42 NATURAL SCIENCE [July 1898 
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 
crumson, 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 goldearp 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 BurEAv, TOKYO. 
