CAEE OF GOLDFISH 253 



the instability of varieties developed from nat- 

 ural forms, although bred and selected with 

 the greatest care for centuries; for if goldfish 

 are left to themselves, as in an open pond, they 

 will degenerate more or less rapidly and grad- 

 ually revert to the original form and coloura- 

 tion of the Crucian carp. Moreover, a large 

 proportion of fish hatched never do change 

 from their sombre dress and take on the 

 brilliant colour so much desired. 



Many of the grotesque forms which mark some of 

 the popular types of goldfish are the outcome of cen- 

 turies of laborious work by the patient, persevering 

 and ingenious Japanese, in taking advantage of some 

 curious freak of nature. 



It is a well known fact that if fish-eggs be given 

 a jarring at a certain stage, or, more specifically, 

 about the "eyeing" period, monstrosities may be pro- 

 duced. This occurs frequently among brook-trout, 

 the most common irregularities being hump-back and 

 looped. It is said that when the Japanese discovered 

 this peculiarity they selected a pair of the most pro- 

 nounced monstrosities, similar in form, reared them 

 and bred from them. The most marked of the prog- 

 eny were again selected and bred, and this process 

 continued until a desired type was produced and 

 fairly fixed by hatching without the jarring. Thus 



