The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-10-12
Fish and Their Odd Little Ways.

Fish ahu Ineir Odd Little ways
Fish have a great many curious hab-
its and are often very knowing fell
lows. They can be illtemperej or
mild and gentle as truly as animals
or boys and girls. A visitor to the
aquarium at Battery Park one day re-
Gently discovered that there are not
only big fish, but tiny little ones whose
ways are we'll worth watching. To
hear OF fishes with eyes nearly on their
tails is surely astonishing. Yet that
is what the little "four-eyed fish" in
the Aquarium seem to have at hrst
sight. But looking more carefully the
tail eyes prove to be merely black
spots inside of white circles. This lit
tie fish is SO short and broad with its
bit of tail, that at a distance 1t Is
hard to tell which end is head and
which tail.
Four-eyed fish have at least three
other names and are known as the
bride, butterfly and peacock fish, the
last name being given because the
"eye" Is like that in a peacock's tail
feather. There are more than twenty
of them in the tank in the Aquarium,
but unhappily some make themselves
disagreeable by nipping and biting the
others. They come from Bermuda,
where they live in the shadows of the
coral, fitting in and out among its
crevices and assures.
Then there are the grunts, from Ber-
muda also. They have not deserved in
the least their ill-natured name, for
they are peaceful fellows.
The blue parrot fish are called by
one of the Aquarium officials merry
go-rounds," because for hours at a
time when their tank is full of water
they amuse themselves by swimming
round and round in narrow circles.
One of the most interesting and in
telligent little things is the sea horse.
Although so tiny, measuring only a
few inches, he has a head and neck
shaped like a miniature horses, grace
full and erect, and the long, tapering
tail makes him look like some of the
strange creatures of the fairy book
pictures. When Mr.. Spencer, one Of
the Aquarium officials, tapped lightly
on the glass, the sea horse came for
ward at once from his dim corner, and
seemed to pay the closest attention to
all that was said to him. Mr.. Spencer
has known them in laboratories to
grow tame enough to come when
one called and cling to ones finger
with their slender tails.
Among the strange and interesting
fishes who have had individuality all
their own is the exquisitely beautiful
angel fish, with gorgeous blue band
about the edge of the body and fins.
His name is as i'll suited to his temper
as the grunt's was found to be. for tae
angel fish cruelty kills his mate.
The green morays. or great cells,
which grow from 10 to Is feet long;
the queen trigger fish, with spine on
it's back which raises or drops like
the trigger of a pistol, and the pretty
moonfish from our own Gravesend
bay, which look like mother of pearl
and fairly cast n slight reflection from
their brilliant bodies. all attract many
visitors, and appear to be conscious
sometimes that they are being shown
off. But the carps at the entrance,
so say the attendants, actually seem to
weary of the crowds Of sightseers, and
when they stand motionless and
open their mouths languidly. it is their
way of yawning and says to curious
visitors: "Oh, dear! Why can't you go
away and leave us alone. New York
Tribune.