File:Aquatic life (1916-1917) (19751708791).jpg

Title: Aquatic life
Identifier: aquaticlife219161917baus (find matches)
Year: 1916-1917 (1910s)
Authors: Bausman, Joseph E
Subjects: Aquariums; Fish culture
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. E. Bausman
Contributing Library: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
JOHMKfT DARTER HELEN A. LOOMI5 --a
Text Appearing After Image:
Johnnp Darter Boleosoma nigrum The admirers of Johnny Darter do not present him as a rival of small trop- ical aristocrats, but just a fascinating lit- tle plebian migrating from the mountain streams. He has neither remarkable beauty of form nor color, but he cer- tainly has "pep." In fact, he is a splen- did illustration of the keenness and adaptability with which Nature equips the winners in her own aquaria, where mouths are many and meat is scarce. Seining along the shallows of our colder lakes or better still, swift brooks and creeks, will procure a quantity of small fishes, consisting of various min- nows; babies of our larger food fish, such as perch, bass, suckers, etc.; and almost without fail some of the darters. The latter may be distinguished from their small associates by placing the catch in a shallow pan of water, with a sand layer and observing their activities. They will immediately sink to the bot- tom and, if disturbed, instead of swim- ming suspended in the water, will dash across the sand running on the elongate pectoral fins—hence the name darter. Johnny may now be personally identi- fied as follows: Length, two and one- half inches; color, pale straw, with a tinge of olive; markings, the back spot- ted with dark to resemble the sand, and very distinct M, N or W marks along the side over the lateral line; the two dorsals and caudal fin spotted with brown, forming transverse bands; the eye very large and prominent, with a golden iris. At home in an aquarium, provided with a plentiful scattering of large peb- bles, as well as the sand, he will enter- tain the observer with some of the fol- lowing capers. He may go for a ride, suspended on the under side of a float- ing board if provided, or again he will rest with his body supported by the stones and his head turned at an angle, as if posing. This feat and the ability

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