Show MARY M G rah cobi cob i THE PARADISE FISH were very popular in the aquarium said mr paradise fish to mrs paradise fish yes tes they seem to like us said mrs ra paradise radise fish 11 and they say nice thins things about us ug too said mr paradise fish it Is not kind to keep pleasant thoughts to ones self now of 0 course ns as a fish I 1 cannot go about explaining everything I 1 think and feel but I 1 show what I 1 enjoy the best way I 1 can 1 I show that I 1 enjoy my food I 1 show that I 1 am a bright fish oli oh yes I 1 show what I 1 can so as to lot id others know when I 1 am enjoy log myself for example they nil all know that I 1 will cat anything a gold fish will eat cat and that my desires it hi the way of 0 food are not hard to follow to be sure I 1 do not take little bites of food but then why speak of my table manners 1 I never sit fit at a table and so I 1 am not suppo supposed ced to have table manners and anyway I 1 may take big bites biles but I 1 have pretty nice manners yes my aquarium manners are very good 1 I can change my color from being a brown fish with handsome stripes I 1 can change into lovely shades of red and blue and green good food or different kinds of food happiness excitement pleasure will nill make me turn a pretty shade that Is why I 1 am called a paradise fish I 1 suppose because of my lovely coloring and beauty 1 I can breathe the air too though I 1 do not climb up out of the water as the climbing perch does when he Is about to take some air mr climbing percas fins are such that he can climb upon the land mine are not uke that my family live in asia and africa and they cat flies and insects while the they T alvein uve in swampy places now just because I 1 am beautiful ls Is no reason why I 1 should not be healthy and I 1 am a healthy fish too 1 I dont see why I 1 should make everyone fuss over me just because I 1 am beautiful im not delicate and I 1 am not going to pretend to be delicate all ah yes I 1 think ive told pretty nearly learly all about myself as ive been asked to do and I 1 must tell about the little ones too of course you must said mrs paradise fish and all that you have said about yourself Is true but you told about the nest building that Is most interesting to those who do not know our ways ive heard many a person speak of our youre a nice fish nests and of the way we build them as being most interesting the aquarium people love the way we do this oh yes said mr paradise fish 1 I will explain well first of all I 1 blow a bubble nest at the top of the water and attach it to floating plant then you come dundei the nest and you put the eggs down and they rise right into the and amil you wear such a pretty white costume you are looking after them I 1 guard the eggs carefully too and I 1 keep the nest in perfect condition but when the little ones are old enough to swin swim you have to take them away from me tor for I 1 may eat them theat up ln in my luy hunger yes ls said mrs paradise fish it I 1 Is s so strange that after you have done everything to protect and care tor for the little eggs and have gone without food 60 as to be on constant watch that you will then turn tum around and eat cat the ones you have sacrificed so much for yes it Is curloss cur lons fous but then of course we are not perfect sometimes paradise fishes may be cross with mith one another and greedy about their food even shoving their neighbor aviah still on the whole we do pretty well now mow there Is mr air fish lie he will kill his mate in his excitement oyer over guarding the e eggs gs oil oh ive no complaint to make said mrs Pura paradise illse fish to me youre a nice mh yes a vary very nice fish indeed |