madagascar. 9. THE SPOTTED TORTOISE. [Geodemys guttata.} Shield black brown with round yellow spots. This is a small turtle, not exceeding in length five inches, and found abun- dantly in adjacent streams and ponds. On warm days it is seen on rocks and logs, basking in the sun, suddenly slip- ping into the water on the approach of real, or supposed danger. It feeds on small animals, and buries itself on the approach of winter in the mud at the bottom of ponds. IS NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 10. THE PAINTED TORTOISE. (Ckrysemis picta.) This is the handsomest of the fresh-water tortoises in North America. Its shell is smooth, with yellow r lines along the sutures ; its head has yellow lines along the sides. It is a timid, inoffensive animal that feeds on insects and small amphibians. Length fire to nine inches. Canada to Ver- ginia ; in ponds, never in running water. 11. THE SALT-WATER TERRAPIN. (Malaclemis concentrica.) Upper shell oval, the plates with numerous deeply impressed concentric lines, lower shell reddish or orange, with irregular hoops or rings ; head, neck and legs dull bluish ash, with numerous black spots. This terrapin is well known and esteemed for its savory flesh. Length five to seven inches. New York to Florida. 12. THE SNAPPING TURTLE. (Chelydra serpentina.) As the name indicates, this turtle is not so sluggish and pa- tient as its relatives, but on the contrary, it is ferocious and will snap at almost everything w T ithin its reach. Its neck is long and very flexile ; its beak has a hooked upper jaw T and sharp, cutting edges, and the animal is enabled to move its head around and reach almost to the middle of its back. It feeds on frogs, fishes and waterfowl. Its upper shell has three strong keels; its tail a central series of compressed tubercles. Length two to four feet. United States. 13. THE MUSK TORTOISE, or STINK-POT. (Aroma chelys odoratum.) A very small turtle w r ith a brown shell and low stripes along the sides of the head. It lives in the mud of ponds and ditches, is usually coated with mud and aquatic plants, and emits a disagreeable odor. Length two to four inches. United States. 14. THE MUD TORTOISE. (Kinosternum pennsylva- nici/m.) Upper shell olive brown and vaulted ; lower shell yellow or orange ; jaws hooked ; tail w T ith a horny point. It inhabits ditches and muddy ponds, preys on fish, and has a strong, musky smell. Length four inches. Canada to Florida. NEW VORK AQUARIUM. 13 15. THE SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE. (PlatypelHs ferox.) Shell cartilaginous on its margin, dark slate colored and spotted. It feeds on fish and small amphibians, and is said to be more inclined to bite than other species of turtles. Length eight to ten inches. United States. 16. THE GREEN TURTLE. (Chelonia viridis.) Every- body is familiar with the grotesque form of the turtles, and whoever watches a land-tortoise slowly crawling on its elephantine feet, may well be inclined to take these animals for neglected step-children of nature. But now look at the turtle in its fluid element ! How easily does the water carry its ponderous mass, how quickly does the animal divide the dense element, and how suitably does the form of its body seem to be adapted to the movement of swimming! The tortoise of the land and the turtle of the sea are very dissimilar brothers indeed ; unlike in faculties and habits, in mode of living, and in mastering or utilizing the surrounding circumstances. It is easy to comprehend that the slowly-moving land tortoise can get its living only from vegetation, while its roving relative feeds on animals. The former are scarce and of large size, while the latter abound in rivers and seas, and occur in all dimensions, from the size of a dollar up to the bulk of five hundred weight. The learned naturalist of the British Museum, John Edward Gray, knows only thirty different species of the land tor- toise, against five hundred and twenty seven of those that, are found in rivers and seas. Nowhere is the perfect adaptation of the form of the turtle to the element in which it lives better understood than in an aquarium. The large, flat, oar-like forelegs, situated just at the heaviest part of the body are the chief motors, and the flat body, resembling in its form that of water beetles, rays, or flat fish, glides by their means easily and continuously through the water. The Green Turtle is the largest and best known of all marine turtles. Its length is from two to five feet, and its weight from a hundred to a thousand pounds. The qualities of its meat are better understood and appreciated in a restaurant than in a guide-book. 14 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. CROCODILIA. 17. THE ALLIGATOR. (Alligator mississippiensis) This species of Crocodile is found in great numbers in the South- ern States. When full grown it is fifteen feet long,but it sel- dom reaches this length,because of the general hostility with which it is pursued and killed. The Alligator, and other Crocodiles,constitute one of the most peculiar groups of ani- mals living. They are one of those interesting intermediate links between the extinctgiants of the primitive world and the present creation. They also ap- proach the mammals in many parts of their organization. Their lungs are limited to the chest, which is separated from the abdomen by an imperfect diaphragm ; the chambers of the heart are divided so as to pre- vent the mixture of the two kinds of blood; the vertebrae of the neck bear ribs making the lateral movement of this part of thebodynearly impossible; and the development of their eighty conical teethis unique. Each op- ens onits interior endand close- ly fits into an elongation of the jaw. From time to time a new tooth grows from below gradu- ally lifting the old one, which is partly absorbed, the remain- der being thrown off. Pieces of the old teeth are often seen in connection with the new ones. As this change of teeth continues throughout life, the opinion of the ancients, that the Crocodile had as many teeth as there are days in the year, is still short of the truth. NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 15 LIZARDS. 18. THE HORNED FROG. (Phrynosoma orbiculare.) This animal is called a frog, sometimes a toad, and, if a learned friend is near by, he will tell us that even their scientific name, phrynosoma, means "body of a toad." Yet even this designation is a misnomer, since the frog, or toad, never has scales and plates like this animal. It is only the shape of its body, which is flat and broad like a toad, that gave origin to its name. In fact it is a lizard. Its flat body is covered with spines, which are especially prominent at the neck, resembling the collar worn by hounds in Germany when hunting wild boars and wolves. Proba- bly nature had, in furnishing to the frog these spines, the same design as man has in giving them to the hounds, namely, protection from the teeth of their enemies. As to its habits it is inactive, lying all day long without any attempt to move, and but seldom taking food. 19. THE GLASS SNAKE, STUMPFOOT or SHEL- TOPUSIK. {Pseudopus Pallasii.) A native of Dalmatia, Austria. A very general popular fallacy prevails as to the true nature of these animals. Their snake-like appearance and locomotion favor this, and yet they present several es- sential differences from the snake. They have eyelids like the lizard, the snake has none; their teeth are not hooked like those of the snake, and on close inspection two small feet are discernible near the root of the tail. These struc- tural peculiarities place them more among lizards; and that assumption is greatly strengthened by the manner in which these animals feed. They eat as a lizard does, and after the following fashion : a live mouse being placed in the box, it is caught by the head, and its body is pressed against the box ; its tormentor and destroyer meanwhile revolves with such rapidity as to benumb or stupefy it, and twists its body like a piece of string. The prey is then dropped, but still kept in view, that the tormenting and destructive pro- cess may be repeated until the last sign of life has disap- peared . The mouse, now dead, is eaten as it would be by any other lizard large and strong enough for this purpose. i6 MEW YORK AQUARIUM. SALAMANDERS. 20. THE BLACK SALAMANDER. (Desmognathus ni- gra.) Uniformly black, sometimes with small white spots on the sides. Tail compressed and finned. Length four to six inches. Shallow waters in Pennsylvania and New York. 21. THE RED SALAMANDER. (Spelerpes ruber) Ver- milion red, with numerous dark dots. Usually found under stones in shallow streams. Length four to six in- ches. Eastern States. 22. THE TIGER SALAMANDER. (Amblystoma tigri- num.) Brown, with many yellow spots; body thick and strong, head long and narrow, occasionally it is found in hollow decayed trees. Length six to eight inches. United States, east of the Rocky Mountains. 23. THE AXOLOTL. (Stredon pisciformis) A most inter- esting salamander, a native of Mexico, about nine inches long, with a broad head and a crested tail. It has three ex- ternal gills on each side of the neck which separate into many branches and periodically flap backwards and forwards. Its color is dark brown. The specimens on view in the Aquarium were received from Europe. The Axolotls were introduced into Europe in 1864 by the Jardin d' Acclimation. Five males and one female were placed on exhibition, and from them about 600 young were raised. After seven months, when nearly full grown, some remarkable changes took place in one of them. The large external gills disappeared almost entirely, the crest on the back and tail passed away, the head became narrower and more pointed, and light spots appeared on the dark body and limbs. Thus nearly the same changes took place in this animal which had been seen a number of times in the common Tritons, or Salamanders of Europe and America. Some weeks later a few more underwent the same transfor- mation, until nine of them had assumed the ultimate form. In the next year (1866) five specimens out of a thousand exhibited the same extraordinary development, and a few more were observed in the next year. Thus the supposition of some naturalists, before the evi- NEW YORK AQUARIUM. »7 dence given by Dumeril that the Axolotl was really the larval form of some unknown Salamander, was established. Cuvier, long before 1865, made the following remark : "I am obliged to place the Axolotl among the genera with permanent gills, because a great many persons testify that it does not lose the same ; " and Baird, the well-known leading naturalist of this country, said that the appearance of the Axolotl was so very larval as to exclude any doubt of its real nature, it being no evidence against this assertion that the perfect animal had not yet been found. The extraordinary facts in the natural history of this animal are not the changes already described, for a similar transformation is regularly observed in a great many other salamanders, frogs and toads, but its taking place in such a few instances, and, chiefly, its power of reproduction in the larval form, an attribut( belonging with hardly an exception to the last and highest form of animal life. I ■ 24. THE HELLBEN- DER. (Meno- poma alleghan- iensis.) This is the largest of am phi b- ious animals found in the United States. It is slate colored, has a broad hea d with v ery small e y e s, a de- pressed body lined with a prominent fo 1 d at its side, and a long, broad, and depressed tail. It seldom comes to the surface of the water, though it has no gills; it breathes through its skin and lungs. Length one to two feet. Eastern States. IS NEW YORK AQUARIUM* PROTE ANS 25. THE EUROPEAN PROTEUS. (Proteus anguineu$$ This animal is only found in subterranean lakes in Krain, (Austria). When first received their eel-like bodies were of a yellow- ish-roseate color. They manifested an extreme sensitiveness to light and sought concealment from it behind the rocks as sooa as they were placed in the tank. Their graceful form makes them especially in- teresting to visitors. Their head is long and flat; their legs short and slender, the fore-feet ending in three, and the hind-feet in two toes, without nails or claws. Like the Axolotls, theyhaveexternalgillsofa bright red color. Their eyes are extremely small, and entirely concealed be- neath the skin, so that it is impossible for them to get distinct impressions of form by sight. Yet they are affected by the light, and very probably their whole skin is sensitive to its delicate touch. This seems to follow, firstly, from their constant anxiety to get out of the light and remain in per- fectdarkness; and, second- ly, from the fact of the light colored skin changing to Mack when exposed todays NEW YORK AQUARIUM. '9 light In about three months this change is accomplished At first some dark spots make their appearance, and finally a bluish black color covers the entire body, except the belly and the under side of the compressed tail. In some Aquaria animals of this species have been kept for more than two years without taking food. Dr. Metten- heimer killed two Proteus which he had kept entirely with- out food for two years and two months, and it surprised him to find in the stomach of one of them two living intestinal worms. The specimens in the Aquarium do not show any such abstemiousness. They devour earthworms and other food with avidity, displaying their greatest activity, however, when water insects and small Crustacea, such as Gammarus and Daphnia, are placed in the tank. Then they cross the tank in every direction, snapping and catching the insects without once being impeded in their rapid progress. It appears that only when these insects are moving, the Pro- teus become sensible of their presence. 26. THE MUD PUPPY, or PROTEUS. (Meiwbran- chus lateralis?) Like the Austrian Proteus, it has external g i 11 S which are persis- tent during 1 i fe . It is brown, more or less spot- ted. Its head is broad and dep res sed, the tail high and c o m- pressed. I t feeds on crustaceans, shells, and fishes. Length one to two feet. E a stern States. 20 NEW YORK AQUARIUM, FISHES. SUB-CLASS— TELEOSTEI. Order — A canth ropterygii. F a m . — Gasterosteida, 27. THE COMMON STICKLEBACK. (Gasterosteus aeuleatus.) This little lively fish is very interesting in the care of its eggs and brood. The male fish builds a round nest with waterplants and, after the female has deposited the eggs, is constantly close by, moving the pectoral fins in such a way as to drive a current of water through the nest. Sometimes the female, or other Sticklebacks, try to interrupt him, to enter the nest, and to devour the eggs, but the watchful and courageous male maintains a success- ful fight and keeps them at a safe distance from his charge. During the time of incubation it feeds very little, and yet is more lively and more brightly colored than at any other time. If the young ones fall out of the nest, the male takes them into his mouth and returns them. 28. THE TWO-SPINED STICKLEBACK. {Gasteros- teus biaculeatus.) Blackish, two large spines in front of the dorsal fin; the ventral spine with a spinous process at the base. " 29. THE NEW YORK STICKLEBACK. (Gasteros- teus noveboracensis.) The sides of the body and tail are entire- ly covered with a series of scaly plates. The ventral spine is very long. Fam. — Berycidai. 30. THE SQUIRREL. (Holocentrum sogko) This is a very handsome fish with an elegant shape, and a reddish color that exceeds in brightness and splendor even that of the Goldfish. Its body is elongated and slightly com- pressed;its head is well proportioned, with prominent spines at the operculum; its fins are large and have beautiful out- lines. It swims quickly and vivaciously. G. Brown Goode, the author of several works on Bermuda fishes, calls it one of the most conspicuous of the denizens of the rock pools in NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 2 I the Bermuda Islands. Their voracity, he says, is very great, and the tyro in angling usually finds his first prize to be a Squirrel. The local name refers to a grunting noise ut- tered by them, which resembles the bark of a squirrel. Fam. — Pcrcidu'. 31. THE YELLOW PERCH. [Perca flavescens.) Olive, sides yellowish with broad dark bars. This fish is the type or representative of the Percidae or Perch family. It is very voracious, lively and strong, and will bite at almost any kind of bait. It differs very little from the European Perch, having a brighter hue and being a trifle less in height. Owners of Trout tanks are anxious to keep the Perch clear of them, as they destroy the Trout in great quantities. Fresh waters, United States, chiefly northward and east- ward. 32. THE STRIPED BASS. (Roceus lineatus., A fish of the Perch family, equally prominent for its beautiful shape and color, and its gamey character and savory meat. It is bluish black, silvery on its sides and beneath. Along each side are from seven to nine black parallel stripes. "This fish," says Gen io C. Scott, "the fish of fishes, par excellence, affords good sport with light tackle when its weight is but half a pound ; and it tries both the metal and skill of an angler after it rises to the ponderous importance of ten pounds, though it is said to attain to the weight of nearly a hundred. For muscular power the striped bass equals the salmon, but it lacks the caudal power for leaping, which is so palpable in the form of a salmon." The striped bass is not given to wandering or vagrancy, but is always found near the tidal waters of the rivers be- tween Portland and Norfolk. In November it shoals and congregates in brackish waters, where also its eggs are de- posited. It has successfully been confined to fresh water, though deteriorated in form and lustre. 33. THE WALL-EYED PIKE, or YELLOW PIKE PERCH. (Lucioperca americamz.) A large, handsome and savory fish, the form of which somewhat resembles that of 23 YORK AQUARIUM. 9 pike though it is a true perch. It is yellowish grey with numerous dark spots ; its eye is very large and prominent. Length twelve to eighteen inches; weight up to fifteen pounds and over. Great lakes and western rivers. 34. THE BLACK SEA BASS. (CentroprisHs atrarius.) This favorite fish is found along the Eastern coast of North America, from Cape Cod to Florida. It comes to us in the -beginning of May, and remains through the summer. It is a strong, heavily built fish, of a blueish, sometimes a greenish, black color, with large scales, the deeper colored edges of which give a regularly reticulated appearance to the whole surface of the body, and a wide, leathery mouth, easily hooked and tenacious to hold. It is regarded as one of the most savory and delicate fishes of the season, particularly excellent for chowder. Its meat laminates in compact flakes, and is more succulent and delicate in taste than that of the Cod. "The Sea Bass, Porgee, and Tautog banks, along the coast of New Jersey," says Genio C. Scott, "form one of the attractions of Long Branch, and they are a real blessing to the members of the hand-line committee, who realize in them a cheap relaxation from business and the lassitude caused by too constant work in a city during the heat of summer." 