The Fourth Day 133 



being brought out of a foreign country into this 

 nation is the more probable. 



Carps and Loaches are observed to breed several 

 months in one year, which Pikes and most other fish 

 do not ; and this is partly proved by tame and wild 

 rabbits ; as also by some ducks, which will lay eggs 

 nine of the twelve months ; and yet there be other 

 ducks that lay not longer than about one month. 

 And it is the rather to be believed, because you 

 shall scarce or never take a male Carp without a 

 melt, or a female without a roe or spawn, and for 

 the most part very much, and especially all the 

 summer season ; and it is observed, that they breed 

 more naturally in ponds than in running waters, if 

 they breed there at all ; and that those that live in 

 rivers are taken by men of the best palates to be 

 much the better meat. 



And it is observed that in some ponds Carps will 

 not breed, especially in cold ponds ; but where they 

 will breed, they breed innumerably: Aristotle and 

 Pliny say, six times in a year, if there be no Pikes 

 nor Perch to devour their spawn, when it is cast 

 upon grass or flags, or weeds, where it lies ten or 

 twelve days before it be enlivened. 



The Carp, if he have water-room and good feed, 

 will grow to a very great bigness and length ; I 

 have heard, to be much above a yard long. It is 

 said by Jovius, who hath writ of fishes, that in the 

 lake Lurian in Italy, Carps have thriven to be more 

 than fifty pounds weight : which is the more probable, 

 for as the bear is conceived and born suddenly, and 

 being born is but short lived ; so, on the contrary, 

 the elephant is said to be two years in his dam's 

 belly, some think he is ten years in it, and being 

 born, grows in bigness twenty years ; and it is 

 observed too, that he lives to the age of a hundred 

 years. And 'tis also observed, that the crocodile is 



