Senn High School - Forum Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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Aquarium Eliiaheu Among the pets familiar in our zool- ogy laboratories and homes, not the least attractive is the little gold fish. They require little space and are easily cared for, thriving under a variety of conditions. The glint of gold color among the plants is fascinatingg and their response to attention, although much slower and less intelligent than in many animals, adds much to their at- tractiveness. Among the inexpensive varieties are the pure gold, silver, black and oriole- while to the more ambitious aquarist the very beautiful fan-tails, with great, double, tilmy tail tins, the similar comet fish, the telescope, very short wide lit- tle creatures with protruding eyes, and thelion heads, with large roughened heads and with no dorsal or back lin, are fam- iliar. Few observers know the origin of gold fish. For this we must look to the Orient. Native to the streams of China is the carp, a very hardy fish, black and with large scales. These, although of only fair food value, because of their hardihood, were introduced into the streams of Germany, and later into the United States. Known as German carp, they have been alternately protected as of economic value, and condemned as de- the eggs of more valuable structive to fishes. The young carp show sides bur- nished with gold, and from this charac- patient Chinese and japan- teristic, the ese by selective breeding have produced the gold tish. It is interesting to note that the little fry when first hatched re- vert to the original type, always being black in color. YVith fanciers small tropical fishes are becoming more popular than gold Fish. These vary greatly in form and color, one specimen often combining many bril- liant hues. 4 They lack the hardihood of gold fish, and so require much more care. The aquarium must be stocked with growing water plants to insure a constant supply of oxygen. The temperature of the waa ter must be kept even and very high, and the quality and variety of food must be carefully considered. One group of these fancy fishes is known as labyrinth fishes, so called because of a rosette for- mation arising from the top of the gill arches. This is used as a breathing or- gan, and filled through the mouth at the surface. Thus they are able to travel overland in search of other streams. A second group are distinguished as mouth breeders, because after the eggs are laid, the mother gathers them into her mouth where she keeps them constantly rolling during the ten days of incubation. This necessitates a period of comparitive fast- ing for the mother. Occasionally, how- ever, she blows the eggs from the mouth, seizes something to eat, and then quickly regathers the eggs. Even after hatch- ing, the young when frightened take re- fuge in the mouth of the mother. In still a third species a nest is made of bubbles blown to the surface by the male. After the female has deposited the eggs in this nest the male drives her away, and guards his little family until they are old enough to care for themselves. In many other species the young are born alive, not hatched from eggs. A. E. Maddock. Note: If the weather continues warm enough, I expect to transfer some of these fishes which were given me by the mem- bers of the Chicago Aquarium Society, to gloom 309 where all are welcome to see em. 'Ld B tw

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THE FORUM Eleven right idea, and he uses a dirty trick. He throws dirt on him until the porcu- pine rolls all his quills out, then the hear slips his paw under the body and hurls him again and again against a tree until he is all played out. Unk Wunk seemingly knows so little that it is a question whether or not he was ever taught hy his parents. It is the cause of some debate, whether he rolls up in a ball by instinct or by slow learn- ing. It is also a question whether his stupidity, which brings him out of hun- dreds of difliculties where his wits would fail, is like tl1e possum's idiocy, only a mask for his deep wisdom. A thousand generations of fat porcupines have taught him the folly of rush and worry, and so he lives a peaceful life. If you have one question when you nrst meet him, you will have twenty after a lesson or two. His whole paragraph begins and ends with a question mark, and leaves a dash for what is left unsaid. The porcupine has a great love of fuzi and amusement, however. The same man that I mentioned before saw a very amusing incident that shows this. I will quote his story. He had an idea in hie head this time, and was looking for something. A breeze had come down tree-tops above him. He would look steadily up at the tossing branches, and then hurry on to survey the next little tree he met, with paws raised against the trunk and chill eyes following the mo- tion overhead. At last he iound what he wanted, two small trees growing close together. He climbed one of these clum- sily, higher and higher until the slender top bent under his weight towards the other. Then he reached out to grasp the second tree with his forepaws, hooked his hind feet tirmly around the tirst, and lay there binding the treetops together, while the wind rose and began to rock his strange cradle. l.Yider and wider he swung, stretching out like a rubber band. His only note, meanwhile was an occa- sional squeal ot' satisfaction after a par- ticularly good stretch. XVhere did Unk XX'unk learn all this? Perhaps, since most ot' what animals know, according to my way of thinking, is a matter of learning, not instinct-his mother taught him some things which we have not seen. If so, Unk XVunk has more in his sleepy head than we give him credit for, and there is a very inter- esting lesson awaiting him who tirst linds and enters the Porcupine School. john R. Green, from the mountains and was swaying the Room 260. u , 5 THE ' f - 1 - 5,4 ' 4 - .2 ,f . V . Y,,..,s A, .YY, ,

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Spring Eirh Stung. The study of birds during the spring is best carried on during April since it is during this month that the most of our common spring birds migrate through this region. There are, however, many of us who do not study birds because we do not know how, where, and when the birds may be found. The methods of studying spring birds are not definite and each can follow his own course. Some prefer to walk about and look for the birds while others pre- fer to sit still and observe the birds as they pass by from tree to tree. Both of these methods have their merits espec- ially the latter during the last spring when the birds are as numerous as they are now rapidly becoming. A held book and held glass are valuable aids in iden- tifying the birds, but these are not alto- gether necessary since the birds may be seen with the naked eye, and with the aid of notes taken when in the field, identi- fied by guide books found in our library. In studying birds one has a choice of many excellent places in and about Chi- cago where there may be found many species of birds. These places consist of the woods and parks, the former be- ing found at a walking or short riding distance. A favorite place for observing birds is the Chicago River, west of Crawford Ave. In this region the spring birds are very abundant. Another place located not far west of the city is along the banks of the Des Plaines River. 'lihese two spots, together with several others, are ideal places, but one does not have to go outside of Chicago as there are many parks inside the city that are excellent places for the study of birds. Of these parks, Lincoln Park is within a few minutes ride and is very good when there are iew people. If one rides far- ther, he can go to jackson l'ark which is considered the best place to study birds inside of the city. This is true es- pecially on Xllooded Island, where the April immigrating birds are abundant. XVhen one desires to study birds he must know the approximate date when the birds appear, since all birds migrate at a certain time. The dates of the ar- rival of birds that may be seen at the present time or a little later are given in the following table. This date is the average and it may be possible to see these birds a little earlier or later. Mourning Dove . ............. .. Whip-poor-Will ..,,............ Vester Sparrow ........ . . , Hinslow Sparrow ....... . White-Crowned Sparrow .. April 15 April 20 April 15-20 April 10 'ff April 25 zo Swamp Sparrow , . ...... .,,. A pril Purple Martin .. ........ .... A pril 10 Barn Swnlluw .... . .,..... .... A pril 15 Tree Swallow .. .............. April 20 Black and White Creeper ....... April 20 Yellow -Warbler ....,.......,.. April 25 Myrtle Warbler .... . . ......... April 15 Black-throated Green Warbler .... April 25 Pine Warbler ...............,. April 20 Palm Warbler . .........,..... April 25 Catbird .......... . . April Brown Thrasher . . . . . .. House Wren ............ Blue-grav Gnateatcher . . Wood Thrush ......... Veery .. ...... . ............ Olive-backed Thrush .,...... . . April . . . April . . . .April 25 15 .. April 15 25 25 April 30 '. .April 25 Carl Sandstrom. sexing