35. THE HAMLET OR GROUPER. (Epinephelis striatus.) A remarkable characteristic of this fish is its abi- lity to suddenly change its colors. Generally it is light slate- colored, with many broad cross-bands and some black spots around the eye, but when touched or frightened, it quickly assumes a darker hue, from gray to dark chestnut. It is a very common fish in Bermuda; is caught there in great quantities, kept in artificial ponds along the shore, and fed on fish and lobsters. *' The Devil's Hole," says G. Brown Goode, " is a large natural pool near the centre of the main island. Here a large number of Groupers may usually be found con- fined, and the place is much visited by strangers. At feed- ing time, when one looks into the clear waters of the pool nothing can be seen but an array of open mouths. When the food is thrown in, a scene of indescribable commotion and splashing occurs. They are very fierce,and rush savagely NEW YORK AQUARIUM. > 23 at anything which looks eatable. I have seen two large ones/each four feet in length, seize the opposite ends of a cuttle-fish arm, tugging for several minutes at the tough morsel before the question of ownership could be decided." The young fish are called Hamlets, but, after reaching a length of eighteen or twenty inches, are known as Groupers, which is a corruption of the Portugese Garoupa, the name of a similar fish found at Madeira. 36. THE HIND. (Epinephelis guttatus.) A very hand- some fish, common in Bermuda, where specimens two feet in length are often met with in the markets. It is brown- ish or rosy-white, with numerous small circular spots of deep rose color, which are probably the origin of its popu- lar name. When kept long in a tank with plenty of light, its color fades. It is also recorded that specimens from the "White Water," where there is a bottom of white sand, are nearly white, while others have a dusky reddish-brown color. 37. THE ROCK FISH. (Trisotropis undid sis) A large fish, attaining a length of five feet, and known as one of the choicest table-fishes in Bermuda. Its color is brown, mottled with large irregular spots and lines of brownish- violet. The Hamlet, Hind and Rock Fish belong to a group of fishes which arc normally hermaphrodite, each fish after maturity carrying milk and roe at the same time. 38. THE YELLOW-TAIL. (Oxyurus chtysurus.) A small fish with large fins. It is greenish olive, with oblique streaks above the lateral line and some shining golden bands along the sides. Bermuda Islands. 39. THE GRAY SNAPPER. (Lutjanus caxis.) This is a very common fish in Bermuda, with a low, elongated, dark grey body. It is cunning and dexterous, and has, from its ability to avoid all contrivances for catching it, gained the nick-name of " Sea Lawyer." It attains a length of four feet, and is said to be one of the most delicious of food-fishes. 40. THE FRESH WATER BASS. (Centrarckus ceneus.) A handsome and savory fish found abundantly in the NEW YORK AQUARIUM. great lakes and in the larger streams in the western coun- ties of New York State. It is greyish brown, and each scale has a dark centre. The anal fin has five or six strong spines. 41. THE BLACK FRESH WATER BASS. {Centra?- chus fasciatus.) A fish twelve to fifteen inches long and common in the great lakes. It is of a dusky blue or green color, often with transverse bands and conspicuous dark spots at the fins. The soft part of the dorsal fin is covered with scales at the base. The anal fin has but three spines. 42. THE SUNFISH. {Pomotis auritus.) A common but beautiful little fish that derives its proud name from its glittering colors. It is greenish olive with numerous red or orange spots ; the operculum (gill cover) has a rounded, membranaceous, bright scarlet lobe above the angle. Great lakes and eastern rivers. V a m . — Pristipomatidce* 43. THE YELLOW GRUNT. (Hamilton xanthoptcrum.) We have received a great number of different kinds of Grunts from the Bermuda Islands, where they are quite common and plentiful. They have an oblong, compressed body, a horizontal, wide mouth, blood-red inside, the usual number of fins, and a differently, but always handsomely colored body. The Yellow Grunt is easily recognized by its color. Its length is from six to twelve inches. 44. THE WHITE GRUNT, (Hamilton quadrilineatum) Light colored, with two brown and two broad golden bands along each side of the body. It is found in schools in the Bermuda Islands. 45. THE BLUE-STREAKED GRUNT. (Hamilton ele- gans.) A beautiful fish, with many waving, light-blue, hori- zontal bands, edged brownish. Bermuda Islands. 46. THE MARGATE FISH. (Hamilton chrysopterum) This fish is nearly allied to the Grunts, but differs from NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 25 them by being larger in size and by its faculty to change color. Generally it is of a beautiful pearly-white, with two or three faint stripes along the body, but sometimes it suddenly assumes a darker hue, the stripes becoming almost black. Its length is from nine to eighteen inches. Bermuda Islands. 47. THE BLACK TRIPLE-TAIL or FLASHER. {Lobotes surinamensis.) A high bodied, strong fish. It is a foot or more in length, and is of a rusty blackish color. The anal fin and the soft part of the dor- sal fin, are of equal development, both reaching to about the middle of the caudal and producing the appearance of a triple-tailed fish. It is rare on our coast, but is found in great numbers in theCarribean Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Chinese Seas. F AM . — Sparidct. 48. THE SILVER BREAM. (Sqrgus argenteus) The color of this fish is a very brilliant silvery white, interrupted only by a black band across the back of the tail. Its body is high and compressed ; the profile of its head is plajn and oblique so as to form a pointed mouth. Its length is from six to twelve inches. It is common in Bermuda. 49. THE SHEEPSHEAD. (Archosargus probatocephaius) A big, clumsy fish with about a dozen large, bare teeth, and five conspicuous blackish cross bands. The appear- ance of its mouth and teeth, the profile of its head, curved nose and forehead are sheep-like, whence the name. They are found in our waters during summer, when they are eagerly looked after as a delicacy. They return to the South in the fall. Length ten to twenty inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 50. THE RHOMBOIDAL PORGEE or SARGO. {La- godon rho7nboidcs) Similar to the preceding, but smaller and more graceful. It has five dusky cross bars, like the Sheepshead, longitudinal stripes above the lateral line, and a black blotch at the origin of it. Length three to five inches. Cape Cod to Florida. NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 51. THE BIG PORGEE. (Stenotomus argyrops) A bril- liantly shining fish with a high compressed body, convex above. There are four to six strong conical canine-like teeth in the outer series of teeth of both jaws. This fish was formerly abundant in our waters during the summer sea- son, and was brought in large quantities to the markets, where it commanded a high price. It has become scarce now. Length six to twelve inches. Cape Cod to Florida. Fam. — Squamipinnes. 52. THE FOUR -EYED FISH. (Sarothrodus bimacuiatus.) This is a very graceful and delicate fish, with a nearly cir- cular outline, and a protruding and pointed snout. Its body is pearly-grey; the vertical fins are bright yellow; a black band runs across the eye. Its name has reference to a black eye-like spot on each side of the tail, which the fishermen believe to be a true eye. Brown Goode states that it is usually seen in sheltered coves, lazily swimming a few feet below the surface, under the shadow of some high rock. Its length seldom exceeds four inches. Ber- muda Islands. 53. THE ANGEL FISH. (Holacanthus ciliaris.) This is a common fish in the West Indies and the Bermuda Islands, and is easily procured during summer; yet none more beautiful has ever been placed in our tanks and none that was regarded with as much pleasure and enthusiasm. It is one of those tropical creatures which nature seems to have endowed with a bountiful hand, and that awakens feelings of admiration. No description can give an adequate idea of the grace and beauty of this fish. It must be seen to be appreciated. Its body is short and high; the dorsal and anal fins are very^large, protruding at their anterior parts, thick at their baseband covered with scales, so that they seem to be a continuation of the body. The scales are large, delicate brown with a shade of olive-green, and each of them is edged with a lighter tint. The chin, nape, upper eye-lid, base of the pectoral and ventral fins, and the margin of the dorsal and anal fins are bright cobalt-blue, with lines NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 2 7 of the same color extending over the operculum. The caudal fin and the continuation or appendages of the longest spines of the dorsal and anal fins are bright yellow. The motions of the Angel Fish are slow. It is seen in the sheltered parts of the coral reefs of the Bermuda Islands, lazily and gracefully swimming or floating a few feet below the surface. It feeds principally on coral - polyps. It attains a weight of four pounds, and is con- sidered the best flavored fish in Bermuda. 54. THE BROWN ANGEL FISH. {Holacanthus tri- color?) We have received several specimens of this equally handsome and graceful fish from Florida. Its form and habits resemble those of the preceding species; its color is mainly dark brown, each scale being edged with a lighter color ; the head and some markings are yellow. Its length is from six to fifteen inches. 55. THE BLUE-STRIPED ANGEL FISH. {Holacan- thus formosus.) This is a small, dark-colored species, orna- mented by four blue transverse bands over the body and a blackish ocular band, edged with blue. We had several specimens of this fish brought from Florida. 56. THE MOON FISH or THREE-TAILED PORGEE. {Parephippus faber.) The body of this fish is much com- pressed and elevated and has six dark vertical bands; the third dorsal spine is elongated, and the anterior portion of the dorsal and anal fins is protruding. It is a large and re- markable looking fish, of from five to eighteen inches. It is occasionally found in great numbers in our vicinity during the summer. Cape Cod to Florida. Fa.m. — Triglidce. 57. THE SEA-RAVEN or YELLOW SCULPIN. (He- mitripterus acadianus.) It is very difficult to give an exact idea of what a sea- raven is. If we say, it is the most ugly, fan- tastically comical, or funny-looking fish we ever saw, the description would not be understood, and if we would give the minutest details in an elaborate description, it would not be read. It must be seen alive in water to be appreciated. 28 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. Fishermen have a great aversion to it and regard its presence in their nets with a feeling little short of abhorrent disgust; some are even afraid to touch it, believing it to be poisonous, and yet it is an object of great curiosity to visitors. The body of this remarkable fish is covered with appen- dages, the form of which is very variable. The color of some specimens is brown with darker spots, that of others, mottled like marble, or red, or bright lemon with white spots. There are no scales in its skin, so that when you touch or handle it, it feels like a soft, slippery, quivering mass of jelly-like substance. The sea-raven is often found in the vicinity of New York, but it is more abundant fur- ther north. 58. THE NORTHERN SCULPIN. (Cettus grcenlandhus.) A fish full of spines but without any scales. If attacked it spreads all the spines so that no animal can touch it with- out hurting itself. This species generally has circular white spots on the abdomen. Polar Regions to Cape Hatteras. 59. THE SLENDER SCULPIN. (Coitus octodecim-spino- sus.) When taken from the water this fish spreads its head to twice its usual size by the distension of the branchial membrane, and presents rather a formidable appearance. The spine on the pre-opercle reaches the point of the opercle. Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras. 60. THE SMOOTH-BROWED BULL-HEAD. (Coitus, mitchilli.) The most common of this genus in the vicinity of New York. It is of a yellowish color, with confluent bars and blotches over the body; all the fins with inter- rupted black bars. 61. THE BANDED GURNARD OR SEA-ROBIN. (Prionotus lineatus.) A rather queer looking fish, with many spines and very large pectoral fins. C In front of these fins there are three filaments or fingers, which can be moved separately and are used as feelers when it crawls over the bottom. It is a bottom-feeder, and not only devours various kinds of crustaceans but takes the bait off the hook of fishing lines, carefully avoiding the sharp steel points. Cape Hatteras to Florida. NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 29 62. THE WEB-FINGERED GURNARD. (Prionotus carolinus.) This is a larger and scarcer species than the preceding one. It is of a brown hue, clouded with a still darker color. The first dorsal fin has a black spot ; the second is marked with oblique whitish streaks. Cape Cod to Florida. 63. THE FLYING ROBIN. (Daciylopterus volitam) The pectoral fins of this queer looking fish are so largely developed that it is enabled to leap above water and soar after the manner of a bird, sometimes as far as two or three hundred feet. It is a handsome fish, but so curiously- shaped as to make a description of it difficult of compre- hension. Length about six inches. Newfoundland to Florida. • F a Ms — ScicEnidcp. 64. THE BIG DRUM. (Pogonias chromts.) A heavily built fish attaining to a large size and a weight up to eighty pounds. It is easily recognized by having about twenty cirri or beards beneath the lower jaw. It is found in our waters during summer, and feeds on mussels, clams and oysters, varying this food with crustaceans. In winter it is found in the South. The name is derived from a noise it produces resembling the distant sound of drums, prob- ably caused by the strong compression of the expanded pharyngeal teeth upon each other, when they crush and grind the oystershells. The young of this fish are described as — THE BANDED DRUM. (Pogonias fasciatus.) They re- semble the old ones except in their color. Their surface shines silvery, and there are four to five blackish vertical bands extending down the sides. 65. THE KING FISH. {Menticirrus neOulosis.) .A handsome fish, with seven oblique dusky bands descending from the back to below the lateral line, and a short barbel at the chin. It often lies on its side to rest, appearing to visitors as if sick or dead. It got its high-sounding name 3° NEW YORK AQUARIUM. from the early English colonists, to designate the high esteem in which it was held as an article of food. Cape Hatteras to Florida. 66. THE LAFAYETTE FISH. (Liostomus obliquus.) A handsome fish, with fourteen to eighteen transverse, oblique bands over the back. Color whitish, shining purplish and silvery w T hen the sun strikes it. The front of its head is nearly perpendicular. This fish happened to be in the vicinity of New York in almost incredible numbers in the summer of 1824, when "the great and good La Fayette" arrived in this city, and thus his name was unanimously given to the fish which was then considered entirely new. Since that time the Lafayette Fish is a permanent resident in our waters, but seldom in great numbers. Its length is from six to ten inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 67. THE RED or SPOTTED BASS. (Sctanops ocella- tus.) A beautiful, well flavored fish with a low body. There are one or two conspicuous black spots at the root of the caudal fin. It is bluish above ; the head, cheeks and shoulders are golden, with metallic reflections. Length one to three feet. Cape Cod to Florida. 68. THE WEAK FISH, or SQUETEAGUE. (Cynoscion regalis.) A fish with a long, slender body, bluish above, with darker oblique streaks, following the transverse series of scales. It visits our coast during the spawning season, which lasts from 'April to November. The best time to catch this fish is from June to October when the shad begin to disappear. The meat of small weak-fish is white and rather mealy ; while of those weighing about ten pounds it is as flaky as that of a salmon. F a M. — Scombrida. 69. THE PILOT FISH. (Naucrates doctor) This is a well known fish to mariners. It generally accompanies the shark, and receives its name from the supposition that it io their leader. Probably it feeds on the matter execreted and rejected by the shark. Its body is oblong and bluish NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 31 with five to seven dark vertical bands, and a keel on each side of the tail. Its length is from six to eighteen inches. It is found in all the seas of the temperate and tropical regions. 70. THE SUCKER FISH or WHITE - TAILED- REMORA. {Leptecheneis naucrates.) The most remarkable peculiarity of this fish is the flattened disk on the upper part of the head, into which the first dorsal fin is trans- formed. By means of this disk, which is composed of numerous transverse, cartilaginous, movable plates, the Sucker fastens itself to the bottom of ships or to the belly of fishes, such as large sharks. This serves the double purpose of enabling it to travel to great distances, and to get its nourishment from larger and stronger animals than itself. This will account for its location at points so remote from each other as China, Australia, and our own coast, which it could not reach except by adhering to ships. The ancient Romans, to whom this fish was well known, believed that a ship, to which a Sucker fastened itself, was unable to be moved. Its length is from twelve to eighteen inches. 71. THE HARVEST or DOLLAR FISH. (Poro- notus triacanthus.) A gorgeously colored fish. Its sides are resplendent with brilliant metallic green, blue and golden hues. The body is much Gompressed and elevated; the dorsal and anal fins are low and long, and of equal development. It is similar in size and form to the horse- fish (No. 75), which it resembles in its dancing motion; the dorsal outline is equally rounded in its entire length, but it has no ventral fins like the horse-fish. Maine to Hat- teras. F a m . — Carangidce. 72. THE HORSE CREVALLE. (Carangus hippos) A beautiful and gorgeously colored fish with a much com- pressed and nearly elliptical body. The lateral line is armed on its posterior part with bony plates. Length six to nine inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 73. THE YELLOW MACKEREL. (Carangus chrysos. Similar to the former, but the body is lower, more elon- NEW v'jhk AQUARIUM. gated, and the yellow color extends farther. Both fishes appear in our watc i s in A ugust, and leave about the begin ning of October. In confinement they are very delicate, and die when frightened. Length six to nine inches Cape Cod to Florida. 