GEN. CYPRINUS. THE COMMON CARP. 49 



they eat little or nothing, and are supposed to lie 

 in great numbers, side by side, buried in the mud. 

 In keeping with these habits, Mr. White of Selbome 

 states, that in the gardens of the Black Bear Inn, 

 in the town of Reading, there is a stream or canal, 

 running under the stables, and out into the fields on 

 the other side of the road : in this water are many 

 Carps, which lie rolling about in sight, being fed by 

 travellers, who amuse themselves by tossing them 

 bread. But as soon as the weather grows at all 

 severe, these fishes are no longer seen, because they 

 retire under the stable, where they remain till the 

 return of spring. The Carps are very tenacious of 

 life, and may be preserved out of the water for a 

 considerable time, especially when covered with some 

 moist substance, and in coldish weather, and thus 

 they can be transported to a distance. In Holland 

 they are sometimes suspended in nets full of moss, 

 in a damp cellar, which being moistened with water, 

 and sometimes with milk, they not only live, but 

 actually improve under the process. 



Mr. Boccius' little treatise upon the management 

 of fresh- water fish, has a special reference to this 

 fish ; and useful details on the construction of ponds, 

 their stocking, fishing, &c. will be found in its pages. 

 His object is to make these preserves an object of 

 profit to landed proprietors, as already stated in our 

 former volume (p. 114), and theieby to increase 

 also the amount of nutritious and excellent food. 

 Carp feed well in stews, and Mr. Jesse has remarked 



D 



