GOLD AND SILVER FISH. 



Manner of their moving. 



them crumbs of bread,, they will seize them with 

 great readiness, not to say greediness; however, 

 bread should be given sparingly, lest, turning 

 sour, it corrupt the water. They will also teed on 

 the water plant lemna, (duck's meat) and also on 

 small fry. In summer, their water must be 

 changed twice a week, and oftener when the 

 weather is very hot and close. Whilst this is done 

 it is necessary to remove the fish into another 

 vessel, but they must always be taken out by 

 means of a net, for the least handling would de- 

 stroy them. In winter, it is sufficient to give 

 them fresh water once in a week or fortnight. 

 In ponds whose bottom consists of mud, or clay, 

 they need not be supplied with food ; but if the 

 bottom be sandy, they must be fed with bread 

 made of hempseed flour, dung, or wheat bread. 

 These fish are fond of shady places ; it is there- 

 fore advisable to throw them a branch of some 

 tree as a shelter, observing that it should be of 

 such a kind as not to communicate any bad taste 

 to the water, which would destroy the fish. 



When gold fish want to move a little, they 

 gently protrude themselves with their pectoral 

 fins ; but it is with their strong muscular tails ohly 

 that they and all fish shoot along with such in- 

 conceivable rapidity. In these vessels, the dying 

 of fish may be observed with accuracy ; as soon 

 as the creature sickens, the head sinks lower and 

 lower, and it stands as it were on its head ; till 

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