

GOLD-FISH. * 517 



SECTION X. 



Gold-Fish *. 



Cyprinns auratug. Linn. 



This in the artificial system of the Swedish naturalist, is a spe- 

 cies, as its generic name imports, of the same kind as the pre- 

 ceding. 



It is a small fish domesticated by the Chinese, and generally kept 

 for ornament by great people in their courts and gardens. They 

 breed them in small ponds made for the purpose, in basons, and 

 even in porcelain vessels. This fish is no larger than our pilchard. 

 The male is of a bright red colour, from the top of the head to the 

 middle of the body : the rest is of gold colour; but it is so bright 

 and splendid, that the finest gilding, according to F. le Comte, 

 cannot approach it. The female is white, but its tail and half of 

 its body resemble the lustre of silver. F. du Halde, however, ob. 

 serves, that a red and a white colour are not always the distin- 

 guishing marks of the male and female ; but that the females are 

 known by several white spots, which are seen round the orifice, 

 that serves them as organs of hearing ; and the males, by having 

 these spots much brighter. Gold-fish are light and lively ; they 

 love to sport on the surface of the water, soon become familiarized, 

 and may even be accustomed to come and receive their food on 

 sounding a small rattle. Great care is necessary to preserve 

 them ; for they are extremely delicate, and sensible of the least 

 injuries of the air ; a loud noise, such as that of thunder or can. 

 non ; a strong smell, a violent shaking of the vessel or a single 

 touch, will often destroy them. These fish live with little nou- 

 rishment ; those small worms which are engendered in the water, 

 or the earthy particles that are mixed with it, are sufficient for 

 their food. The Chinese, however, take care from time to time, to 

 throw into the basons and reservoirs where they are kept, small 

 balls of paste, which they are very fond of when dissolved ; they 

 give them also lean pork, dried in the sun, and reduced to a fine 



The silver fish doe9 not belong to this genus : it, 19 an atherine (atherina 

 4hridi*), a Dative of the fresh waters of Carolina. Editor, 



2l3 