74. THE THREAD FISH or LONG ISLAND ANGEL FISH. (Blepharichthys crinitus.) The beauty oi this little fish exceeds even that of the tropical fishes. Its body, which is not over six inches in length, has an almost circular outline, and is covered with a delicate skin, shining with the colors of mother-of-pearl The pectorals and the anal fin are elegantly shaped and of a silk-like appear- ance. But the most remarkable feature of this fish is the long, silk-like threads, the continuation of the spines of the dorsal and anal fins. These surpass the length of the body three to four times. The movements of this tender fish are very interesting. It keeps afloat near the centre of its tank, and moves carefully around so as not to hurt its long, floating threads. It is scarce in our waters, but is found during August and September on the Long Island coast. Later in the season it returns to the Caribbean Sea. The French colonists in the Antilles call it the " Shoemaker" (Cordonnier), probably because of the long threads which, at their end s, resemble pieces of white wax. 75. THE HORSE or MONKEY FISH. (Vomer setipin- nis.) The body of this fish is much compressed and elevat- ed; the back is nearly straight, abruptly descending above the eye and forming a concave profile. It is a beautiful, uniform silvery fish, swimming in a peculiar way. Each stroke of the long pectorals brings it suddenly upwards, but only to sink again the next interval, so that it seems to be in a kind of dancing motion. Length six to ten inches. Maine to Florida. 76. THE BLUE FISH. (Pomatomus saltatrix.) A well known and valued table-fish, bluish above, lighter beneath and on the sides. Its body is oblong and compressed. The cleft of the mouth is rather wideband the jaws contain a series of very strong teeth. Those caught in September and October are the most prized. They have a wide range in nearly all the seas of the tropical and temperate regions. NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 33 77. THE BLACK RUDDERFTSH. (Palinurichthys per- ciformis.) An occasional visitor to our shores. Its body is ob- long, elliptical and compressed ; length nine inches. Color bronze black ; eyes orange yellow. Maine to Cape Hatteras. F am . — Bairaehida. 78. THE TOAD-FISH. (Batrachus tau.) An ugly fish without any scales, and covered with a thick coating of slime, so that the color does not appear with distinctness. Sometimes it is olive-green, mottled with brown ; at other times it is brown, marbled with darker colors. The head is wider than the body. Generally this fish lies motionless at the bottom, half buried in the sand or in seaweed. It gets its food either by sucking in small marine animals, or by suddenly seizing smaller fishes within its reach. Its flesh is said to be well flavored when properly cooked. Length six to tw T elve inches. Nova Scotia to Florida. F a m . — Pedicula ti. 79 THE ANGLER, SEA-DEVIL, FISHING-FROG, BELLOWS -FISH, GOOSE -FISH or MONK-FISH. (Lop hi us pi sea- torius.) This is a very ugly and repulsive look- ing fi s h . It seems to be nothing but head or rather mouth, with a small body at- tached thereto. Th'e head is nearly circular in its outline, the cleft of the mouth occupy- ing half of it. The teeth are large and num- erous, and there are many small 34 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. barbels around the mouth. * Its first dorsal fin consists of a few, separate, very long and flexible spines, which are in perpetual motion, and thus serve to attract its prey, while the fish is otherwise at rest on the bottom, half covered by sand and mud. Another peculiarity of its body are the stalked or pedunculated pectorals which clearly indicate their homology with the arms or forelegs of higher animals. The Angler is not uncommon on our coasts. It has been caught off the battery in New York City, and is sometimes hauled up by the lines laid out for codfish, hav- ing swallowed one of the fish and be- ing unable to get rid of hook and line. There have been exhibited in the Aquarium sev- eral specimens of this fish, and a large cast, made of one of them, shows all the remarkable features of their body ; but unfor- tunately it seems to be almost impos- sible to keep them alive in the tanks for more than a couple of days. 80. THE WALKING FISH. {Pterophryne Icevigata) This fish is a near relative of the Angler. Its pectoral fins are pedunculated so as to resemble the forefeet of a mammal, after the manner of which it uses them. It is a remarkable sight to see this curiously shaped fish quietly and slowly crawl along the bottom of the tank, placing one foot after the other with apparent cautious discern- ment. But for this peculiarity one might be inclined to NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 35 take the Walking Fish for a Sea-raven, the odd fringes and tossels of which are even more plainly conspicuous and numerous than in the raven. The whole body is covered with cutaneous tentacles ; even parts of the fins are transformed into tufts branching off to the sides like fern leaves. The ground-color of the skin is yellowish, largely marbled with brown ; round white spots are on the sides and belly. Specimens of this fish have been found in the Atlantic, the Indian and Chinese seas, north of Aus- tralia and in Polynesia. That exhibited in the Aquarium was caught near Newport, R. I., and presented by Mr. E. V. Lawter. Fam. — Blenmidce. 81. THE SEA WOLF. (Anar ric has vomer inus.) A fish three to five feet long, with an elongated body, long and narrow dorsal and anal fins, a high and compressed head, and large, ugly teeth in a wide mouth. It is said to be of a voracious and savage character, and marvellous tales are related by the fishermen of the strength and power of their jaws, exaggerations, probably, from its formidable appear- ance. Greenland to Cape Hatteras. 82. THE WRY-MOUTH, or GHOST-FISH. (Crypta- canthodes maculatus.) A rare and remarkably shaped fish, with an eel-like body and an oblong head, the lower jaw of which is directed upwards in a very conspicuous way. The name is derived from its sullen or wry-mouthed facial expression. It is of a reddish white color, with many irreg- ular, bright, reddish brown blotches. Nothing is known about its habits. In confinement it tries to conceal itself, moves very little and probably feeds at night. Nova Scotia to New Jersey. 83. THE EEL-POUT, CONGER-EEL or LAMPER- EEL V (Zoarces angtiillaris.) A fish with a long and narrow body ; the dorsal, caudal and anal fins connecting. The head is thicker and wider than the body ; the mouth is sit- uated at the lower side. Its color is dark olive, varied with dusky blotches. It is caught in company with the Cod. Length two to three feet. Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras. 36 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. Fam. — Acronurida. 84. THE DOCTOR-FISH. (Acanthurus nigricans.) This fish derives its name from a movable, lancet-shaped spine, situated in a longitudinal groove on each side of the tail. It is dark-colored, with different, rather inconsistent mark- ings of blue ; its body is high and compressed. Its move- ments are quick and nervous, and when kept confined with other fish, they are subject to serious injury from its lancet. They are of such a chivalrous character that one Doctor- fish will even fight and kill another of the same kind Their length is from six to twelve inches. We had speci- mens of it brought from Bermuda. F am. — Labyrinthici. 85. THE GOURAMI. (Trickogaster fasciatus.) A small, but very handsome fresh-water fish from the East Indies, imported to this country by Messrs. Chas. Reiche & Bro. TJieir high and compressed body has many oblique, dark stripes. The abdominal fins resemble long bristles, and the anal fin is lined bv vermilion dots. F a m . — Mugilidac. 86. THE STRIPED MULLET. (Mugili lineatus.) A slender fish with nearly a straight dorsal outline; head covered with large scales, shining with a greenish metallic reflection. Length six to eight inches. Cape Cod to Florida. F a m . — P o mac entr idee. 87. THE COW-PILOT, or SERGEANT-MAJOR. (Gly- phidodon saxatilis.) A short fish, not exceeding six inches in length, with an elevated body and "five black cross bands in a golden-green skin. It very common throughout the West Indies, and frequents the sheltered w r atersin company with Parrot, Angel, and Four-eyed Fishes. It feeds on shellfish. Our specimens were brought from Bermuda, but did not long survive the change. NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 37 F a m . — Labridce. 88. THE HOG-PISH. (Lachnolcemus falcatus.) This fish gets its name from its swine-like profile and dentition. Its body is compressed and elevated, its snout pointed, its dor- sal spines protruding, and its skin resembles brown and red marble. When it swims, the dorsal spines and their long, streamer-like appendages or continuations give it a singularly graceful appearance. It is very common in Bermuda and caught there in great numbers. It attains a length of thirty inches and a weight of twenty pounds; has a hard, white, exquisitely-flavored flesh, and ranges among the choicest of table-fish. 89. THE NEW YORK TAUTOG, or BLACKFISH. (Tautoga onitis.) Belongs to the family of Labridce. or Wras- ses, so called from labrum or lip, which is protrusile in these fishes. These fishes live on rocky shores, and feed chiefly on mollusks. Their dentition is admirably adapted for crushing shells and crabs. The Tautog has a compressed, oblong body, covered with small, adherent scales ; its color is bluish black, with ir- regular darker blotches and bands. It is abundant on our coasts from April until late in the autumn, when it retires into deeper water. It weighs about two pounds, but is sometimes found weighing as much as ten pounds. It is a well-known, strong, savory fish, and is a great favorite with anglers, to one of whom (Isaac M'Lellan) we are indebted for the following accurately descriptive lines: — Wherever kelp and sea-weed cling To ramparts form'd of rugged rocks, The tautog finds a dwelling place, Deep down in waters at their base ; Or where a passing boat hath met Its fate along the rocky shore, And. with its broken ribs and keel, Lies rotting on the ocean floor — There, where the clinging shell and weed Gather, and barnacles abound, The blackfish, seeking out their food, In numbers by the hook are found. 90. THE BERGALL or CUNNER. (Tautog olabr us adspersus.) A prettily shaped, lively and cunning fish, with 3* NEW YORK AQUARIUM. a row of sharp, cutting teeth in both jaws, covered by fleshy- lips. Its colors are variable, more or less blue or brown, sometimes with dusky bars. The fishermen dislike this fish because it nibbles their bait. Length six to twelve inches. Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras. THE SPOTTED BERGALL. (Tautogolabrus uninotatus.) This is apparently only a variety of the former. It has a black spot on the first two soft rays of the dorsal fin. 91. THE SLIPPERY DICK. {Chcerojulis bivittatw.) This fish has its curious name from its ability to escape from the nets and pounds, or from the hand, by aid of its quickness in moving and its slippery surface. When caught and put into an open tank it tries to get out by jumping high above the surface. It is a small fish, about six inches long, with a straight upper and lower outline. Its surface is covered by brown, bluish and red spots and bands; the base of its dorsal fin is violet. It likes to hide itself, and at night to sleep among the pebbles or sand at the bottom of the tank, and so thoroughly does it conceal itself that hardly a spot of it is to be seen ; but when dis- turbed it swims around lively and dexterously. The inhabitants of the Bermuda Islands do not eat this fish be- cause they have a superstitious belief that they will lose all their hair after doing so Fam. — Gadida. 92. THE CODFISH. (Gadus morrhua) This is one of the most valuable of all fishes. It lives in deep water during the summer months, comes to the shores about the end of August, and remains in the vicinity of the land ail winter. During this time many millions of them are caught. Their weight averages from five to fifteen pounds, but it # is not uncommon to find specimens weighing forty or fifty pounds, and several trustworthy persons have reported the capture of cod of more than five feet in length and of a weight of over a hundred pounds. The number of eggs in one cod is simply enormous. In one instance the roe weighed seven and three-quarter pounds, and, on NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 39 a careful calculation, it was found to contain no fewer than 6,876,000 eggs. This explains how it is possible that the sea contains such a vast supply of this useful fish. In 1865 it was discovered by Dr. George Ossian Sars, a famous naturalist of Norway, that the spawn of the cod and similar fishes floats on the surface of the sea during the whole period of its development, which is stated by him to occupy sixteen days. The eggs are almost trans- parent and resemble grains of boiled sago. The Cod is found in countless schools in the northern parts of the Atlantic ocean, both on the American and European coasts, in greatest abundance, however, in the vicinity of New England and Newfoundland, as was known centuries ago. Those on the New England coast are said to be better than what are caught off Newfound- land. This was known as early as 16 16. Capt. John Smith said in a report about them: " In the end of August, September, October and November, you have Cod againe to make Cor fish or Poore John: & each hundred is as good as two or three hundred in the New-found Land." Thomas Morton writes about the Cod at the coast of New English Canaan (New England), in 1636: "The coast aboundeth with such multitudes of Codd, that the inhabi- tants of New England doe dunge their grounds with Codd; & it is a commodity better than the golden mines of the Spanish Indies ; for without dried Codd the Spaniard, Port- ugal & Italian would not be able to vittell of a shipp for the sea." The food of the Cod is greatly varied and consists, according to the statement of Simeon F. Cheney, of crabs, scollops, and the jellies on the bottom. Larger Cod eat small flounders, small pollock and hake, small salmon, sea-perch, cunners, with other things found at the bottom of the water, but they always prefer the herring. Some come in schools and eat the herring spawn. There are two varieties of the Cod, a smaller one, with a bright golden color, that lives mostly on the banks; and a larger one with a brownish color that is found on the shore. Some specimens of the former are almost as bright as goldfish. They are splendid to look at. "How unlike," says Frank Buckland, " how very unlike is a live cod to the flabby, big-headed creature one sees on the fish- monger's slab ! The live Cod is an intelligent looking 40 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. creature. True he has an immense mouth and great roll- ing eyes, but can't he swim! He goes as easily and as swiftly as an express train. A slight move of his tail and away he goes, darting like an arrow." 93. THE TOM-COD, or FROST-FISH. {Microgadus tomcodus.) A small and lively fish, found on our coasts at all times, but most abundantly after the first frost in the early part of winter. Its head is small and flattened above; its tail is long and slender. It is of dark olive green color, with irregular streaks and blotches. Length four to twelve inches. Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras. 94. THE HADDOCK. (Melanogrammus ceglefinus) Has, like the cod, a barbel at the chin, three dorsal and two anal fins. The abdominal fins are situated in front of the pecto- rals. It is distinguished from the cod by a lighter color, the jet black lateral line, and by the form of the first dorsal which is elevated and pointed. The Haddock is not as common as the cod, though it comes to our markets by the hundred thousands, and is at times, particularly during summer, more easily obtained than the latter. It is inferior as an article of food, cannot be kept alive in the wells of the fishing smacks like the cod and is very difficult to keep alive in a tank. 95. THE POLLOCK, or COAL-FISH. (Pollachius ear- bonarius.) Similar to the cod and often taken in company with it. Its color is a dark blackish green ; the fins are blackish brown. It has no barbel at the chin, or at most a very small one. Length one to three feet. Northern Atlantic, on the European and American coasts. 96. THE CODLING or SQUIRREL-HAKE. (Phych chuss.) Reddish brown ; the third ray of the first dorsal elon- gated ; the filamentous ventrals almost half as long as the body. It is sometimes very abundant on our coasts. Length one to three feet. Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras. 97. THE SPOTTED CODLING. (Urophycis regius.) The color of this fish is pale brown, the lateral line very conspicuous, alternately black and wmite; the ventral fins NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 4' are reduced to a single long ray divided at its end. A sin- gular habit of this fish is to lie for hours on its side, giving it the appearance of being sick. Length ten inches. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. Fa m. — Pleuronectidce. The Pleuronectid^e or Flatfishes are common but very remark- able fishes, both in regard to their form and development. Most people would get the impression that Flatfishes lie on their belly, and that the darker colored back is directed upwards. This is a mistake, as a look at the fins and mouth will prove. The long dorsal and anal fins line the flat body, one each of the pectorals and abdominals is above, one below, and the jaws are placed as usual. Thus it is seen that Flatfishes lie on but one side. From this it follows that the sides are differently colored and, what is more remarkable, that both eyes are on one side of the head. These two anomalies do not exist in the young. Their form is symmetrical like that of other vertebrates : both sides are of the same light color, and one eye is on each side. But soon the eye on one side sinks into the head; a mark like a buttonhole appears at the opposite side, just above the other eye; the first one comes to sight again, and at the same time the change in the color of the sides is completed. Flatfishes are found on a bottom of sand and gravel, their sides partly covered with it so that it is difficult to detect them. Only their large, protruding, opalescent eyes, which can be moved singly, are easily dis- covered. For moving through short distances they use parts of their dorsal and anal fins, leaning on them and thus slightly pushing their body. Their swimming consists of graceful, undulatory movements which are very interesting to see. 08. THE SPOTTED TURBOT. (Lophopsetta maculata) Dark olive brown; body and fins with numerous black spots; the anterior rays of the first dorsal fin with mem- branous slips. This fish is considered a delicate article of food, but seldom found in our markets. Its length gener- ally does not exceed fifteen inches, but sometimes speci- mens are caught that weigh twenty pounds. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. 