172 The Under-Water World 



above water and the lower for use under 

 water, the iris being so formed that two 

 distinct pupils are present . The fish swims 

 at the surface, with its four eyes sweeping 

 air and water at the same moment. 



A few deep-sea fish when very young 

 have the eyes mounted upon stalks, and 

 the ingenious oriental breeders of gold-fish 

 have produced varieties in which the 

 eyes bulge to an extent that is un- 

 pleasantly suggestive of a disease. The 

 gold-fish, indeed, has shown itself to be 

 extraordinarily plastic and " fancy cul- 

 tures " have been produced from very 

 early times in both China and Japan. 

 Some of these varieties, the " veil-tail ' J 

 for instance, move as if encumbered by 

 a long skirt. Other " triumphs " of the 

 breeders' art may have the fins either 

 entirely absent or so badly proportioned 

 that the unfortunate fish is condemned 

 to spend the greater part of its life in 

 turning somersaults. 



