§99 THE CAR?. 



are feen purfuing one female as flie emits her ova ; and 

 upon thefe they ejedt their fmehs : by which opera- 

 tion naturalifls fuppofe that impregnation is efFe6led. In 

 this uncertain procefs, however, many of her ora muil 

 be dilTipated in the v.7ater, without coming into contact 

 with the fperm of the male j and hence that fertility is 

 abridged, which would otherwife foon overflock the whole 

 waters upon the globe. 



Among all domifticated animals, the purity of their 

 manners is vitiated ; and mixed races are produced by an 

 unnatural connection between different fpecles : This is 

 cxamplifyed by the horfe and the afs, by the different 

 fpecies of dogs, and by many of our domeflic poultry ; 

 the carp and tench, in their confinement in ponds, are 

 alfo faid to mingle their fpawn, and to tranfmit an ambi- 

 guous race to poflerity : In fimilar circumflances, the 

 carp and bream, are reported to *' overftep the modefly 

 of Nature," and to violate thofe laws which Ihe has fo 

 generally eflablilhed between kindred tribes. 



The flefh of this fpecies is rather infipid and foft, but 

 varies greatly, according to the place where the fiih is 

 reared, and the nourifiiment with which it is fed: Thofe 

 in Itagnated water are feldom found fo well flavoured, as 

 they that are taken from a pure and rapid llream. Of 

 the roe of this fifli a caviare is made for the "Jews^ who 

 abominate this, and every kind of the flurgeon. 



The carp is extremely fhy in taking a bait, and, for 

 this reafon, the more common method of taking it iu 

 rivers is with the net. Its cunning is difplayed by the 

 various methods it practifes to elude this inftrument of 

 de{tru£lion : Sometimes it leaps over the net ; at others, 

 immerfes itlelf fo deeply in the mud, that it is drawn 



oyey 