99. THE COMMON FLOUNDER. (Chanopsetta ocel- Jan's.) Olive brown; upper surface with spots, some of which are ocellated or encircled by a lighter ring. This savory fish is abundant on our coasts during summer. Its length is from twelve to eighteen inches. 4,2 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 100. THE RUSTY DAB. {Champ setta oblonga.) Nearly uniform brown ; occasionally with spots ; fins reddish brown ; caudal fin angulated. Common along our sandy shores, being abundant in September and October. Length fifteen to twenty inches. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. 101. THE SPOTTED SOLE. (Achirus lineatus) Color greenish brown, with numerous black lines and blotches. No pectoral fins. This species is very common, but too small to be of much value for the table. When kept in a tank with a sandy or muddy bottom, it buries itself out of sight. Length three to six inches. Cape Cod to Florida. O rd er — Pkysostoini. F am. — SiluricUz. Numerous, mostly freshwater fishes, commonly called catfish, horned- pouts, and bullheads. They are easily known by their peculiar form : a broad head with thick lips and eight long, fleshy barbels, an unwieldy, thick and short body destitute of scales, and an adipose fin (a fin without rays or spines) situated between the dorsal and anal fins. They are slug- gish in their movements, particularly when full grown, and secure their prey more by alluring it to their resting places at the muddy bottom than by swiftness. Some species do not grow over eight inches in length, others attain a very large size and a weight up to two hundred and fifty pounds. The Aquarium had one specimen weighing one hundred and sixty pounds. 102. THE COMMON CAT-FTSH. (Amiurus catus.) Dusky, sides of the head greenish, those of the body cupre- ous. Caudal nearly even and rounded. Length six to twelve inches. Abundant in lakes and streams. 103. THE GREAT LAKE CAT-FISH. (Amiurus nigri- cans.) A large species from the great lakes ; upper jaw longer than the lower; caudal fin deeply forked; color plumbagi- nous. 104. THE BROWN CAT-FISH. (Amiurus pullis) Uni- form dusky brown above, bluish white beneath. Abundant in the lakes of New York and eastward. 105. THE SEA- WATER CAT-FISH. (Ailurichthys ma- rinus.) This is a handsome, swift and voracious fish, with two very long, fleshy barbels at the angle of the mouth, NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 43 and two smaller ones at the chin. The dorsal fin is high and considerably curved ; the caudal is crescent shaped. F a m . — Salmonidos. This family comprises more than one hundred and sixty species; most of them are very valuable fishes, and famous for both their game character and palatable flesh. They have an elongated, handsome body covered with a prettily colored, scaly skin, a naked head, and mouth with strong teeth, no barbels, and a small adipose fin behind the dorsal. In the spawning season they ascend the rivers, some of them as high as the ' region of permanent snow. 106. THE BROOK or SPECKLED-TROUT. (Salnur fontinalis.) Body olive, with blackish numerous red spots. It is an excellent and well known fish, affording high sport to the angler, and estimated in New York as the most relish- able of all fishes. Their color varies nearly as much as their flavor ; those of clear mountain streams being considered the best. Length six to twenty-four inches. The rivers and lakes of British North America and the northern parts of the United States are abundantly stocked with them. The Red-bellied Trout (Sahno erythrogaster) is a variety of the Brook Trout, with a reddish-orange abdomen. 107. THE LAKE-TROUT, SALMON-TROUT, or MACKINAW-TROUT. (Salmo ttamaycush.) Grayish in color and more or less spotted. Body stout and head very large. Length two to six feet. "His great size and im- mense strength alone" says Herbert, "give him value as a fish of game ; but when hooked, he pulls strongly and fights hard, though he is a boring, deep fighter, and, I think, never leaps out of the water like the true salmon or the brook- trout." Great lakes, north to the Arctic Seas. 108. THE CALIFORNIA SALMON. (Salmo quinnat) Head pointed and large, dorsal line regularly arched; cau- dal deeply cut out. . This is the most important salmon of the western waters, both in excellence and numbers. Many millions of its eggs have been transported during the last three years from California for distribution throughout the Eastern and Middle States. The Aquarium received in the 44 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. fall of 1876, 50,000 eggs from Spencer Baird, of the U. S. Fish Commission, which were successfully hatched and dis- tributed in various adjacent waters. The same is done this season. The Pacific coast of North America, from San Francisco northward. F am . — Esocidce. 109. THE GREAT LAKE-PIKE. (Esox luciusvar.es- tor.) A beautiful fish, of an olive-green color, handsomely spotted with round yellowish spots as large as peas; each , scale with a shining V-shaped mark opening sidewards. Length one to four feet. Great lakes and the headwaters of the Mississippi. 110. THE MUSKALLUNGE. (Esox nobilior) Grayish with white spots ; cheeks and opercles half bare. Length, one to six feet. Great lakes. 111. THE PICKEREL. (Esox reticulata.) Green, with a network of brown streaks on the sides. Length, one to three feet. It is abundant in the streams of the Eastern and Middle States. 112. THE PIKE. (Esox americanus.) This fish is of a dark green color. Its sides are marked with about twenty dis- tinct blackish bars. Its length is six to ten inches. It is found in the Atlantic streams of the Eastern and Middle States. F am. — Cyprinodontidoz. 113. THE SHEEPSHEAD LEBIAS. (Cyprinodon varie- gatus.) A small fish with large scales, one inch high and two inches long. The female has irregular and blackish vertical spots on the body. The male is without these spots. It lives in salt and brackish streams in the neighborhood of New York. 114. THE KILLIFISH. (Fundulus diaphanus.) This fish abounds in all our salt water creeks (which our Dutch an- NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 45 cestors called 4< kills ") and bays. It is two to five inches long, has a small, rounded caudal fin, a short and high dorsal placed on the posterior part of the body, and is of a greenish color. The male has many broad cross bands ; the female three more or less interrupted longitudinal bands. Fam. — Hetcropygii. 115. THE BLIND FISH. (Typhlichthys subterraneus). Several specimens of this interesting little fish were received from the famous Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. They are very small, not exceeding two inches in length, colorless, and with- out any ventral fins Their eyes are rudimentary and of no use. On the head and sides of the body there are prominent ridges consisting of minute papillae in which many nerves terminate. These papillae are delicate organs of touch, enabling the fish to feel its way in the eternal darkness of its surroundings. They will live for several months in quiet, clear, and well aerated water. F a m. — Cyprinidce. 116. THE COMMON SUCKER. (Catostomus teres). A freshwater fish, having a long, rounded, tapering body, and thick, fleshy lips, of which the lower one is pendent. Length twelve to eighteen inches. It is abundant in our markets in autumn. 117. THE LONG-FINNED CHUBSUCKER. (Carpiodes cyprinus). This fish has a slight resemblance to the European Carp, and is often called by that name in this country. It has a whitish skin and large scales ; the first rays of its dorsal fin are very much elevated and attenuated ; the mouth is inferior. Length twelve to twenty inches. Eastern lakes and rivers. 118. THE GERMAN CARP. (Cyprinus carpio) . A famous fish, from Germany, considered there as the most delicious and palatable of all fishes. Originally it was only found in some of the larger rivers, but many hundred years ago it was transported to artificial and natural ponds, and now it is spread over the larger part of Europe, some parts of Asia, and Australia. Those in our tanks were presented to the Aquarium by the well-known 46 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. fish culturist, Herr von Hessels, who imported several thousands of them, in the spring of this year, for the United States Fish Commission. Of the numerous varieties, found in Europe, he selected the so-called King Carp (Cyprinus Rex Cyprinorum\ which is more highly prized than all others. It has but a few scales of enormous size, the larger part of its skin being naked. The Carps are very tenacious of life, easily endure changes of temperature, and will successfully feed on all kinds of vegetable refuse. 119. THE GOLD FISH. (Carassius auratus). No other fish is more widely distributed throughout the world than this. It was imported from China to England, by Philippe Worth, in the year 1728, was successfully bred and universally dis- tributed. There are many varieties of this fish exhibited in the New York Aquarium, some with double anal or caudal fins, some black, red, silvery white, or spotted. The most renowned of all varieties is that described in the following section : 120. THE KINGIYO. This fish, together with seven others, was imported from Japan by Mr. Gill, of the firm of Martin, Gill & Co., large importers of tea from that country, and presented by him to the Aquarium. Too much can- not be said of the singular and unique beauty of this specimen. The sides of its thick and short body are re- splendent with the most brilliant golden and pearly hues. The caudal and anal fins united are nearly the length of the entire body, resembling the most delicate silken tissue; affords a splendid view as it slowly and solemnly floats through the water. Many visitors have expressed the opinion that this is the most remarkable and beautiful fish they had ever seen. 121. THE LONG-TSING-YU, CHINESE QUADRUPLE TAIL, TELESCOPIC or DRAGON-EYED FISH. Four specimens of this valuable fish, which must be regarded as an- other variety of the Goldfish, were imported to this country by Messrs. Chas. Reiche & Bro. They have remarkably large, protruding eyes, which almost seem to be located outside of the head, and give to the small, lively, and gracefully-built fish a resemblance to the Hammerhead Shark. All our specimens came from China. 122. THE BLACK-NOSED DACE. (Rhinichthys atrona- sus). A small fish, found abundantly in the streams and rivu- lets of New York and adjoining States. It is from one to three NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 47 inches long, and is easily recognized by a black band that runs from the snout to the root of the caudal fin. THE KINGIYO. 123. THE ENGLISH ROACH. (Leuciscus rutilus). Some specimens of this fish were brought to this country by CapL 48 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. Mortimer, of the ship "Hamilton Fish," a gentleman oflarge experience and fine culture, and presented by him to the Aquarium. They belong to a genus that has representatives in Europe, Asia, and America. Our species has a silvery-white body, with red eyes and fins. 124. THE SHINING DACE. (Leuciscus argenteus). A handsome fish, with an elongated and silvery-white body. The scales are large, and have blackish membranes at their base. Length three to eighteen inches. New England and New York. 125. THE GERMAN TENCH or SCHLEIHE. {Tinea vulgaris). A dark-colored fish, with two small barbels and many thousands of small scales, deeply imbedded in a thick skin. In favorable light they shine with a golden, resplendent lustre. The Tench is found in muddy waters all over Europe. In Paris its scales are used to make artificial pearls. Our fishes were imported, together with the Carps, by Herr von Hessels. ^ »20, THE SHINER. (Note?nigonus americanus). A beau- tiful little fish, with a very small head, and convex dorsal and abdominal outlines. It is greenish above, brilliantly lustrous white at the sides. Length three to six inches. New Eng- land, in bayous, ponds, and weedy streams. F am. — Clupeidce. 127. THE MOSSBONKER or MENHADEN. (Bre- voortia menhaden). A very common fish, extensively used as manure, and as bait for Mackerel, Cod, and Halibut on the coast of Massachusetts. Its body is much compressed ; the surface silvery, with a prominent humeral spot Length ten to fourteen inches. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. 128. THE SHAD. {Alosa sapidissima). A well-known, brilliantly shining fish, of most delicate taste. Millions of it are caught all along our Eastern coast. During spawning time it ascends the larger rivers, often as far as one hundred and fifty miles. Fam. — Gymnotida. 129. THE COMMON EEL. {Anguilla Bostoniensu). This species is found not only near Boston, as the name seem* NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 49 to indicate, but everywhere on the coast and in the rivers of Northeast America, also in Japan, Formosa, and China. It is very variable in its colors : greenish, brownish, silvery gray, etc. Its length is from one to four feet. The eel was of great value to the Aquarium, as it afforded the principal food for the White Whales kept there. 130. THE GREEN MARAY. (Muraena maculipinms\ The form and habits of this fish have a great resemblance to those of a large snake. It is from three to six feet long, has a cylindrical body without pectoral fins ; the dorsal and anal fins are fleshy, low, and connected with each other ; the mouth is furnished with several rows of teeth, sufficiently large and sharp-pointed to inflict severe wounds- In Bermuda they catch it with a hook and line, and are very careful not to expose themselves to its bite, killing it as soon as it is caught. The Maray is nocturnal in its habits. In day-time it generally lies motionless in a corner of its tank. When dis- turbed, or brought into the neighborhood of other fishes, it dis- plays its very dangerous array of teeth. Then suddenly rushing upon its prey, it seizes and swallows it much as snakes do their food. The color of its body is green, but very dark, nearly black; the dorsal fin has a narrow white edge. It is found in tropical latitudes of the Atlantic. Our specimen was brought from Bermuda. 131. THE SPECKLED MARAY. {Muraena moringa\ The size, form, and habits of this specie: are the same as of the preceding one. Its body is grayish brown, with large, irregular dots and blotches of a white or yellowish color, which give it a very handsome appearance. In Bermuda (where we received a fine specimen), this fish is considered excellent food by the lower classes, but an impres- sion exists that at certain seasons its flesh is poisonous. Both species are near relatives to the Maray of the Mediterranean (Muraena helena), made famous by the tales of ancient writers. They tell us that wealthy Romans kept these fishes in large, artificial ponds, and valued them so highly that one patrician magnate, Vedius Pollio, used to feed the flesh of his slaves to them. Order Lophobranxhii. Fishes the gills of which are composed of small, rounded lobes at- tached to both sides of the bronchial arches. The gill opening is very NEW YORK AQUARIUM. small. The body is covered by a dermal skeleton consisting of numer- ous pieces which are arranged in segments. The joints of these pieces are generally elevated and keeled. 132. THE PIPE FISH. (Sygnathus peckianus). Body long and slender; the head protruding into a narrow, pipe-like snout, at the end of which the lower jaw moves like a projecting lid. When swimming, it generally keeps its body perpendicular, and moves only by handsome undulations of the long dorsal fin. The female deposits her eggs into a pouch on the tail of the male, covered by cutaneous folds. There they are kept until they develop. The newly-born young are not much thicker than a bristle. Length six to twelve inches. Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras. ,133. ; THE SEA HORSE. {Hippocampus hudsonius). A very interesting little fish, with a head resembling that of a NEW YORK AQUARIUM. horse, and a finless, prehensile tail. As with the preceding species, the male carries the eggs and young in a sac at the base of the tail. Its swimming power is very limited, obliging it to fasten itself to seaweed or other floating substances with which it is often carried by currents to great distances. Its food consists of small crustaceans like My sis and allied species. These it slowly approaches and suddenly sucks into its pipe- like muzzle. It will also feed on the Serpula Dianthus. Length three to six inches. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. Order Plectognathi. Fam. — Scleroderma 134. THE EUROPEAN FILE-FISH or BERMUDA , TURBOT. (Batistes capriscus). A large, beautiful, and re- markably shaped fish. Its body is high and compressed; its mouth very small ; its skin dusky brown, and unspotted, but with obliquely-crossing lines indicating the position of the large, rough, and prominent scales. Length twelve to eighteen inches. Atlantic Ocean, on European and American coasts. 135. THE LONG-TAILED FILE-FISH. (Alutera cuspi- taudd). Body high, compressed, almost like a leaf. Skin brown, varied with orange, covered with minute asperities, making it rough like shagreen. Tail lancet-shaped, and nearly half as long as the body, the length of which is from five to eight inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 136. THE MASSACHUSETTS FILE-FISH or FOOL- FISH. (Stephanolepis Massachusettensis). Brown, with ob- scure blackish spots or streaks. Length three to seven inches. Nova Scotia to Florida. 13V. THE COW-FISH. (Ostracion quadricornis). The appearance of this fish is very singular. The integuments of its body are modified into a three-ridged carapace composed of hexagonal, osseous scales ; only the snout-like mouth, the bases of the fins, and the hind part of the tail are covered by soft skin. Over each eye there is a prominent, conical spine, pointing straight forward, and giving it the cow-like appear- ance. Another flat, prominent spine, directed backward, is situated on each ventral ridge. The color of the carapace is very handsome in full light, but changes a good deal. It is a NEW YORK AQUARIUM. rich bright blue, with reticulated brown lines, and light ocellL After death the color quickly vanishes. The motions of the Cow-fish are slow and cautious. It often rests for hours at the bottom of the sea. It lives well in a large, well aerated tank, and feeds freely on shrimps and clams. Sometimes it ejects water from its mouth over the surface, to a distance of three or four feet. Its length is from twelve to twenty-one inches. Bermuda. 