The Gold-Fish. 479 
of this species to attain an extraordinary bulk. We have 
read, as a well-authenticated fact, that in the northern 
part of England, in a piece of water, which having been 
long neglected, was filled with timber, stones, and rub- 
ish, two hundred Tench, and as many perch of good 
size were found ; and that one fish in particular, which 
seemed to have been shut up in a nook, had not only 
surpassed all the others in size, but had also taken 
the form of the hole in which it had been accidentally 
confined. The body was in the shape of a half-moon, 
conforming in the convexity of its outlines to the con- 
cavity of the dungeon where this innocent sufferer had 
been immured for a number of years ; it weighed eleven 
pounds. 
THE GOLD-FISH, OK GOLDEN CARP, 
(Cyprinus auratus,) 
Was originally brought from China, and first introduced 
into England in 1661, but is now become quite common, 
and will breed as freely in ponds as the carp. The 
average size is about five inches, and it scarcely ever 
exceeds seven and a half. Gold-fish are highly prized 
in China, and are extensively introduced in the orna- 
mental waters of our own countr}\ Nothing is more 
pleasing than to see them glide along and play in the 
transparent crystal, whilst their broad and glittering 
scales reflect the rays of the sun. They are often kept 
within the small compass of a glass bowl, where they 
become tame and docile, and after a short time seem to 
recognise their feeders. 
