or SELBORNE. 



105 



changeable variety of dimensions, shades, 

 and colours : while the two mediums, 

 assisted by the concavo-convex shape of 

 the vessel, magnify and distort them vastly ; 

 not to mention that the introduction of 

 another element and its inhabitants into 

 our parlours engages the fancy in a very 

 agreeable manner. 



Gold and silver fishes, though originally 

 natives of China and Japan, yet are be- 

 come so well reconciled to our climate as 

 to thrive and multiply very fast in our 

 ponds and stews. Linnceus ranks this 

 species of fish under the genus of cyprinus, 

 or carp, and calls it cyprinus auratus. 



Some people exhibit this sort of fish in a 

 very fanciful way ; for they cause a glass 

 bowl to be blown with a large hollow space 

 within, that does not communicate with it. 

 In this cavity they put a bird occasionally ; 

 so that you may see a goldfinch or a linnet 

 hopping as it were in the midst of the 

 water, and the fishes swimming in a circle 

 round it. The simple exhibition of the 

 fishes is agreeable and pleasant ; but in 