138. THE TRIANGULAR FISH or CUCKOLD. (Ostracion triqueter). Similar in shape and organization to the preceding species, but smaller, seldom exceeding eight inches, without spines, and differently colored. It is dark brown, with many yellowish-white circular spots. Its motions are livelier than those of the Cow-fish, though it is not a rapidly swimming fish. Its broad, pectoral fins are constantly moving, their chief function apparently being to fan a current of water through the gills. "When taken from the water," says G. Brown Goode, <: one of these fishes will live for two or three hours, all the time solemnly fanning its gills, and when restored to its native element, seems none the worse for its experiences* except that, on account of the air absorbed, it cannot at once sink to the bottom." Like the Cow-fish, it has the habit of throwing water over the surface, suddenly projecting its fleshy lips and causing a small body of water to fly through the air. West Indies and Bermuda Islands. F a m. — Gym nodontes. Fishes with a short body. The bones of the jaws instead of bearing teeth are themselves transformed into a sharp, cutting beak, the upper and lower part of which is sometimes divided by a median suture. They have no ventral fins, and the other fins are small and soft. 139. THE ROUGH PUFFER or SWELL-FISH. (Chilichthys turgidus). Olive green; the surface roughened with prickles ; body oblong and cylindrical. This fish is abundant on our coast, and derives its name from the swollen, ball-like shape it takes when removed from the water and rubbed with the hand. It is of no value for the table. Length six to twelve inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 140. THE PORCUPINE-FISH or SEA-HEDGEHOG. {Paradiad&n hysirix). The peculiar armor of this fish, and it* NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 55 capability to swallow either air or water, thereupon assuming the form of a ball, have attracted general attention. It is abundant in the West Indies, and is found in the tropical and subtropical latitudes of other oceans. Two specimens were brought from Bermuda to the Aquarium. They were eighteen inches long, having a very thick body, a high and broad, nearly quadrangular, head, and were covered with long spines, the greater number of which were capable of being erected. 141. THE SPINY BOX-FISH or BALLOON-FISH. (Chilomycterus geometricus). Greenish, with numerous wind- ing, brown stripes, and a few dark-colored blotches. The sur- face is covered with short, partly movable spines. This fish is able to inflate itself with water or air, taking the form of a ball in both instances. When the inflation is with water it falls to the bottom, with air it rises upside down to the surface. Length five to seven inches. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. Subclass Ganoidei. Order — Holostei. Fam. — Amiidcz. 142. THE FRESHWATER DOG-FISH or MUD-FISH. (Amia calvd). Color dark olive, with greenish markings at the sides. The male has a roundish black spot on the caudal fin ; the female, which is of larger size, is without this mark. Its body is oblong and stout, the jaws are broad, rounded, and sup- plied with strong teeth. The dorsal fin is very long. This fish is very interesting on account of its manner of breathing. It possesses a real lung, or rather a part of its air- bladder acts as a lung. It frequently comes to the surface either to inhale or exhale air. Its respiration in this way re- sembles that of the proteus and of the earlier stages of frogs, toads, and salamanders, which have both lungs and gills.. Its flesh is soft and pasty, but not edible. In some regions it is called "The Lawyer," because "it will bite at anything, and is good for nothing when caught" Fam. — Lepidosteida. 143. THE GAR-PIKE. (Lepidosteus osseus). The body of this fish is covered with hard, enameled, lozenge-shaped^ 54 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. shining plates, a peculiarity which is found in a very large proportion in the earlier fossil fishes, but which is exceed- ingly scarce now. Another remarkable peculiarity is, that the Gar Pike, like the preceeding fish, uses part of its air- bladder as a lung, and comes to the surface to breathe. Its body is elongated and cylindrical ; its head is pro- longed into a long and bony snout, exceeding in length twice the rest of the head. The color of the body is olive, with numerous black spots that are most conspicuous in the fins. Length one to five feet. It is abundant in the larger bodies of water in the North-eastern States. Order — Chondrostei. F a m . — A cipenserida. Fishes with an elongated fusiform body, the skin of which is devoid of scales, but covered with five rows of bony plates. The mouth lies at the lower side of the protruding snout, is transverse, protractile, and tooth- less. There is a row of four barbels in front of the mouth. The tail has two unequal lobes, the upper one being the larger. 144. THE SHARP-NOSED or COMMON SEA-STUR- GEON. (Acipenser sturio). This is a handsome fish, with a very peculiar form. It has the appearance of a gallant knight, covered with a showy armor, but its habits do not agree with this appearance of valor. It lies much at the bot- tom,to which the heavy body,burdended by the bony shields, drag it, and there, by means of its four barbels and protrac- tile mouth, it finds its food, which consists of vegetation and decayed animal matter. In spring it is found at the con- fluence of rivers where sometimes specimens of fifteen feet in length are caught. The meat, eggs (for caviar),and swim- ming-bladder (for isinglass) are extensively used. Atlantic Ocean, ascending rivers. 145. THE BLUNT-NOSED STURGEON. (Acipenslr brevirostris.) The snout, which in the foregoing species is pointed, and measures half the length of the head, is blunt in this one, and reaches but a quarter of the length of the head. There are 11-13 dorsal plates in A. sturio, 8-10 in A. brevirostris; 37-44 dorsal rays in the first one, 30 in the latter. Cape Cod to Florida. NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 55 Subclass Chondropterygii. Order — Plagiostomata. F am. — Selachoidci. Fishes with an elongated and nearly fusiform body. Their skin con- tains an immense number of small ossifications, making it. rough and shagreen-like. The pectoral fins are separated from the head (united with it in the Rays). They are easily recognized, as the elongated snout gives them a very marked appearance. The mouth, situated at the lower surface of the head, is armed with several rows of formidable teeth. There are five narrow gill-openings at each side of the neck. This family of fishes comprises among its 125 members the largest and most dangerous of all. The majority of them are small, measuring from three to five feet, but some attain the size of thirty feet and a weight of two thousand pounds. They are the frequent companions of ocean vessels, devour whatever is thrown overboard, from the meanest article of food to man himself, don't reject even iron or wood and really take into their capacious stomach, without selection, whatever they are able to swallow. This voracious character, together wtth their danger to human hie, creates an enmity towards them among sailors the world over. In the mutual strife it is a case of " no quarter." 146. THE BLUE SHARK. (Eulamia Milberti). A fish not over five feet long, which hangs around the fishermen's quarters, and feeds on offal and dead fish. It is sometimes destructive to the pounds by the force of mere numbers. Cape Cod to Florida. 147. THE SMOOTH DOG-FISH. (Mustalus cams). A fish of slender form, from one and a half to four feet long, in color a dull, ashy gray above, white beneath. The name is derived from the skin, which is smoother than in any other kind of shark,the ossifications being extremely small. It generally keeps near the bottom, where it feeds on crusta- ceans, the shell or crust of which is easily broken by their numerous and pointed teeth. It sometimes swams in vast numbers around and into the fishermen's nets, particularly on the Massachusetts coast at Menemsha-bight. Hundreds of boys and girls are employed to take out the livers, which are used in the manufacture of fish-oil. The bodies are afterwards used as manure by the farmers. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. 148. THE MACKEREL SHARK. (Isuropsis Dekayi). A powerful fish with one very large and one small dorsal fin, and a keel on both sides of the tail. Its length is from four to eight feet. It follows the shoals of mackerel so regularly that NEW YORK AQUARIUM. the fishermen watch it and are guided by its movements in throwing out their nets. Newfoundland to Florida. 149. THE PICKED DOG-FISH. {Squalus americanus). A gray-colored Shark of one to three feet in length, with a strong spine in front of the two dorsal fins. It is the most common shark on the eastern coast of America, particularly near New- foundland, where, in spring and autumn, it forms an important fishery for the oil which it furnishes. The fishermen avoid this shark, as it is very skillful in inflicting ugly wounds with its spines. These it dashes violently into its enemy by bending the dorsal side down and suddenly straightening it again. During nine or ten months in the year the female daily brings forth a young one six to eight inches long. The half developed eggs, which are covered by a transparent, brownish shell, can be cut out of the female and kept alive in sea-water for several days. The constantly swinging body, with the bright red ex- ternal gills, and the tender blood lines which encircle the yolk and bring nourishment to the young, form a highly interesting preparation. Fam. — Baioidei or Rays. They resemble Sharks in their organization, but not in their externa! form. The body has a round or rhomboid form, the sides of which are represented by the large pectoral fins which arc attached to the hind part of the head. The snout is pointed and elongated ; the mouth, nostrils, and gill openings are situated at the lower, the eyes and the spiracles (small apertures behind the eyes) at the upper surface. The latter con- duct new water to the gills when the rays lie at the bottom and have their mouths closed, or when they fee_i. The narrow and long tail gene- rally has two dc.sal and one anal fin ; the latter heterocercal or unequal in its lobes. Their eyes show a very remarkable peculiarity, consisting of a fringed curtain that hangs down from ti c upper border of the iris and covers part of the pupil. The eggs of the Rays are wider than ti'ose of the Sharks, have a less transparent case, and resemble flat cushions, with long, coiled strings at the four corners. When deposited, the fe- male takes the egg into her mouth and fastens it to seaweed, rocks, oyster-shells and the like. 150. THE TORPEDO, CRAMP-FISH, or NUMB-FISH. {Torpedo occidentalis). This fish is renowned for its electric power. The electric organs lie on both sides of the head, or between the pectoral fins and the head, and consist of numer- ous small boxes resembling bee-cells, which are filled with a gelatinous substance. Many tender nerves enter these boxes NEW YORK AQUARIUM. ST from one side and, near the surface, form a complicated net- work of nervous cells and fibres. The side covered by the nervous network is the same in all the boxes, either the upper or the lower one, and thus an electric current is established be- tween the two opposite sides. The surface with the network is found to be electro-positive, the other electro-negative. The electric shocks which this species can give are not dangerous, though very sharp. Fishermen are fond of making fun with it. The body of the Torpedo is a broad, smooth disk. The tail has a longitudinal fold along each side. It is found, in small numbers, from Cape Cod to Florida. 151, THE PRICKLY RAY. (Rata americana). Brown and unspotted, with pointed groups of pricklss on the upper surface, and four series of spines along the tail. Its length fj from one to two feet. Cape Cod to Florida, 58 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 152. THE BARNDOOR SKATE. (Rata lavis). Light brown and unspotted, with small spines on the orbits and an- terior margins of the pectoral fins. It has three rows of spines on the tail. The rest of the body is smooth, and is from two to four feet in length. Nova Scotia to Florida. 153. THE SPOTTED RAY. (Rata ocellata). Light brown, with numerous ocellated black spots. Its length is two to three feet. It is caught with a hook in company with the Cod. New England coasts. 154. THE STING-RAY, WHIP-RAY, or STINGA- REE. (Trygon centrurd). Above, its color is olive brown, be- neath, white, tail longer than the body, and armed with two or more spines. The total length of this fish is from five to eight feet. When captured it violently whips its tail about, the spines of which can inflict ugly and dangerous wounds. Fishermen pronounce it poisonous. Cape Cod to Florida. 155. THE BUTTERFLY RAY. (Pteroplatea maclurd). Above, the color is greenish blue, with pale spots, below, it is pale red. Its body is twice as broad as long. Its tail is very short. Its mode of swimming is very interesting, the flapping of the large sides reminding one of the motions of flying birds and butterflies. Cape Cod to Florida. 156. THE COW-NOSED RAY. (Rhinoptera quadriloba). This Ray differs from most of its relatives by having the head free from the pectoral fins. It is provided, however, with a pair of rayed appendages to the head called cephalic fins by some naturalists. Its tail is very slender, with a dorsal fin be- fore the serrated spine. It is caught in the vicinity of New York, and is said to be very troublesome to the amateur fisher- man, as it runs off with his bait and spoils his line. Cape Cod to Florida. Subclass Cyclostomi. These fishes are, with one exception, the Lancelet, the lowest and most imperfectly built of all. They have a cartilaginous skeleton, no ribs, limbs, shoulder girdle, nor pelvic elements, no real jaws, no scales, only one nostril, and their gills have the form of fixed sacs. Their mouth is nearly circular, and provided with many acute labial teeth. In their NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 59 manner of feeding they resemble the leech. They fasten themselves to other fishes by suction, and feed by scraping off their flesh. The young are without teeth, have rudimentary eyes, and undergo a metamorphosis. 157. THE SEA LAMPREY. (Petromyzon amertcanus). Body olive green, mottled with dark brown ; seven round gill openings on each side. Length four to six inches. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras, ascending rivers. 158. THE SMALL LAMPREY. (Ammocoetes appendix). Yellowish ; the seven gill openings are elongated ; the anal fin has a thread-like appendix on its anterior portion. Length four to six inches. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras, ascending rivers. Crustacea. 159. THE FIDDLER or SOLDIER CRAB. (Gelasimus pugnax). An amusing little crab, with one claw longer than the whole carapace. It lives in muddy banks and in ditches in salt-marshes, sometimes in such numbers that all around where they congregate it is perfectly honeycombed. When one crab goes into the hole of another a lively fight follows, and not unfrequently a general commotion takes place, after which each one gets into the first hole he can find. Cape Cod to Florida, 160. THE ROCK CRAB. (Cancer irroratus). Larger than the preceding, sometimes measuring three or four inches across the shell, and easily distinguished by having nine blunt teeth at the outside of each eye. It is found on rocky and 6andy shores and bottoms, and is, like all the other species of crabs, greedily devoured by many of the larger fishes, such as cod, haddock, tautog, black bass, sharks, and sting- rays. Lab- rador to South Carolina. 161. THE MUD CRAB. (Panopeus depressus). A small crab, not exceeding two inches in length, with a flattened body and large, unequal claws on the two front feet. It lives on oyster-beds, and is believed to feed on the spawn of the oyster. Cape Cod to Florida. 162. THE GREEN CRAB. (Carcinas mamas). This crab is found in abundance on very different places along our coasts, chiefly on rocky, sandy, and muddy shores and in brackish 6o NEW YORK AQUARIUM. waters. It is cosmopolitan in its habits, lives among the oysters in muddy places, or hides itself in the cavities made by fiddler- crabs in the ditches and streams of the salt marshes. Our specimens are about two inches long, and have a dark-green carapace with five teeth on the anterior margin at the outside of each eye. They are voracious and dexterous, tear the food out of the claws of large Hermit crabs, and are bold enough to put one of their large claws between the valves of different shell- fishes to pick out the soft body from the interior. Cape Cod to Florida. 163. THE LADY CRAB. {Platyonichus ocellatus). This is a very handsome crab, both in form and color. Its cara- pace is almost as wide as long. Its eyes are situated on long stalks, enabling them to protrude upward to the water when the animal is totally buried in the sand. "The Lady Crab," says Verrill, " is predaceous in its habits, feeding upon various smaller creatures, but, like most of the crabs, it is also fond of dead fishes or any other dead animds. In some localities they are so abundant that a dead fish or shark will, in a short time, be completely covered with them ; but if a person should ap- proach they will all suddenly slip off backwards and quickly disappear in every direction beneath the sand. After a short time, if everything be quiet, immense numbers of eyes and an- tennae will be gradually and cautiously protruded from beneath the sand, and, after their owners have satisfied themselves that all is well, the army of crabs will scon appear above the sand again, and continue their operations." Sometimes they are seen actively swimming near the surface of the water, their last pair of feet being flat and wide and per- fectly adapted to this motion. Their ground-color is white or gray, but almost entirely covered with annular spots formed by minute red and purple specks, which give it a very handsome appearance. Its length is six inches. Cape Cod to Florida. ( 164. THE BLUE or EDIBLE CRAB. (Callinectes has- tatus). Like the Lady Crab, this one has a pair of flattened legs which it can use to good purpose in swimming. The larger ones are commonly found among the eel-grass on muddy bot- toms, and in brackish water. They are easily distinguished by their brilliant blue color, and by the large, sharp spine on each side of the carapace. They are caught in great numbers for the market, those having recently shed their shells, the soft- shelled crabs, being especially in demand Cape Cod to Florida, NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 165. THE SPIDER CRAB. (Libim'a canaliculate). This crab has a comparatively small carapace and very long legs, re- minding one of the spider. The larger specimens, sometimes measuring a foot and more across the extended legs, are very sluggish in their movements, and conceal themselves in mud and decaying weeds, and hydroids, algae, and even barnacles grow on them. The smaller specimens, when kept in a clear tank where they cannot conceal themselves, cover their back with particles of ulvae, sponge, or whatever they can get. They pinch suitable pieces off with their claws, bring it to their mouth, cover the base of it with a kind of glue, and paste it deliberately on their back. Our tanks show several with pieces of red and gray sponge, green ulvaj and small shells, and often we are asked by visitors why wc (?) had pasted on them such a mix- ture of ornaments. From their habits they received the by- name of "decorating spider crabs." Maine to Florida. 