That they are best
pleased with such jejune diet may easily be confuted, since if you
toss them crumbs, they will seize them with great readiness, not to
say greediness: however, bread should be given sparingly, lest,
turning sour, it corrupt the water. They will also feed on the water-
plant called lemna (duck's meat), and also on small fry.
When they want to move a little they gently protrude themselves
with their pinnae pectorales; but it is with their strong muscular
tails only that they and all fishes shoot along with such
inconceivable rapidity. It has been said that the eyes of fishes are
immoveable: but these apparently turn them forward or backward
in their sockets as their occasions require. They take little notice of
a lighted candle, though applied close to their heads, but flounce
and seem much frightened by a sudden stroke of the hand against
the support whereon the bowl is hung; especially when they have
been motionless, and are perhaps asleep. As fishes have no eyelids,
it is not easy to discern when they are sleeping or not, because their
eyes are always open.
Pages:
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403