A GOLDFISH QUERY.
A query as odd as Lewis Carroll's "Do cats eat bats ? " reaches me. It concerns the reaction of goldfish to the presence of tadpoles ! Now goldfish, which we know from the poets are the victims of cats, have many enemies. One large pond—in Essex—was recently completely emptied of its fish by heron ; but lesser and much more unexpected enemies lurk. I once put some goldfish into a little pond that abounded in curious creatures and they all appeared to live together quite happily. The pond was connected with the river by a wide pipe and was soon populous with stickle- backs, freshwater crayfish, frogs, and toads, and their tadpoles, many beetles, and- an immense number of water snails. The goldfish caused the first signs of strife. Theywere perpetually harassed, for what purpose I. cannot conceive, by that huge and savage monster the dyticus beetle and by. Asilius. The dyticus used always to nibble at the tail ; and finally they plagued the goldfish to death. If anyone keeps an aquarium let him take good cares not to associate.. dyticus with any other animal whatever. As for tadpoles, only their excess of
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