GOLD AND SILVER FISHES. 291 



uppermost, as lighter, from its being a cavity, 

 and because it contains the swimming bladders, 

 which contribute to render it buoyant. Some 

 that delight in gold and silver fishes have adopted 

 a notion that they need no aliment. True it is, 

 that they will subsist for a long time without any 

 apparent 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 con- 

 sequence 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 sour, it corrupt the water. 

 They will also feed on the water plant called 

 lemna (duck's meat,) and also on small fry. 



When they want to move a little they gently 

 protrude themselves with their pinna pectorales ; 

 but it is with their stiong muscular tails only 

 that they, and all fishes, shoot along with such in- 

 conceivable rapidity. It has been said that the 

 eyes of fishes are immoveable : but these appa- 

 rently turn them forward or backward in their 

 sockets as their occasions require. They take little 

 notice of a lighted candle, though applied close 

 to their heads, but flounce and seem much fright- 

 ened by a sudden stroke of the hand against the 

 support whereon the bowl is hung ; especially when 

 they have been motionless, and are perhaps asleep. 

 As fishes have no eyelids, it is not easy to discern 

 when they are sleeping or not, because their eyes 

 are always open. 



Nothing can be more amusing than a glass 

 bowl containing such fishes : the double refrac- 

 u 2 



