42 NATURAL SCIENCE [July 1893 



the least specialized form (Fig. 4). The body is very much 

 elongated and compressed laterally, the scales are small and the 

 fins normal. The anal fin is sometimes paired, sometimes not. 

 The caudal fin sometimes is not divided laterally. This is the 

 most hardy variety, and attains a length of one foot or more. 



The above-mentioned four varieties are the principal kinds 

 of goldfish in Japan. Of course there are many intermediate 

 forms and subvarieties. The colours of the fish are generally 

 crimson, red, vermilion, yellowish, and golden-yellow. Sometimes 

 we find fish with the colour and lustre of iron. 



The so-called ' Telescope-fish ' is not a Japanese variety, but was 

 introduced from China, after the war with that country. 



As the coloured markings in the goldfish are considered as the 

 most important element of beauty, some culturists invented a way 

 of bleaching some parts of the coloured portion and so increasing 

 the beauty of the fish. This is done by the application of a fine 

 brush, soaked in a dilute solution of a chloride or chlorides, to those 

 surfaces of the body that they wish to bleach. This must be done 

 after completely absorbing the moisture from the spot. By this 

 method you may obtain fish with signs, letters, or characters bleached 

 out in the coloured portion of its body. 



To keep choice goldfish large aquaria or ponds are necessary. 

 Small aquaria, running water, and cold water are not good for 

 goldfish. To keep a pair of the adult goldfish, an aquarium should 

 contain at least eight gallons of water. 



Besides the goldfish, the goldcarp, the silver-cheeked carp, and 

 the golden Medaka are also reared as ornamental fish. 



The goldcarp or Higoi is generally kept in large ponds. It is 

 very hardy and attains a length of two or three feet. There are 

 different colours in this fish : brown, golden yellow, vermilion, 

 pinkish, white, or variegated with black and red spots. This is a 

 variety of the common carp, and in Japan it almost always forms a 

 proportion of the embryos hatched out from the spawn of the latter. 

 The flesh of the goldcarp is far inferior to that of the common carp 

 and is not good for food. Though the goldcarp prefers rather 

 muddy and still water, it thrives also in clear water. 



The silver-cheeked carp or Hokin is also a variety of the 

 common carp. It is a very pretty fish, brown or greyish in colour, 

 and has the cheeks with silver-like lustre. It does not attain a 

 large size, being generally less than one foot in total length. This 

 variety is not common, and is found only in- Koriyama. 



The golden Medaka belongs to a variety of Fundulus sp., and is 

 only about one inch in total length. It is generally yellowish or 

 light vermilion in colour, and being hardy is suitable for keeping in 

 small aquaria as a children's pet. K. Kishinouye. 



Imperial Fisheries Bureau, Tokyo. 



