Stránka:roll 1911.djvu/129

IO8 Boy Scouts shyness, and by the necessity of approach/ng closely in order to obtain any accurate view. The spawning, feeding, swimming and other habits of very few of our fishes are so well known that further information thereon is not needed; and the boy scout's patience, skill, and powers of observation will be reflected in the records that may be and should be kept about the different fishes met with. Fishes may be studied from a bank, wharf, orboat, or by wading; and the view Of the bottom and the fishes on or Fundulus diapl?nu,? adjacent thereto may ?]]i?ash: top mlnnow be greatly improved by the use of a "water bucket" -- an ordinary wooden pail whose bottom is replaced by a piece of window glass. A more elaborate arrangement for observation is to provide at the bow of a row-boat a glass bottom box over which may be thrown a hood so that the stu- dent is invisible to the fishes. Identification of Specimens While many of the fishes in a given section are easily rec- ognizable, there are in every water fishes which, on account of their stoa/1 size, rarity, retiring habits, or dose similarity to other fiShes, are ,nlraown to the average boy. These latter fishes often afford the most interesting subjects for study; and in all Parts of the country it is possible for energetic observers and collectors to add to the list of fishes al- ready recorded from particular districts. When fishes cannot be identified in the field, the larger ones may be sketched and notes taken on their color, while the snmller Catostonms c?r?nnwsonli Common sucker: wMte sucker ones may be preserved with salt, formalin, or any kind of spirits. Spedmens and drawings may be forwarded for identification to the zo61ogical department of the local state university, to the state fish commission, to the Bureau of Fish- eries, Washington, D.C., or to the U?,?b??tional Museum in the same city,