The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-09-12
luuarIum Oddities,

An Atlantic City letter describing the
aquarium there contains these para
graphs; The diamond turtle, 80 highly
priced by epicures, is not nearly 80 large
AZ the green turtle, but the flesh is much
more delicate, and the shell resembles u
handsome piece of mosaic, Two of the
most ornamental cases contain hundreds
of what are called the indigo fish. They
are Of small size, but their scales reflect
and display all the colors of the rain
bow, and sparkle in the sunlight like 50
many jewels, In fact, the most bril-,
liant plumage Of the tropical birds find
their counterpart in the prismatic rays
that emanate from the charming little
fish, no larger than the red fins that in
habit brooks and fresh water streams.
There is a general feeling Of disap-
pointment on the part Of those who for
the first time catch n glimpse Of the
sea-horse. Naturally, we would imagine
it TO be Of gigantic proportions, instead
Of which the living specimen IL Of a
slight frame not weighing more than an
ounce; the only part Of which bears a
resemblance to the horse is the perfect
shaped head and handsomely arched
neck and shoulders. Here all traces of
the horse disappear, and the remainder
of the body and tail are decidedly tishy.
The pilot-iish, resembling in size an
ordinary s~unfsh, although unlike it in
color, is remarkable for the swiftness Of
its movements and the extraordinary
CELEBRITY with which it moves its fins and
darts through the water on the approach
of strangers. No less curious are the
antics of the soft and hard.shelIed crabs,
the crooked lobster and the unique king
crab, whose habitatiOn is the identical
shape Of horses hoof and whose shell is
as hard and as durable as il it were
made Of a sheet iron. The crab itself Is
a wonderful piece of mechanism, con
Bisting of Il double set of feeders and
crawlers, and a series of tongues which
overlap each other, like 80 many clans,
and between which it rakes its food and
nourishes its tangled body, while the
s~titi-taiI attached to the circular she'll
is supplied with a side formed like a
saw, and which must make a formable
weapon Tor defense.
The porcupine fish is an ugly customer
light colored, with a smooth flesh
coIored body dotted with dark-colored
spots. Two horns spring from its head,
and ita back il well supplied with quilts.
The anemone is Il wonderful curiosity,
It's transparent fingers and the pulled
hOdy-which changes occasionally to a
bright scarlet hue-and its habit Of con-
tracing and expanding itself never fail
to elicit the admiration Of strangers.
A live oyster reposes quietly and
safely with its shell wide open inhaling
the salt breeze and the constant supply
of water pumped up from the ocean near
by--separated only by a glass partition
from his deadly foe, the oyster f~h,
which lazily watches for an opportunity
to scizehis prey. The oyster fish has a
c%rustaceOus shelled exterior, a broad
head, with wide gaping eyes, an ugly
mouth supplied with sharp teeth which
enable him to crack heshcll and devour
the oyster without the slightest COM
junction.
In the aquarium we were also shown
a fine specimen of coral, the cells of
which were filed with diminutive in
sects or fish, from which the coral itself
derives its color and changes from
its natural white shade to red,
green or brown as the attendant sways
before it a stick and causes the inhabi-
tants of the tiny cells to emerge from or
to hide themselves in the recess of their
homes.
one false step, n wrong habit, one
corrupt companion, one loose principle,
may wreck your prospects and the
hopes of those who love you.