
GOLDFISH BREEDS 

a very high dorsal and a straight single anal fin; a delicate, very long 
single tail, and the head, eyes, small scales and general conformation, as 
well as the rich lustrous colors of the Fringetail. The body is shorter, 
broader and fuller than the Comet, those with almost circular flat-sided 
bodies are the highest prized. 
In the aquarium they make an agreeable contrast to the other fine 
breeds and have an individuality of their own which warrants their being 
classed as a distinct variety. Some fanciers still consider them single-tailed 
Fringetails, but the general consensus of opinion is that these fishes should 
be classed as Nymphs, the most typical having short flat-sided bodies and 
straight Comet-like tails, though some Nymphs have tails of such great 
length that they of necessity droop. These may be considered a separate 
variety, and are quite as much prized as the straight tailed fishes. They 
occur both scaled and transparently scaled. 
THE JAPANESE HOODED OR LION-HEADED GOLDFISH 
Carassius auratus, var. japonicus leocephalus Fig. 15, 
The form, scales, fins and color of this peculiar Japanese or Corean 
goldfish resemble the Fringetail but the dorsal fin is absent; the distinctive 
difference consists of a peculiar growth on and over the sides of the head, 

FIG. 15, Adult Japanese Hooded or Lion-headed Goldfish 
Carassius auratus, var. japonicus leocephalus. ‘Two-thirds life size 
50 
