764 
ichnp:umon wasp, or savage. 
almost entirely devour. This spawn is put into a particular vessel, 
exposed to the sun, and preserved there until vivified by the heat ; 
gold fish, however, seldom multiply when they are kept in close 
vases, because they are then too much confined. In order to retjder 
them fruitful, they must be put into reservoirs of considerable depth, 
in some places at least, and which are constantly supplied with fresh 
water. 
At a certain time of the year, a prodigious number of barks may 
be seen in the great river Yang-Tse-Kiang, which go thither to pur- 
chase the spawn of these fish. Towards the month of May, the neigh- 
bouring inhabitants shut up the river in several places with mats and 
hurdles, which occupy an extent of almost nine or ten leagues, and 
they leave only a space in the middle sufficient for the passage of 
barks. The spaw’n of the fish, which the Chinese can distinguish at 
first sight, although a stranger could perceive no traces of it in the 
water, is stopped by these hurdles. The water mixed with spawm is 
then drawn up, and, after it has been put into large vessels, is sold to 
merchants, who transport it afterwards to every part of the empire. 
This water is sold by measure, and purchased by those vvho are 
desirous of stocking their ponds and reservoirs with fish. 
) Notwithstanding the tenderness of these fish, even in their native 
climates, they are now naturalized in Britain, where they even breed. 
They were first intrcduced into England about A. D. 1691 ; but w'ere 
not generally known till 1728, when a great number were brought 
over, and presented to Sir Matthew Dekker, and by him circulated 
round the neighbourhood of London, from whence they have been 
distributed to most parts of the country. Nothing can be more 
amusing than a glass bow'l containing these fishes : the double refrac- 
tions of the glass and water represent them when moving in a most 
beautiful variety of dimensions, shades, and colours ; w'hile the two 
mediums, assisted by the concavo-convex shape of the vessel, mag- 
nify 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. 
Ichneumon Wasp, or Savage. 
There are ninety-seven species of this insect. The manner of 
living is dlfierent in the various species, and so is the general form of 
the body, and their haunts : but though the method of life be utterly 
diOcrent, yet the same manners appear innate and inherent in all. 
They agree in being the fiercest of ail files ; they will attack insects 
much larger than themselves, and this whether they be defenceless 
or armed, as they are provided with a sting. The strength in all this 
savage kind is great; their jaws are hard and sharp, and their sting 
is so poisonous as to be suddenly fatal to the creatures with which 
they engage. The savage seizes strongly on llte animal he attacks, 
and gives a stroke of anmzing force ; after which he falls down as if 
himself were killed, but it is to rest from his fatigue, and enjoy his, 
vi'ciory. lie keeps a steady eye on the creature he has struck, till' it dies, 
width luipper.s in a few minutes, and then drags it to the nest to feed 
