Note e — BOOK I.

Creatures inhabiting the Waters need the Air, as well as other Animals, yea, and fresh Air too. The Hydrocanthari of all Sorts, the Nymphæ of Gnats, and many other Water-Insects, have a singular Faculty, and an admirable Apparatus, to raise their back Parts to the top of the Waters, and take in fresh Air. It is pretty to see, for Instance, the Hydrocanthari come and thrust their Tails out of the Water, and take in a Bubble of Air, at the tip of their Vaginæ and Tails, and then nimbly carry it down with them into the Waters; and, when that is spent, or fouled, to ascend again and recruit it.

So Fishes also are well known to use Respiration, by passing the Water through their Mouths and Gills. But Carps will live out of the Water, only in the Air; as is manifest by the Experiment of their way of Fatting them in Holland, and which hath been practised herein England, viz. they hang them up in a Cellar, or some cool Place, in wet Moss in a small Net, with their Heads out, and feed them with white Bread soaked in Milk for many Days. This was told me by a Person very curious, and of great Honour and Eminence, whose Word (if I had leave to name him) no Body would question: And it being an Instance of the Respiration of Fishes very singular, and somewhat out of the way, I have for the Reader’s Diversion taken notice of it.