its bright red coloration suggestive of the beautiful autumnal foliage of the Japanese maples. This 

 variety was not perfected immediately but required several generations of selected breeding of the 

 progeny of three-year old fish of the two varieties mentioned. The form is now well established, 

 but has a tendency to reassert characters of the oranda which were sought to be eliminated. 



The shape of the body and head is typically ranchuan, although the lateral swelling of the abdo- 

 men is not excessive. The head shows, in variable degree, the warty growth on the head that is 

 characteristic of both parents. All of the fins are longer than in the ranchu. The four-lobed 

 caudal is as long as or longer than the fish proper, and has the peculiar texture that permits the 

 most graceful drooping and waving. The anal is double and long, and the ventrals extend far beyond 

 the base of the caudal. The dorsal fin is absent, liut in the first generation of the cross this fin appears 

 in over ninety per cent of the young, usually in the form of one to three rudimentary rays. 



The shukin of select breed has a bright golden or red body, a red head with red excrescences, 

 and red-and-white fins ; but variations in color are numerous. 



A size of 9 to 10 inches is attained, the caudal fin constituting about half the length. A five- 

 year-old fish examined by the author in Tokyo had a body 4% inches long and a caudal fin somewhat 

 longer. 



This is one of the most beautiful and attractive varieties, and will well repay efforts at culti- 

 vation. Of the three recently perfected varieties, it is the most popular among the Japanese. Owing 

 to its greater development of fins, its swimming powers are superior to those of the ranchu. 



41 