166. THE LONG-ARMED HERMIT CRAB. (Eupagurus longocarpus). This active and interesting little crab is well known to sea-side visitors from its habit of living in empty shells, in order to protect its soft hinder parts. It is very pug- nacious, always ready to fight with one of its kind, but after the first encounter both retreat as far as possible into their shell and cover the aperture with the large claw. A remarkable cir cumstance in their organization is a lack of symmetry, or one- sidedness. Not only their claws, but the two sides of the whole 62 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. body are unequal in size, so as to fit closely in spiral shells. They are found abundantly in pools near low water, and on muddy, rocky, or sandy bottoms in deep water, where they are eagerly sought by fishes, which swallow them shell and alL Massachusetts to South Carolina. 167. THE SHORT-ARMED HERMIT CRAB. {Eu- pagurus pollicaris). This species attains a larger size, and con- sequently inhabits larger shells, such as pear-snails, natica, heros, etc. Its claws are shorter and thicker than those of the long-armed crab. It is devoured by sharks and sting-rays. Massachusetts to Florida 168. THE LOBSTER. (Homarus americanus). It is very interesting to watch the movements of this common but strangely-shaped animal, to observe how cautiously he ap- proaches a new inhabitant of the tank, how carefully he selects the safest corner, always ready to protect himself by his huge shears, and how suddenly he flaps his tail and glides backwards through the water. There is a handsome variety in one of the cement tanks, a lobster of a sky-blue color without any dark shade ; another variety, entirely scarlet, a present of Gen. Jar- dine, was kept for a few days in the same tank. The latter re- sembled a boiled lobster, and many visitors would not believe it to be alive until they saw it moving. These varieties show that there are two colors in the crust of a lobster, blue and red. Generally the latter is partly covered by the former, producing a color that is neither blue nor red Only in a few instances, like those of our red and blue speci- mens, does nature restrict itself to one color. The lobster is caught abundantly on the coast of the Northeastern States and in the Bay of Fundy. 169. THE? CRAWFISH. {Cambarus Bartonii and allied species). This is the largest of freshwater crustaceans. It re- sembles the lobster, except in its size and in some minor par- ticulars, as, for instance, the form of the last plate of the tail, which is divided, while it is entire in the lobster. American freshwater crustaceans, though numerous in species, are but scarce in number, and are seldom found in the market or known as an article of food. In Europe similar crawfishes are regu- larly for sale in such months as are spelled without an " r," the w^'*Hjp.«f the rule that governs the sale of oysters. NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 63 The crawfish is remarkable for its mode of swimming. It flaps its abdomen (erroneously but usually called the tail) against its breast, and by this means swims rapidly backwards, while it uses its numerous legs for forward or lateral motion. Often it is found at a considerable distance from the streams, using occasional pools, or burrowing through a moist surface in order to reach water below. It feeds upon animal matter, both dead and alive, and is so eager for carrion that Audubon called it a "little aquatic vulture." 170. THE BLIND CRAWFISH. {Cambarus pdlucidus). We received a few of these animals from the renowned Mam- moth Cave of Kentucky. They lived for several months, being kept in a large glass globe, and though exposed to the light, there was no perceptible change in their yellowish gray color. Their eyes were seen to show externally all the peculiarities of the eye of a crawfish, having a movable peduncle, or stem, to the end of which a cornea was attached. But the microscope showed this cornea to be partly opaque and without that pe- culiar structure which enables an animal to get distinct optical impressions. The power of vision in these fishes is lost by disuse. 171. THE SPINY LOBSTER. (Palinurus vulgaris). A native of Bermuda, and distinguished from the common lobster by its red color, the spiny carapace, and the want of pincers or shears on the large legs. The same species is caught on the south-European coasts of the Atlantic and Mediterranean, sent to the market in large quantities, and is as highly appreciated as our lobster. The female carries its eggs under the abdo- men, and in the same way that the crawfish and common lob- ster do, but the young are so different from the parent lobster, that until recently they were considered to be entirely different animals, and were described as glass shrimps, or Phyllosoma. 172. THE FLAT LOBSTER. {Scyllarus aequinoxialis). The body, the antennae, and the tail plates are flat and broad ; the feet are very short. This crab is very quiet, likes to bury itself out of sight, and does not live well in a tank. Its color is dark red. Length eight to twelve inches. Bermuda Islands. 173. THE SAND SHRIMP. (Crangon vulgaris). It is found in immense numbers on sandy flats, in tide pools, and on the sandy bottoms in deeper water. Numerous fishes 64 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. feed on it, such as the weak-fish, king-fish, blue-fish, flounder, striped bass, sea-robin, toad-fish, etc. If it were not such a prolific species it might be extinguished in a short time. In dangerous places it buries itself partially in the sand. The appearance of the sand shrimp in a tank with clear water plainly shows how the beauty of an animal and the interest it inspires depends upon its being seen in natural condition. He who knows the shrimp only as he sees it in the market-basket, will hardly believe that the handsome, transparent creature with beautiful caudal plates is naught but the little, dark gray mass of salted morsel with an ugly agglomeration of crooked legs he used to know under this name. It is found on both sides of the northern Atlantic Ocean. 174. THE SILVER-SHRIMP. (Pandanus annulicornis). Sold for fish-bait in the New York markets. It lives well in the tanks, is useful as a scavenger and as food for nearly all fishes. Northern Atlantic. 175. THE COMMON PRAWN. (Palamonetes vulgaris). Similar to the former, but easily distinguished by its bigger body and by the possession of a denticulated spine at the front. It is found in countless numbers among the eel-grass in brackish waters, and on many other places from Massachusetts to the Carolinas. For the table it is preferred to the shrimp. 170. THE LOCUST-CRAB. (Squilla empusa). This is a very peculiar and interesting creature, living on muddy bot- toms, and probably burrowing out of sight for the larger part of the year. It is sometimes caught in considerable numbers among the ice at the mouth of the Hudson. Its length, when full grown, is eight or ten inches. In our tanks they swim very lively during day-time, bend their body to a half circle, move their numerous feet incessantly with astonishing rapidity, and feed during the night. Cape Cod to Florida. 177. IDOTEA C^ECA. Lives parasitic on fishes, and was taken off in great numbers from drum-fishes, striped bass, and others. Massachusetts to Florida. 178. LIVONECA OVALIS. Taken off the gills of striped bass, 179. LERNEOLEMA RADIATA. Parasitic on moss- bonkers, striped bass, and other Fshes. NEW YORK AQUARIUM. *5 180. THE BARNACLE. {Balanus balanoides). This ani- mal resembles a low, blunt cone fastened to stones or shells. Periodically a small, hardly perceptible bunch of fine threads is thrown out from the upper end and quickly drawn back again. These threads, which are twenty-four in number, are the divided and minutely articulated legs of which the barna- cle has six on each side. By their movements it draws water and food into its shell. The young are quite different from the old ones, and are able to swim. After fastening themselves they not only lose the ability to swim, but also the eye, and thus constitute an example of retrograde metamorphosis through which the individual loses and the species gains, as the power of reproduction inheres in the Barnacle only in its advanced condition of life. THE HORSE-SHOE CRAB. 66 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 181. THE GOOSE-BARNACLE. (Lepas fascicularis). Found in Wood's Hole on floating timber. Lived a short time in the tanks. 182. THE HORSE-SHOE CRAB or KING-CRAB. (Limulus polyphemus). Common on sandy shores, just below water-mark ; more abundant still on muddy bottoms, where it buries just beneath the surface and feeds upon various small animals. The upper side of this large crab at first sight shows nothing but two large shields and a long spine, the lower shield exhibiting a complicated agglomeration of legs. Looking closer, two large eyes are found on the front shield, and two smaller eyes are lying in front of them. The mouth, situated at the lower surface, is surrounded by six pairs of differently shaped legs, the claws of which are employed to seize the food and conduct it to their own basal parts in order to be crushed and lacerated by them. The same organs combine the triple function of moving, seizing the food, and preparing it for di- gestion. The hinder part of the lower side carries another dozen of legs, which also have a double function. They act as swimming organs, and at the same time cause a current of water to flow to the gills. The usual motion of the King-crab is slow crawling ; their swimming is awkward, and easily interrupted by trivial causes. This accounts for the frequency with which they are found struggling on their backs. Their spawning season is in June and July. They are found from Maine to Florida. Annelida. 183. LEPIDONOTUS SUBLEVIS. Found at Martha's Vineyard. It lives well in a tank, but hides away out of sight. 184. THE SANDWORM. {Nereis pelagicd). Sold in the market as fish-bait. In the tanks it buries out of sight, feeds at night, and is very destructive to Algae. 185. POT AM ILL A OCULIFERA. Attached to scollop- shells. 186. EUCHONE ELEGANS. A beautiful creature, intro- duced in our tanks from Wood's Hole. NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 187. THE CLINKER. (Serpula dianthus). Worms which surround themselves with a calcareous, variously crooked tube, and live in colonies on stones and shells. Generally their red, comb-like gills protrude from the opening of the tube, but they quickly draw them back and close the tube with a hard, pur- plish cover when they are frightened by a knock at the glass, or otherwise disturbed. They are found from Cape Cod to Great Egg Harbor. Mollusca. 188. THE EIGHT-FOOTED POLYh or DEVIL-FISH. {Octopus vulgaris). We received several of these very interesting animals from Bermuda, but they all died after being only a few days in the tanks. Their body consists of a large bag, a small head with two big eyes, and eij;ht long arms connected with each other by an intermediate skin at their base. They breathe by taking the water through z wide opening at the base of the bag into two large gilts, and ejecting it again through a short and thick siphon. The 1 Uter current at the same time serves as the moving power c f the animal. One specially attractive feature of the Devil-fish is the pos- session of several hundreds of sucking disks distributed in two rows on each arm. Each disk is a short, thick cylinder, the center of which can be raised so as to establish a vacuum be- tween itself and the part to which it adheres. The sucking power of a medium-sized Devil-fish, one of about three feet in length, is large enough to enable it to move stones of forty- pounds weight. As the weight of a man in water is about five pounds, it would be no difficulty for a large Octopus to drag him under water. The food of the Octopus consists of shells, crustaceans, and occasionally fishes. It surrounds and covers its prey with its arms so completely as to prevent even a large- sized, healthy lobster from using its powerful claws. . 189. THE GIANT DEVIL-FISH. (Arehiteuthis princeps). We take leave to insert in this place the following very interest- ing letter of Prof. A. E. Verrill, the naturalist who discovered this species : 68 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. Peabody Museum of Yale College, New Haven, Conn., Oct. n, i Messrs. Chas. Reiche & Brother, New York Aquarium. Gentlemen : — Thanks to your courtesy, I yesterday had an opportunity to examine the " giant squid " or " devil fish " now preserved in the New York Aquarium, and to make careful measurements of its parts. Having made a special study of these remarkable animals during several years past, and having previously examined and described all the fragments of similar creatures preserved in the museums of this country, I am able to say that this is altogether the largest, most complete, and most valuable specimen of this kind that has ever been preserved either in this country or in Europe. Moreover, it is a very rare species, previously known to scientific men only by the jaws taken from the stomach of a sperm whale, which were first described and figured by me three years ago under the name of Architeuthis princeps. When first captured your speci- men was carefully measured by my correspondent, the Rev. M. Harvey, of St. Johns, Newfoundland, who, in a private letter, states that the body was 9^ feet long including the head, and the longest arms were 30 feet in length, making the total length 39^ feet. The circumference of the body was seven feet. In preserving creatures of this kind, either in brine or alcohol, they always shrink very much in bulk and lose most of their natural color and form. Your specimen having been brought to New York in brine, and since its arrival having been kept in strong alcohol, has necessarily contracted considerable in size already, and will probably shrink still more after some weeks. The body, originally plump and round, has also collapsed and become flat. I yesterday found that the long arms are now 24 feet and 1 inch long, with the broader terminal portion bearing the suckers 3 feet in length and 3 inches in breadth ; the larger suckers, now mostly destroyed, were about an inch in diameter. These suckers, with many smaller ones along the borders and at the end of the arms, were provided with strong, bony rims with the edge cut into numerous sharp teeth to prevent the sucker* from slipping when applied to the slippery skin of the fishes upon which they prey. Below these serrated suckers, and ex- tending along the inner surface of the arms for sixteen fee^ there are many small suckers, with smooth rims, together with wart-like tubercles which fit into the suckers of the opposite NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 6 9 arms. These are intended to fasten the two long arms securely together so that they can be used conjointly and thus more effectually secure large prey. The longest of the eight stouter arms around the mouth were originally 11 feet long and 17 inches in circumference at the base, tapering gradually to the tips. I found them ioi feet long and ni inches in circumference. These arms are all covered, along their inner surface, with large suckers arranged in two rows, and provided with sharp-toothed rims, the largest being an inch in diameter. The jaws form a large and powerful black beak, shaped like a parrot's, and capable of being protruded beyond the head when living. With this beak they doubtless instantly kill their prey when caught by biting out a piece from the back of the neck, thus severing the spinal cord, as their relatives, the small squids, are known to do. The upper jaw, measured by me, was 5^ inches long, and 3 and 3 J broad ; the lower jaw was 3f inches long and 3 J broad. The upper jaw shuts into the lower, unlike the beaks of birds. It is practically impossible to obtain these giant squids in a perfect condition, for they are very shy and very tenacious of life, and living en- tirely in deep water, they are seldom or never seen unless dis- abled. There is but one solitary instance on record of a specimen in good health being captured, and that was very badly mutilated by the fishermen before they could take it from the rocks in which it had accidentally become entangled. That one was considerably smaller than your specimen, and is now, in part, preserved in the Peabody Museum of Yale College, but its body was entirely destroyed. Most of the few specimens hitherto seen have, like your example, been found cast upon the remote shores of Newfoundland after severe gales, and are generally badly damaged when found. Very respectfully yours, A. E. VERRILL, Professor of Zoology in Yale College. 190. THE WHELK. (Buccinum undatum). Dredgetl at Georgias Bank, Mass., in forty fathoms. It did not live well in the tanks. The shells are favorites of the Hermit-crabs. 7° NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 191. THE WINKLE. {Sycotypus canaliculars). This is one of the largest shells on the eastern coast of North America, sometimes measuring seven inches in length. It is pear-shaped, and has a wide opening which continues in a narrow channel Its eggs are contained in membranous cases of about the size and thickness of a two-cent piece, united together in a parallel position by a ligamentous string about two feet in length. Each case contains about two hundred eggs, but only a few of them develop young ones, which, when brought out, in the first weeks of their existence, feed upon the unmatured eggs of the same case. It is astonishing that one snail is able to produce such an enormous quantity of eggs and cases, the bodily mass of which seems to be greater than the body of the snail itself. It is found from Cape Cod to Florida. 192. THE LARGE WINKLE. (Fulgur carica). This is, according to Binney, the largest convoluted shell on the Atlan- tic coast. It is found in company with the preceding species, but less abundantly. Its form is nearly the same, but it can easily be distinguished by a circular series of triangular, com- pressed tubercles just above the opening. The strings of egg- cases resemble those of the former, and are produced by the females while they are buried a few inches below the surface of the sand between tide-marks. Fishermen when tarring the seams of their boats, fill a Fulgur with hot tar and use the spout-like end of the shell to direct the flow of the tar. Hence the local name of ladle-shell. The animals are eaten in large quantities by negro fishermen back of Keyport, N. J., which locality has been named Winkletown, from the fact that in front of each cabin there are large accumulations of empty winkle- shells. It is found from Cape Cod to Florida. 193. THE LITTLE WHELK. {Ilyanassa obsoleta). Lives in great numbers on our neighboring coasts and is very useful as a scavenger. It deposits its egg-capsules freely on the glass, but they never mature there. Hydractinia polyclina often covers the shells, which are also the favorites of the small Her- mit-crabs. 