CARP. 51 



roots of grass, osier-roots, &c. the milter, or 

 male fish, by a natural instinct, follows the 

 spawner, and the milt, or soft roe, is spread over 

 the spawn, which thus becomes impregnated. 

 Carp at this season are frequently seen swim- 

 ming, as it were in a circle, about the same 

 spot. The finest and calmest days are com- 

 monly those on which Carp spawn ; Providence 

 having thus made a provision for the greater 

 security of the fry of so useful a fish ; as other* 

 wise, in a stormy day, the spawn would be 

 washed towards the banks, where it would be 

 eaten up by birds, trampled underfoot, or dried 

 up by the heat of the sun. The Carp is an ex- 

 tremely prolific fish, and the quantity of roe is 

 so great, that it is said to have sometimes ex- 

 ceeded the weight of the emptied fish itself, 

 when weighed against it. 



The usual food of the Carp consists of worms 

 and water insects ; it is so tenacious of life that 

 it may be kept for a very considerable time in 

 any damp place, though not immersed in water; 

 and it is said to be sometimes fattened with 

 success by being enveloped in wet moss, sus- 

 pended in a net, and fed at intervals with bread 

 steeped in milk ; taking care to refresh it now 

 and then by throwing fresh water over the net 

 in which it is suspended. The age to which 

 the Carp arrives is very great, and several well 

 E 



