116 THE ANGLER-XATURALIST. 



The earliest specimens ever seen in Europe were pre- 

 sented to Madame de Pompadour ; but there is no doubt 

 that they -vvere originally imported from the East, probably 

 from China, at some time during the sixteenth or seven- 

 teenth century. China is still preeminent for its Gold- 

 fish, of which Pennant informs us that the most beautiful 

 kinds, both for elegance of shape and richness of tinting, 

 are taken in a small lake in the Province of Che-kyang. 

 They are the constant ornaments of all fashionable houses, 

 and the general pets more especially of the ladies, whose 

 pleasures in that country must, we can imagine, be some- 

 what limited. It is their practice to call their Gold-fish 

 with a whistle to be fed. 



Besides their attractive appearance. Gold-fish recom- 

 mend themselves by another agreeable quality, that of 

 entertaining affection for each other. It is mentioned 

 that a person who had kept two together in a glass gave 

 one of them away, when the other refused to eat, and 

 showed evident symptoms of unhappiness, until his com- 

 panion was restored to him *. 



The Gold-fish will breed very readily in this country in 

 small ponds or tanks, and especially if the temperature of 

 the water be high. In many manufacturing districts where 

 the supply of cold water for the engines is inadequate, the 

 heated water is retained in small ponds, to be used over 

 again when cool. In these tanks, the usual temperature 

 of which is about 80°, it is a common practice to keep 

 * Jesse's Gleanings. 