194. THE OYSTER-DRILL. (Urosalpinx cinerea). Next to the starfish this shell is the greatest enemy to young oysters and clams. It drills a minute hole near the hinge and then sucks the animal out. Common on our coast. NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 7* 195. EUPLEURA CAUDATA. Dredged at Wood's Hole. Lives well in the tanks. 196. THE COMMON PURPLE. (Purpura lapillus). Found in Buzzard's Bay, Mass., on rocks between tide-marks, feeding on barnacles. This shell contains, inside its mantle, a yellow- ish-white band, of which a beautiful color is manufactured. When exposed to the sun, it quickly gets yellow, then green, blue, and at last bluish red. It is one of the shells which fur- nished the celebrated Tyrian purple of the ancients. 197. THE NAVEL-SHELL. (Neverita duplicate). The Hermit-crabs prefer the empty Navel-shells to all others. The beautiful flooded sand-cups cast ashore on Coney Island in the summer season are the egg-receptacles of this shell ; the fish- ermen call them mermaid-collars. When placed under a mag- nifying-glass thousands of young shells may be seen in their sand-bound cells, propelled by their rapidly moving cilia. Many of these egg-receptacles have been exhibited in the tanks. Massachusetts Bay to Florida. 198. THE JINGLE-SHELL. (Anemia glabra). Attached to oysters, scollops, and other shell-fish. They are resplendent with a golden or silvery lustre. 199. THE BOAT-SHELL. (Crepidula fornicata). This small shell is found on other dead shells inhabited by Hermit- crabs, or on oysters, scollops, or winkles. Sometimes doz- ens of them adhere together, and those lowest in the group cling to other animals, empty shells, or pebbles. Their form resembles that of a trough or boat half covered by a straight piece. It grows an inch in length, and is found in great num- bers on gravelly bottoms from Massachusetts to Florida. 200. THE PILL-BUG SHELL. (Chatopleura apiculata). The shell of this snail is composed of eight movable plates, and has the form of a trough. It is found adhering to stones and dead shells, and generally chooses its place so well that the surroundings are uniform with its colors, thereby avoiding de- tection. When detached from its base it either moves with considerable rapidity through the water, or curls itself into a ball like a " pill-bug" (Oniscus), or like an Armadillo. Its length is six to nine inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 201. MONTAGUA PILATA. This beautiful mollusk was introduced into the tanks on masses of tube-flowers, together 72 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. with clusters of Vorticellae, on which it fed. At times it may be seen moving about freely on the glass. Massachusetts Bay to Long Island Sound. 202. THE SOFT-SHELLED or LONG CLAM. (Mya arenarid). Used extensively as food north of New York. It is very interesting to see the long, siphon-tubes stretched out, sometimes to the length of a foot or more. They easily bury by means of it to a considerable depth beneath the sand. South Carolina to the Arctic Ocean. 203. CORBULA CONTRACTA. Found in Gravesend Bay and Gowanus Bay, L. I., attached to muscles and tube-flowers. 204. CLIDIOPHORA TRILINEATA. Dredged at Gay Head, Mass. It lives well in a tank. 205. THE RAZOR-FISH or KNIFE-HANDLE. {En- satella americana). This fish inhabits a very long and narrow shell, the front and back of which is parallel and slightly curved, the surface smooth and yellowish-green. The animal itself is still longer than the shell, so that the foot projects on one end, the two short siphons on the other. It is found on a sandy bottom where the water is clear. There it constructs a burrow of two or three feet deep, and rests at the upper end of it, keeping the orifices of the siphons in water. Sometimes, owing to the tide, it is left behind, projecting one or two inches above the ground. If cautiously approached it then may safely be drawn out with a sudden jerk, but once out of sight it is safe from capture, being able to penetrate the sand quicker than it can be followed. Its length is from four to six inches. Labrador to Florida. 206. THE SEA-, SURF- or SKIMMER-CLAM. (Mactra solidissima). This is a very large shell, sometimes more than six inches long and four or five inches broad. The smaller ones are well-flavored and extensively used for the dinner table. It got the name of Skimmer-clam from the Dutch set- tlers, who used to skim the milk with their shells. It lives on sandy shores, below low-water ma*k, from Labrador to North Carolina. 207. THE ROUND, HARD or QUAHOG-CLAM. ( Venus mercenaria). Found in enormous quantities on sandy shores, but chiefly on sandy and muddy flats, just beyond low-water mark. Millions of them are sold in the markets, mostly coming NEW YORK AQUARIUM. n from muddy estuaries and having a rough, thick, dull-white, or mud-stained shell ; those from sandy shores are thinner, more delicate, often with high, thin ribs, especially when young ; some varieties are handsomely marked with angular, or zigzag lines or streaks of red or brown (var. ?iotatd). They are well adapted to bury, having a large, muscular foot with a broad, thin edge that can be moved at any part of the ventral side. Massachu- setts Bay to Florida. 208. THE IRISH CUAHOG. (Argina pexata). Dredged at Tarpaulin Cove, Mass. It is a beautiful shell with bright red gills and mantle. 209. THE COMMON MUSCLE. {Mytilus edulis). Com- mon on all neighboring coasts and sold in the New York and Boston markets. It is found attached by means of byssus- threads to timber and rocks. In the Baltic Ocean and on the French coasts it is extensively cultivated. 210. MODIOLA MODIOLUS. A handsome muscle, dredged at Wood's Hole, Mass. It has the habit of putting out its foot and reaching fragments of stones and algae to attach itself. 211. MODIOLA PLICATULA. Found in neighboring creeks in brackish water. It lives well in a tank. 212. MODIOLA RI A NIGRA. A large, showy muscle, dredged at Cape Cod. The Sea-squirts live on them. 218. THE SCOLLOP. (Pecten irradians). The shell is orbicular, with an angular appendage for the hinge, and about twenty rounded ribs, which give it a comb-like appearance. Its color is varying, mostly dusky horn, with white, yellowish, or reddish bands, very pleasing to the eye, and making the shell of use for ornamental purposes. 74 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. A peculiar feature of the Scollop is its dancing movement when alarmed. This is performed by opening and energetically- closing its valves ; and continuing these movements, and thus periodically expelling the water from the gill-cavity, it is sent upwards or along the surface of the water. When it rests in safety, it sends out two rows of numerous, tapering papillae, or tentacles, and between them there may be observed a num- ber of handsome, bright silvery, or bluish eyes, sparkling with a brilliancy equal to the brightest jewels. The Scollop is found in abundance in many localities, particularly in sheltered, muddy places, from Cape Cod to Florida. The large and pow- erful central muscle is sold in the markets, and considered by many persons as an excellent article of food. TUNICATA. 214. MOLGULA MANHATTENSIS. Found in Graves- end Bay attached to ulva. It lives well in confinement, even in self-supporting tanks. 215. BOTRYLLUS GOULDII. A beautiful and interest- ing creature, found in Gravesend Bay, growing on Zostera marina. It lives well in confinement. ECHINODERM ATA. 216. STRONGYLOCENTROTUS DROBACHIENSIS. Common in deep water ; does not live well in a tank. 217. THE PURPLE SEA-URCHIN. (Arbacia punctu- latd). A small species with rather stout and long purplish spines placed upon a hard, rounded shell composed of many plates. It moves, like a star-fish, by suckers which protrude through small holes in the shell. The mouth, situated in the center of the lower side, has five very large, hard teeth con- nected with a peculiar organ resembling a fancy lantern called the lantern of Aristotle. It feeds upon vegetables, such as dia- toms and other small algae ; but is also fond of dead fishes, which it devours bones and all. It is found from Vineyard Sound to the West Indies. NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 75 218. THE SAND DOLLAR. (Echinarachnius parmd). Found on sandy bottoms around Long Island. It lived a short time in our tanks. 219. THE GREEN STAR-FISH. (Asterias arenicola). As in most of the other Echinoderms the different parts of its body are repeated five times. It has five arms, and five times four rows of sucking-feet in their inferior furrows. It has five eyes, situated at the tips of the arms. Its nervous system con- sists of five longitudinal strings, connected in a ring round the central mouth, and there are five lines of blood-vessels, and an equal number of intestines and ovaries. , This Star-fish is found in large numbers among the rocks at the bottom of the sea, especially where shell-fish, on which it feeds, are abundant. It is very destructive to oyster-beds, clinging to the oyster with its suckers somewhat after the man- NEW YORK AQUARIUM. ner of the Octopus. Its mode of eating is singular. Covering the soft parts of whatever is selected for its food, it turns the digestive sac inside out, and proceeds at leisure to suck the ani- mal from its shell. The color of this species is dark brownish green, with a small orange disk near the center of the upper side. Its diameter is about five inches. It is found from Mas- sachusetts Bay to Florida. 220. THE GIGANTIC STAR-FISH. {Oreaster gigas). A large and splendid animal. Its orange-colored body is high in the center, and its surface is covered with prominent warts. Further, there are numerous small pores, through which short, slender, transparent tubes stick out, acting as respiratory organs. Our specimens came from Florida. ACALEPHJE. 221. THE TUBE-FLOWERS. (Eudendriunt dispar and ramosum). These are colonies of little polyps of a plant-like appearance. The individuals occupy the ends of the branches. When examined closely with a magnifying-glass, they are found to possess two circles of slender, transparent tentacles. By means of poisonous lasso-cells they kill small animals, take them into a cavity below the center of the tentacles, and send the nutritious matter through the whole colony. Sometimes small buds are seen at the base of the exterior tentacles ; these are young ones, who soon detach themselves, swim around a short while, and at last settle on stones to give origin to new colonies. Polyps or Anthozoa. Cylindrical animals with an opening (the mouth) in the center of the tipper end. This mouth is surrounded by six, eight, or many more hol- low tentacles which are used to seize the food. As soon as the food reaches the mouth, it is pressed down into a central, longitudinal bag, or tube (the stomach), where it is retained and digested. This having been completed the nutritious matter passes through the lower, open end of the stomach into the cavity of the body and thence upwards into the space between the walls of the stomach and body. This space is divided by radiating partitions into many longitudinal sections or tubes, which rontinue into the hollow of one or several tentacles. The nutritious NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 77 matter can, as it will easily be understood, reach the summit of every tentacle. The Polyps either live singly or in colonies, in which latter case they form the coral reefs. The former are larger, but both display a won- drous beauty of form and color. 222. THE FRINGED SEA-ANEMONE. (Metridium mar- ginatum). This is the most common among the Polyps of North America. It is easily distinguished by the soft, plumy, tentacu- lar fringes that surround the disk. When contracted, it looks like a mere lump of brownish or whitish jelly, but when expanded and erect it shows such grace and beauty as to attract general attention. " From the extended base," says Prof. Verrill, " the body rises in the form of a tall, smooth column, sometimes cylindrical, sometimes tapering slightly to the middle, and then enlarging to the summit. Toward the top the column is sur- rounded by a circular, thickened fold, above which the charac- ter of the surface suddenly changes, the skin becoming thinner and translucent, so that the internal radiating partitions are visible through it. This part expands upward and outward to the margin, which is folded into numerous deep undulations or frills, and everywhere covered with very numerous, fine, short, crowded tentacles." Its color varies from pure white through yellow, orange, and pink to dark brown. THE FRINGED SEA-ANEMONE. 7S NEW YORK AQUARIUM. When a Sea-anemone slowly glides along the surface of a rock or glass wall, it often leaves small particles of its body be- hind. These generally assume the form of warts, and in about eight days send out very thin and transparent tentacles. Be- sides this manner of reproduction the Sea-anemone propagates by division or through eggs. 223. THE WHITE-ARMED ANEMONE. (Sagartia leucolend). A small species, with a slender, pale flesh-colored, translucent, and usually whitish body, with numerous tentacles. Cape Cod to North Carolina. 224. THE STOUT- ARMED ANIMAL FLOWER. (Tatlia crassicornis). This is the largest and brightest of the North American Polyps. It is found also on the European coasts. Its body and disk (the flat upper end of the animal) is beautifully marked with red or brown stripes, between which the stout tentacles arise. It feeds on muscles and small fishes, and sometimes attacks animals which are too vigorous to remain its victim. If the body suddenly contracts, the water is ejected through small openings at the tip of its tentacles. Sometimes a white, folded skin is seen on top of its disk ; this is the stomach thrown out in order to be emptied and cleaned. 225. THE BERMUDA ANEMONES. There are three species of them in the Aquarium not yet identified. One of NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 79 them is small, and dark purplish red ; the second has a grayish white body covered with red warts, the tentacles being light colored with red tips ; the third is translucent so as to show the internal, radiating partitions very clearly, and has short tenta- cles forming a beautiful fringe around the large disk. 220. THE NEW ENGLAND CORAL. {Astrangia Dance). This in the only true coral yet discovered on the coast of New England. Its colonies, which are found clinging to little frag- ments of rocks in sheltered creeks and inlets, consist of a small number of comparatively large individuals, each about two-thirds of an inch in height. They are whitish and translu- cent ; their tentacles are thickly covered with small warts con- sisting of clusters of lasso-cells. The interior of a lasso-cell consists of a kind of poisonous fluid and a long, coiled-up bristle, which darts out and, with its numerous sharp points and hooks, fastens itself to such small worms or crustaceans as are within reach. The lime secreted by them is only found at the base of the animal, and consists of a disk, with interior, radiating, low walls, the production of the fleshy base and par- titions. Sponges. 227. THE RED SPONGE. {Microciona proliferd). A beautiful, dark red, or orange red species, which, when young, incrusts the surface of stones and shells, but at a later period rises to irregular lobes with many repeatedly divided, slender branches. It consists of stout horny fibres radiating from the center to the periphery, and terminating in irregular papillae, which are the bearers of spiculae. Cape Cod to South Carolina. USEFUL PRESENTS. Dinner Sets, 100 Pieces, $14.00. Beautiful Gold Band Tea Sets, 44 Pieces, $8.00, Elegant Gold and Color Bands, 44 Pieces 10.00, Splendid Silver Tea& Coffee Sets, best Triple Plate $19. Hundreds of Articles from $1.00 up, all useful and beautiful. Table-Ware for the Holidays. THE GRANDEST DISPLAY — AND — LARGEST ASSORTMENT IS THE UNITED 8TATES. OP FIRST CLASS China, Glass, Cutlery Hardware, Silver and Woodenware, Fire Sets and Stands, Andirons, Coal Vases, Hearth Brushes, Dinner and Tea Sets, Chamber-ware and Table-ware for the Holidays, Cooking Utensils, Tin, Copper and Iron Wares. The only House making* Specialty of Useful Presents. E.D.BASSFORD Nos. 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 15, 16 & 11 Cooper Institute, New York City. Goods promptly delivered or packed and shipped. Bassford'B 80th Semi-annual, an interesting history of the Ceramic Art, mailed to all applicants. INDEX. NO. Alligator 17 Anemonse 220-223 Angel-fish 53-55 " Long Island 74 Angler 79 Architeuthis 189 Axolotl 23 Balloon-fish 141 Barnacle 180 Bass, Black Fresh-water 41 M Black Sea 34 M Fresh-water 40 " Red 67 " Striped 32 Bellows-fish 79 Bergall 90 Black-fish 89 Blind-fish 115 Blow-fish 139 Blue-fish 76 Boat-shell 199 Botryllus 215 Carp 118 Cat-fishes 102-105 Chubsucker 117 Clam 202, 206, 207 Clidiophora , 204 Clinker 187 Cod-fish. ... 92 Codling 96, 97 Conger-eel 83 Coral 224 Corbula 203 Coui 8 Cow-fish 137 Cow-pilot 87 Crabs 159-167 Cramp-fish 150 Craw-fish 169, 170 Cuahog, Irish 208 Cuckold 138 Cunner 90 Dace 11 2-1 14 Devil-fish 188,189 Doctor-fish 84 Dog-fish, Fresh-water 142 " picked 149 " smooth 147 Dollar-fish 71 Dolphin. . Drum-fish Eel. Eel-pout Euchore Eupleura. ... File-Fish. . . Fishing-frog Flasher Flounder Flying Robin Four-eyed fish Frog, horned Gar-pike Ghost-fish Glass-snake Gold-fish Goose Barnacle Goose-fish Gourami Grouper. Grunt. . . Gurnard. Haddock Hamlet Harvest-fish Hellbender Hermit-crab Hind Hippopotamus Hog-fish Horse-crevalle* Horse-fish Horse-shoe Crab I dote a. Jingle-shell Killi-fish King-crab King-fish Kingiyo . Lafayette-fish Lamper-eel Lamprey Lepidonotis 82 INDEX. NO. Lemeolema 179 Livoneca . . 178 Lobster 168 11 flat 172 41 spiny 171 Locust-crab 176 Maray 130, 131 Margate-fish 46 Modiola 210, 211 Modiolaria 212 Molgr.la 214 Monkey-fish 75 Monk-fish 79 Montagua 201 Moon-fish 56 Mossbonker 127 Mud Puppy 26 Mullet 86 Muscle 209 Muskallunge 110 Navel-shell 197 Nereis 184 Octopus 188 Oyster-drill 194 Perch 31 Pickerel 111 Pike 1 09-1 12 " Wall-eyed 33 Pill-bug shell 200 Pilot-fish. . . 69 Pipe-fish 132 Pollock 95 Porcupine-fish 140 Porgee 50, 51 Potamilla. 185 Prawn 175 Proteus 25, 26 Puffer 139 Purple 196 Ray 150-156 Razor-fish 205 Remora 70 River-horse 1 Roach 123 Rock-fish 37 Rudder-fish 77 Rusty Dab 100 Salamander 20-22 Salmon. 108 Sand-dollar ... 218 Sargo 50 Scheltopusik 19 Scollop 213 NO. Sculpin. 57-59 Sea-devil 79 Sea-horse 133 Sea-raven 57 Sea-robin 61 Sea-urchin 216-218 Sea-wolf. 8x Seal 2, 3 Sergeant-major 87 Serpula 187 Shad 128 Shark 146--149 Sheepshead 49 Sheepshead Lebias 113 Shiner X2 6 Shrimp 173-175 Silver-bream 48 Skate.. 150-156 Slippery Dick gi Snapper 39 Sole 101 Sponge 225 Squeteague 68 Squirrel 30 Star-fish 219,220 Stickleback 27-29 Stink-pot 18 Strongylocentrus 216 Stumpfoot 19 Sturgeon 144, 145 Sucker 116 Sucker-fish 70 Sun-fish 42 Tautog. 