86 



THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 1894. 



ing of the body aud fins this fish is not 

 surpassed by any other, making one of 

 the most valuable and desirable objects 

 for the aquarium. There are specimens 

 the back and sides of which are deep 

 vermilion, the abdomen, throat and 

 eyes of rich gold, while all the fins are 

 milk white. Others again will be found 

 presenting a rich vermilion on that part 

 of the body forward of the dorsal fin, 

 including the throat, part of the abdo- 

 men, and the respective fins, while all 

 back of that is pure white. Some there 

 are with body all white, the fins red, 

 and vice versa ; others pearly, dotted 

 with irregularly shaped pink spots, the 

 eyes being blue ; again, the entire fish 

 will be white, the only touch of color 

 being the deep red of the large eyes. 

 In fact, it is impossible within the limits 

 of this sketch to enumerate the endless 

 variety of the markings to be seen, and 

 one can only get an adequate idea 

 by examining a large number. Strange 

 as it may seem, this beautiful species 

 of fish was nearly lost to this country 

 through the caprice of private individ- 

 uals who happened, or rather were lucky 

 enough, to possess perfect specimens, 

 and were unwilling that others should 

 enjoy the possession of the like. 



But fortunately, a lady both generous 

 and appreciative, rather than that the 

 stock should die out, loaned to the 

 author for the purpose of reproduction 

 several fine specimens she had recently 

 obtained through the courtesy of Ad- 

 miral Ammen. The pure stock may 

 now be considered secure for the future. 

 In evidence of the extreme beauty of 

 the species, it may be stated that private 

 parties paid for fine specimens twenty 

 times the weight of the fish in gold. 



What has been said about the diffi- 

 culty of raising telescope fish, may with 

 almost equal proj^riety be repeated for 



the fringe-tail. Unlike the former, 

 the latter fish spawns against aquatic 

 plants, the extrusion of the eggs not 

 being so difficult. 



THE FANTAIL. 



The body is elongated and compressed 

 on the sides ; the head pointed ; the 

 fins are short and stout, the anal some- 

 times double, and occasionally found 

 wanting. The caudal fin is compara- 

 tively short, is double, with the upper 

 edges grown together ; it is sometimes 

 erect like that of the fantail pigeon 

 (see illustration), or projects horizon- 

 tally. The colors are mostly vermilion 

 and white ; in some cases the whole 

 body is white, with the exception of the 

 abdomen, this being golden ; in others 

 the body is dark red, the belly also 

 golden. The color of the eyes is vari- 

 able. 



It may be mentioned here as an ad- 

 vantage of the double tailed fish, that 

 they are unable to jump out of the 

 water. This fact is undoubtedly one 

 to be appreciated by those keeping an 

 aquarium. 



THE COMET. 



This is a noble looking fish, and 

 greatly resembles the fantail. 



Its body is slender, the fins very large 

 and of fine structure ; the caudal fin is 

 single and deeply divided. The color- 

 ing is identical with the preceding. (See 

 illustration on page 44.) 



THE NYMPH. 



The body of this species is oblong, 

 and much compressed on the sides ; the 

 head is short, and fins normal. The 

 color varies from a light to a deep ver- 

 milion, sometimes white ; a background 

 of white beautifully dotted with crim- 

 son, the throat golden, makes a magnifi- 



