Chapter IV. 



CHINESE GOLDFISHES. 



( Carassius orientalis ) 



Chinesische Goldfische. Poisson d'Orient. 



The Chinese species of goldfish differ more from each other in 

 color than in the shape of the body and fins, the contrary being the 

 dominant characteristic of the Japanese species, described above. 



So startling are these colors that one is almost immediately 

 reminded of the story in the "Arabian Nights' Entertainments" 

 of the enchanted lake, the fish in which were of four colors, yellow, 

 blue, red and white, and were people of four races, who had in 

 some way incurred the displeasure of a genius, who, in revenge, 

 had thus transformed them. 



The Chinese reckon seven distinct species, each with its sub- 

 varieties, the most of them very beautiful indeed. Of the species 

 King-Yu, the variety called 



THE MOTTLED BEAUTY 



is very remarkable. Beneath, the fish is simply silvered, but on the 

 back and sides it is mottled with rich hues of blue, yellow, black and 

 rose, the latter color deepening into pure crimson at the gills. 

 Along the ridge of the back, especially near the tail, the black 



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