OF SELBORNE. 103 



water with its belly uppermost. The rea^ 

 son why fishes, when dead, swim in that 

 manner is very obvious ; because, when the 

 body is no longer balanced by the fins of 

 the belly, the broad muscular back prepon- 

 derates by its own gravity, and turns the 

 belly uppermost, as lighter from its being 

 a cavity, and because it contains the swim- 

 ming-bladders, which contribute to render 

 it buoyant. Some that delight in gold and 

 silver jfishes have adopted a notion that they 

 need no aliment. True it is that they will 

 subsist for a long time without any appa- 

 rent food but what they can collect from 

 pure water frequently changed ; yet they 

 must draw some support from animalcula, 

 and other nourishment supplied by the 

 water ; because, though they seem to eat 

 nothing, yet the consequences of eating 

 .often drop from them. That they are best 

 pleased with such jejune diet may easily be 

 confuted, since if you toss them crumbs 

 they will seize them with great readiness, 

 not to say greediness : however, bread 

 should be given sparingly, lest, turning 



