CARP. 
205 
to shallow, warm, and sheltered places, where the 
female deposits the spawn about the roots of grass, 
osier-roots, hanging branches, &c. The milter, or 
male fish, by a natural instinct follows the spawner, 
and the milt or soft row is spread over the spawn, 
which thus becomes impregnated. Carp at this 
season are frequently seen swimming, as it were in a 
circle, about the same spot. Providence has direct- 
ed these fish to deposit their spawn on the finest 
and calmest summer days, that the fry of so useful 
a fish may be brought forth in security : if it had 
been otherwise, a stormy day would have washed it 
towards the banks, where it might have been eaten 
up by birds, or trampled on by men and quadru- 
peds, or dried up by the heat of the sun, and a 
whole generation of carp entirely destroyed. During 
the spawning season the carp may be approached, 
so that they will pass and repass between a person’s 
hands held under the water, without being in the 
least disturbed ; but if any noise or quick motion 
be made, they dart away with surprising velocity. 
Great care must be taken, during the spawning sea- 
son, to prevent the approach of all aquatic fowl, 
wild and tame, to the ponds ; for geese and ducks 
not only swallow the spawn, but destroy still more 
of it by searching among the weeds and aquatic 
plants : it is therefore a general rule to send twice 
a-day a man round the pond, to frighten away all 
wild fowl, such as swans, geese, ducks, cranes, and 
herons. A mixed breed is sometimes produced be- 
