I98 THE GOLD FISH. 



white, and then to gold colour. The latter colours 

 app t about the tail, and extend upwards. 



1 smallest fish are preferred, not only from 

 oeing fhore beautiful than the larger ones, 

 but because a greater number of them can be 

 kept. These are of a fine orange red, appearing 

 as if sprinkled over with gold dust. Some, how- 

 ever, are white, like silver, and others white, spot- 

 ted with red. When dead they lose all their lustre. 

 The females are known from the males by several 

 white spots that they have near the gills, and the 

 pectoral fins : the males have these parts very 

 bright and shining*. 



In China the Gold-fish are fed with balls of paste, 

 and the yolks of eggs boiled very hard. In Eng- 

 land many persons are of opinion that they need no 

 aliment. It is true that they will subsist for a long 

 while without any other food than what they can 

 collect from water frequently changed j yet they 

 must draw some support from animalcules and 

 other nourishment supplied by the water. That the) 

 are best pleased with such slender diet may easily 

 be confuted, since they will readily, if not greedily, 

 seize crumbs that are thrown to them. Bread 

 ought, however, to be given sparingly, lest, turning 

 sour, it corrupt the water. They will also feed on 

 the water-plant called duck's-meat, and on small 

 fry t. 



* Lc Ccmte. 4 White's Selborne. 



