PISHES. 



115 



as few dead leaves as possible can enter it. The Anacharis 

 must be watcbed, lest it make too luxuriant a growth., 

 and thus prevent the free movement of the fish. About 

 six dozen water-snails {Planorhis corneus) should be put 

 into the pond with the fish; their eggs and little ones will 

 help to supply the young fish with food. No frogs or 

 sticklebacks must be allowed with the Gold-fish; indeed, it 

 is better to put no other fish at all into the pond if the 

 Gold-fish are wished to breed. Such a pond as this might 

 be made very profitable. 



There is certainly no more suitable fish for the aquarium 

 than the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) (Fig. 88), for it is 



Fig. 88. Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio). 



very handsome when in good health, its scales looking — as it 

 has been well said by Pope — as if "bedropp'd with gold." 

 Its form shows that it is admirably fitted for a life in 

 stagnant water ; and being the least carnivorous of fish, it is 

 never likely (except driven by absolute starvation) to prey 

 upon any of its smaller comrades in the tank. As it has the 

 largest brain, in proportion, of any fresh-water fish, it is very 

 intelligent, and soon becomes so exceedingly cunning that no 

 fish is more difficult to catch with rod and line in a large 

 pond than an old Carp. It will even with great success 

 dodge the net. How weU, then, is it named the " fresh- water 

 fox " ! Though it is ' one of the most troublesome of all fish 

 to catch, it is one of the easiest to tame when caught. 



I 2 