89 Telescopic-fish 121 Tench 125 Terrapin 11 Thread-fish 74 Toad-fish 78 Tom-cod 93 Tortoise 7-14 Triangular Fish 138 Triple-tail 47 Trout 106,107 Turbot, Bermuda 134 " spotted 98 Tube-flower . . 219 Turtle 12-16 Walking-fjsh 80 Weak-fish 68 Whelk. 190, 193 White Whale 6 Winkle 191, 192 Wry-mouth 82 Yellow Mackerel 73 Yellow-tail 38 PUBLISHERS DEPARTMENT. THE AQUARIUM GUIDE. It is with great pleasure that the REMINGTON So CO. To shoot or not to shoot 1' -If that Publishers present to the public the i s the question, and the thing to be second edition of The Aquarium 'shot (or shot at) is fair game, stand Guide. It has proven itself as conn- not upon the order of deciding, but dently expected, a valuable aid to the| g0 at once to Remington's for your «niovment of visitors to the popular shootine- irnn enjoyment of visitors to the popul New York Aquarium ;an excellent man- ual of Piscatology; a means of assis- tance to students in Natural History, and a valuable medium for the use of business men desiring to reach a select class of buyers in almost all depart- ments of business. In again calling attention to the ad- vertising department of the Guide, the Publishers would reitirate their purpose to admit only approved ad- vertisements from the best houses, in the hope thus to make this depart ment of real service to the thousands of readers whom they are privileged to address. ATTENTION Is asked to the following notices of houses, whose extended announcement will be found in other places. ANDERSON, MERCHANT & CO. We have never seen, except in Eng- land, a display of Art Tiles for house- hold decoration, to be compared with that exhibited by Anderson, Merchant & Co, Every one interested in chaste art designs for house ornamentation will enjoy a treat "without money and without price," by visiting this superb collection which embraces the widest range, from Tiles which cost a trifle, to the most elaborate and ex- pensive in workmanship and design. TIFFANY So CO. A house which has carried off the palm for artistic excellence and ele- gance in their special department of manufacture, in competition with the Whole world, needs no other enconium It is enough to call attention to the inducements offered to buyers. shooting iron. ABM. BOGARDUS. 44 Like dew of dawn, or early hopes Do well loved faces fade and fail Away and leave but memries faint behind." A fact so sadly true that it is not strange that Art is called upon to fix and hold the semblance of those we love. In the useful art of helping love to preserve its treasures, there is no more perfect adept than the man whose name has been a household word for a quarter of a century. S. J. PARDESSUS So CO. House Gardening, and window gar- dening are only begining to attract merited attention as a mean of mak- ing home delightful in winter time. Pardessus & Co., have brought to perfection the art of arranging •• [em- eries" in connection with their scien- tific appliances. Their ventilating glass domes for houses, are also worthy of general adoption. HOLLERBACH So DIEFFENBACH. Artistic excellence, and moderate cost, are the two things chiefly to be desired in the matter of picture fram- ing, cornices, &c, &c, H. & D., one of the oldest, largest and best establish- ments in the city, have the reputation of great success in these two respects. COWPERTHWAIT So CO. Who has not heard of this old and reliable establishment? We need only remind our readers that when they are in need of anything that C. & Co., have to offer, they will do well to in- spect their vast stock before buying. HARPER BROTHERS & CO. In the whole history of periodical literature, there is no instance of such long continued and increasing success as has been achieved by the popular publications of Harper Brothers & Co. This success can be accounted for only on the ground of superior excel- lence, which is the certain means in the long run of winning public favor. The promise of their periodi- cals for 1879, is fully up to the average of the past, which is all that need be said in the way of commendation. WILLIAM H. MILLER. A prominent Art Connoisseur is our authority for saying that fine Crayons are dividing favor with oil paintings among those seeking portraits of themselves, or their friends. After an examination of the very excellent work of Mr. Miller, we are not sur- prised that this is the case. Certainly no one can desire more artistic or pleasing likenesses, and the cost is largely in favor of the Crayons. G. GUNTHER. The fine, assortment of bird cages exhibited at Gunther's old headquar- ters , is worthy of inspection, Noth- ing is wanting in " architecture " or materials, and prices are reasonable. CHAS. SCRIBNER k CO. "We ask special attention to the pros- pectus of Scribner's Monthly and St. Nicholas. Those proposing to make a gift to a friend, old or young, can not make a mistake if their choice falls upon either of the above named magazines. Scribner's Monthly is al- ways full to overflowing with the very best of good things, and our boys and girls never tire of perusing the pages of that best of Journals, St. Nicholas HIRSHKIND PARSER & CO. This house has a reputation for sell- ing a class of made up goods equal in all respect to custom made work. Their stock of clothing comprises everything that can be desired. MURRAY FERRIS? & CO. All those who do not buy; Browns Weather Strips (as well as those who do) will be anxious to learn of the very best way of getting to the warm cli- mate of the Bahamas, or Florida. Murray Ferris & Co can give them all desired information. SIDELL Sc BRUNS. Do p not pretend to be Philanthro- pists they are merchants by profession but if Philanthrophy consists in pro- tecting the '-human form divine from the blighting touch of the "Kerosene Fiend" then Sidell & Bruns, alias Diamond Light Oil, are doing a Phil- anthropoic thing. J. W. FISEE. The warerooms of some New York .Merchants, are worth visiting simply \s exhibitions. Among such is the im- mense establishment of J. W. Fiske He offers for inspection the choicest assortment of ornamental iron ware goods, Bronze Statuary, House, Sta- ble, and Aquaria furnishings &c that can be found in the city. xVES PATENT LAMP CO. The writer of these notes (who is not a solictor of advertisements') can speak of the character of the goods off- ered by the Ives Co. from personal in- spection, and he can assure those in need of kerosene burning lamps of whatever kind that they can find no better stock to select from. Their ** Argand Stove " is the best thing yet BASSFORD & CO. As long as the big tea pot on the corner of 8th Street and Fourth Ave- nue lifts itself proudly to public view it is safe to conclude that Bassf ord "holds the fort," and we verily believe he does, a fort whose inside walls are piled high with all that can tempt money from a housekeepers pocket — things useful, ornamental, and cheap. W. H. BROWNING. Is highly commended by those for j whom he has executed contracts fa {ornamental and plain cement work. BROWNS METALLIC WEATHER STRIPS Those swaggering blustering fellows February and March, with their in- quisitive ways and unwelcome visits, will soon pay us their respects Instead of running away to Florida barricade with Browns defensive strips and snap your fingers at them. EUGENE BLACKFORD. Connoisseurs (who ought to know) assure us that The Fish Man of New York, is Blackford this also was the verdict at the Centennial Exihibition. E. WALKER & SONS. Every educated person should be & subscriber to one or both of the Mag- azines advertised in this edition of the Aquarium Guide and every subscriber will want his or her Magazines bound at the years end. For this and all other binding go to Walker & Sons. REICHE & BROS. Next in interest to the display at the* Aquarium, to those who are fond of studying the natural history of an- imals, is the display exhibited gratis in the large establishment advertised on the back of the Aquarium Guide. The Atheneum Publishing* House. Publishers of Books, Pamphlets, Exhibition Guides, Illustrated Publics tions, Musical works, Trade Catalogues &c. Contracts made with Authors for Printing their works on most Liberal Terms, Work done in every branch of Printing, Engraving, and Lithographing, in the best manner and at low prices. We offer some choice and cheap Gift books at Very Low Prices. Bend or call for a list of our Publications. 252 Broadway N. Y, ROGER'S STATUARY. $10 and upwards. "THE Photograph" Price, $15 for the Pair. Illustrated Catalogues may be had on applica- tion, or will be mailed by enclosing 10 ets. to JOHHST EOGER8, 1155 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, Corner 27th Street Messrs. Tiffany & Co. UNION SQUARE, Invite an inspection of the most extensive and varied col- lection of artistic and useful goods they have ever shown, including many articles of their manufacture similar to those displayed at Paris, which have attracted admiring attention throughout Europe, and won the supreme awards of the Grand Prize and the Cross of the Legion of Honor at the EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE. TIFFANY 6l CO'S "Blue Book" fop 1878-79, containing lists of articles fop presents, with prices, is sent to any address on request. TIFFANY & CO., UNION SQUARE, NEW YORK. 1879. HARPER'S PERIODICALS Harper's Magazine, I year, $4 The 3 Publications, I year, $10 Harper's Weekly, " 4 Any 2, I year, - - 7 Harpers's Bazar, • " 4|6 Subscriptions, f yr. - 20 The Monthly Is the American Magazine alike in literature and in art. Harper's Weekly, the Eclipse of the course, being incomparably ahead of all similar publications, and leaving competition out of sight. The Bazar is the organ of the world of fashion, and of society generally.— Boston Traveller. Remittances should be made by Post-Office Money order or Draft, to avoid chance of toss. Address: HAEPER & BEOTHEES, franklin Square, New York. PORTRAITS OF /RUSTIC EXCELLENCE AT VERY MODERATE PRICES. — «HK» ^V. II. MILLEK, ARTIST* 242 LOEIMER ST. near Grand, Brooklyn, E. D. Portraits enlarged from Photo-Cards, Tin- Tps, Daguerreotypes, &c, ENTIRE SATISFACTION WARRANTED. A critical comparison is desired between the Crayon portraits by Mr. Miller, and others of the greatest preten- sion, and most extravagant cost. When desired, the artist will call at the residence of parties to receive their orders. A postal card appointing day and hour, directed as above will receive prompt atten- tion. Specimen of Crayons may be seen at Hatch's Druo Store, corner of 4th Avenue and 20th Street, and at the following Picture Frame stores where orders may be left. John Hewlett, 5146th Avenue, near 31st St. Mulcahy & Hughes, 649 6th Avenue. Mackenzie, cor. of Grand and Pitt Sts. Chas. Rode, Grand, near 5th St., Brooklyn, E.D. A Liberal Deduction in favor of Clubs and Families, when application is made in the Summer Season. 3 1807. score & 10 1878. YEARS EXPERIENCE, ENABLE B. I. COIPERTMIT & CO. 153, 155 & 157 Chatham St, To sell below all others, and yet allow all buyers to pay in convenient installments, FURNITURE, CARPETS, BEDDING, STOVES, &°* 14 LARGE WAREROOMS. Largest Assortment in the City. COWPERTHWAIT, ESTABLISHED 1807. Manufacturer of Patented BRASS. SHLVEB-FLATIB & SMPMXMWXM Established 1848. 1876. Medal and Diploma Awarded to G. GUHTHER, For Good Workmanship, Variety of Patterns., and fitness for purpose intended. (Signed by the Jurors and Centennial Commission.) i©3 * las WILLMHt ST., it f. NICHO. SCRIBNER'S ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE FOR GIRLS & BOYS; An Ideal Children's Magazine. The London Literary World says : " There is no magazine for the young that can be said to equal this choice production of Scribner's p;ess." ST. NICHOLAS STANDS ALONE IN THE WORLD OF BOOKS. The beautiful number for the CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS contains the following contributors > JOHN GRE^NLEAF WHITTIER. FRANCES HODGSON BURN E IT. SUSAN COOLIDGK. OLIVE THORN K. CHGRLES DUDLEY WARNER. JULIAN HAWTHORNE. CELIA THAXTKR. M\RY MAPES DODGK. The best Holiday Present is a subscription to St. Nicholas ; it is a monthly reminder of he giver. Price $3.00 a year, 25 cents a Number. Buy the Christmas number ; if you like it try the magazine for a year. Beady Dec. 14th. SCRIBNER & CO., 743 Broadway, N. Y. SCRIBNER'S MONTHLY. THE SCRIBNER EXPEDITION TO BRAZIL, A most important series to appear in 1879. By Mrs. Fkances Hodgson Burnett, profusely illustrated, will run through 1879. See January number for articles on " THe Tile Cl-ub at Work," By W. M. Laffan, a description of the origin and life of one of the New York outgrowths of decorative art. The design, by Abbey, the tile in relief by o'Donovan, the sculptor, and tiles or sketches by Hopkinson 9mixh, Winslow Homer, Chase. Waltkb Paius, Wbir, Kei\habt, Wimbhidge, Quartley and tiie author, will be found unique and charming. February number will contain " Tile Club " article, showing the club r on the tramp." " ILaonarcLa da. Vinci," By Clarence Cook, with copies of Leonardo's masterpieces, "The Last Supper," " Mona Lisa,'* etc., engraved by Marsh and Cole. $4 a year, 35 cts. a No January No. ready Dec. 14th. SCRIBNER A C O., NEW YOR K. 1829. S. A. BROOKS & CO. 1879 LATE LORIN BROOKS & SON, 438 BROADWAY,. BET. GRAND AND HOWARD. Half a century of great success in the manu- facture and sale of g Perfect Fitting Boots and Shoes. THE BEST GOODS AND LOWEST PRICES IN THE CITY. Homes on the Sound, Within easy reach of New York. Advantages of two Riilroaii and Rapid Tmisit. Advantages of CITY LIFE combined with pleasures of LIFE IN THE COUNTRY. VILLA and DFCinrMfrC FOR ALL COTTAGE nil 31 UJU 11 Ltd CLASSES. For sale or rent, on moderate terms, in the BEAUTIFUL SUBURB of. PELHAM MANOR. For information enquire of STEPHENS BROTHERS, 187 Broadwajr, N. Y. HOLLERBACH & DIEFFENBAGH, 4I&43 Beekman St, and 166 William St., New York. MANUFACTURERS OF MOULDINGS, Of all Kinds for Frames and Decorations. Looking Glasses and Picture Frames OF ALL SIZES AND STYLES. WINDOW CORNICES Of various Patterns, &c. W. H. BROWNING, Makes a Specialty in Ornamental and Plain Cement Work. DOES ALSO, ALL KINDS OF MASON WORK In the most substantial manner, giving a guarantee of perfect satisfaction in every case. THE SPLENDID Tanks of the New York Aquarium Were built under his personal superintendence and he refers to the Architect of the Aquarium. A. B. OGDEN, Esq., and to Messrs. W. C. COUP and CHAS. REICHE & Eld. as to his ability and upright- ness as a practical Builder aud Contractor. Office 443 East 77th St. FOR ELEGANT ACCURATE PHOTOGRAPHS CO TO ABRAHAM BOGARDUS' Reliable Establishment 872 Broadway, corner 18tli Street. NO BRAN3HE3 UP TJWN OR DOWN TOWN. PRICES REDUCED TO SUIT THE TIMES. REMINGTON & SONS. Mfmrc, PRICES GREATLY REDUCED. MILITARY, SPORTING, HUNTING AND TARGET RIFLES. 24-in. Sporting and Hunting. No. 1 Model, No. 2 " $20 Targe' Mid-ran go. — 26 in. 21 30 35 28 -in. 32-in. $20 $27 22 _ n 32 30 37 M-in $.8 33 38 &■ up. Longe Range. 34 inches, $50, $70, $100, ;md upward. Double-Barreled Guns Si", $;}."), S75, and upward. " heavy, $05, SO, and upward. Se»d ttree cent stamp for Illustrated Catalogue and Price List for March 187« also " Trca tise on Bine Shooting," "Kecord of the International Rifle Matjh." " Hints and He' ns in the Choice of a Rifle," etc. Address, ARMORY, Ilion, N. V. * * ■* K^'-.v, N. V. THE Aquarium is Lighted by THE Municipal Gas Light Co. OFFICE, 358 & 360 FOURTH A V., Near 23d Street. EUGEKE B. BLACKFORD, Salmon Factor, |oi§lrr ? |wn|itrJlf, |oit|riii|||crri(|iiii| 72, 73, 74, 75. 76, 78 80, 82 84 & 86 Fulton Market, STOREHOUSES, 134 BEEKMAN & 223 FRONT STREET, NEW YORK. SPECIALTIES. .Bia.mcncL 33a.c3s Terrapin, Green Tu.r*ble, IRe.3-bigoi3.crie Salmon, IBrools Tron-b, Ldi^re Sels, And all kinds of rare fish constantly on hand at all seasons. WARD1AN OR FERN CASES OLD METHOD FOI\ GROWING FERNS ONLY. NEW METHOD OR VENTILATING GLASS SHADES, Patented Oct. 16. 187S. The air enters at the base, circulates throughout the interior, ascends, and goes out at the Ventilator orening in the crown which is regulated to suit the requirements. By keeping the Ventilator closed. Ferns hke plants only are grown. With ver liitle care in regulating the ventilator. Flowers come lo perfection free from disease . Full direction given to buyers. PARDESSUS' FIRE-PROOF IMPERVIOUS Ventilating Glass Dome and Metal Sky-Lights. Health promoting, econom'cal ; adm'tting by their convexity the greatest quantity of light for the space occupied as well as strengtii aud durability. Graceful in appearance on the roof of a building, (with base round or square,: and an elcgaut. finish from within. Any form of ventilator in use can be operated there n. In addition to the Dome principle for strength, the glat»s is thick and carefully tempered — no condensation or leakage possible. Managed within by a shut-off, to regulate the air current, so simply contrived as to be con- trolled, if requiied,.by a child. Cheaper in firtt cos:, and in the maintenance than any other Sky-Light ye' introduced, for com- bined purpcaes of vkntilation, light, a d dkcoratio*. ; also, with weather-cocks, io show the direction of he win \from within as from without. Samples of various patterns, in working order, on exhibition. S. J. PARDESSUS A CO , P. O. BOX 557. 9 and 11 Pavh l'lace, K. T Great Winter Excursion and only Direct Route TO | P., BJIHAMJI The Great Sanitarium and most ^ POPULAR WINTER RESORT, I^Sost conveniently reached From New York or Florida, as follows : MAIL STEASMHffPS especially arranged for the accommodation of Invalid and Tourist Travel, leave \KW YORfi. Pier 18, East River, on -Sat- urday, November l'ith, and monthly thereafter, fnv $as*;na Direct, pro- ceeding thence to Santiago and Cienfuegos, the two principal ports and most pi turesque towns on the south coast of Cuba ; from Cienfuegos the steamers round Cuba on the north-west, returning to Nassau, theme direct to New York. This line is operated during the entire year. During the Winter Season, December to April, A MAIL STEAMSHIP, having Superior Passenger Accommodations, will make THHES TRIPS UZOUTZZUY, Jacksonville, Florida, to Nassau, N. P., Bahama, EXTENDING ONE TRIP EACH MONTH TO HAVANA, CUBA, Thus enabling Tourists to come from Nassau to Havana, traversing the Island of Cuba by rail to Cienfuegos. returning thence to Nassau. THIS LINE OFFERS UNRIVALED ADVANTAGES TO TOURISTS /- AND INVALIDS. By it Nassau can be reached from Florida in 36 hours. Touvis fc and Excursion Tickets to Nassau and Havana are on sale at Principal Ticket Offices in all import- ant cities. For particulars and Illustrated Nassau Guides, apply to A. L, HUNGEBFORD, Pass'r Agent, GUST AVE LEVE Gen 1 Pass rAgt. MlHT8][j F6ITiS 4 COa* AgtSi 271 Rroadivay, X. Y.. & Savannah, €La. Q2 SOUTH STREE f . 3- | AV?f*v] I classics I All Bookbinding sent to our Establishment, will be well done at Lowest Figures. CMS. REICHE & BRO.. 55 CHATHAM STREET, N. Y And Alfeld, Hanover, Germany. babe nmm aub awimms Ringing j3iRDS, and ^IRDS OF ^EAUTIFUL j D LUMAGE FOREIGN ANIMALS OF EVERY KIND FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD. Orders received to procure any kind of living bird or animal GOODS SHIPPED TO ALL PARTS.