252 GOLD AND SILVER FISHES. 



with the occurrence, because it offers me an opportunity of 

 observing the actions and propensities of those beings with 

 whom we can be little acquainted in their natural state. 

 Not long since, I spent a fortnight at the house of a friend, 

 where there was such a vivary, to which I paid no small 

 attention, taking every occasion to remark what passed within 

 its narrow limits. It was here that I first observed the manner 

 in which fishes die. As soon as the creature sickens, the head 

 sinks low r er and lower, and it stands, as it were, on its head ; 

 till, getting weaker, and losing all poise, the tail turns over, 

 and, at last, it floats on the surface of the water, with its belly 

 uppermost. The reason 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 

 preponderates by its own gravity, and turns the belly upper- 

 most, as lighter, from its being a cavity, and because it contains 

 the sw r imming 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 nourish- 

 ment, 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 : how- 

 ever, 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 pinnce pectorales ; but it is with their 

 strong muscular tails only that they, and all fishes, shoot along 

 with such inconceivable rapidity. It has been said, that the 

 eyes of fishes are immoveable ; but these apparently 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 

 frightened by a sudden stroke of the hand against the support 

 whereon the bowl is hung ; especially when they have been 



spotted with red. When kept in ponds, they are frequently taught to 

 rise to the surface of the water, at the sound of a bell, to be fed. They 

 arc said to have been first introduced into England in 1691. ED. 



