706 OCEANOGRAPHY 



fore, it possesses a body more or less like that of the "ryukin" with 

 the dorsal fin, but from the second year or thereabouts the head 

 begins to develop the wart-like protuberances described under the 

 "ranchu." When fully developed, this breed is, to my mind at least, 

 anything but beautiful. It is cultivated near Kyoto or Osaka, while 

 the "ryukin" is reared mostly in Tokyo. 



The above four breeds are common, and can be seen in almost 

 any goldfish-seller's. There are some other rarer or newer varieties: 



(5) The "shukin." This is a breed only recently produced by my 

 friend, Mr. Akiyama, a skillful goldfish-breeder of Tokyo, and also 

 produced independently in Osaka. It was obtained by crossing the 

 " oranda-shishigashira " with the "ranchu." It is "lion-headed," 



that is, has warts on the head, has the globular body of the 

 "ranchu" without any dorsal fin, but it has a long, flowing tail. It 

 may be characterized as a long-tailed variety of the "ranchu." 



(6) The "deme"" (literally "protruding eyes" or "telescope- 

 fish"). Contrary to what is stated in many American and European 

 books, the telescope-fish is only a recent introduction into Japan. 

 In fact, it was brought to Japan at the end of the late Japan-China 

 war (1894-95). As is well known, in this variety the large eyeballs 

 have started out of the skull and protrude sideways from the head, 

 which thus somewhat resembles (although only superficially) that of 

 the hammer-headed shark. The body is short ; the color is yellowish, 

 or at least not usually bright red, and often has black spots or ir- 

 regular black patches scattered over the body. It should be stated 

 that the first-year young have the eyes in the normal position, the 

 protrusion occurring gradually in the course of growth and not 

 through any artificial devices. These fish, when fully grown, are apt 

 to strike their eyes against the sides of the ponds, tubs, etc., in 

 which they are kept, and to injure them so that they often become 

 blind. In nature, therefore, such a protruding eye must be a distinct 

 disadvantage, and would never have been produced except by arti- 

 ficial selection. 



(7) The "deme"-ranchu." This variety is not yet naturalized 

 in Japan, having been imported from China only within the last 

 two or three years. Of all the extraordinary and odd-looking fishes, 

 it certainly is far in the lead in many respects, and is interesting 

 as showing how far man can proceed in modifying nature. It is 

 a telescope-fish with a short globular body resembling the "ranchu," 

 and, like it, without the dorsal fin. The eyes have assumed a most 

 extraordinary position. The ordinary telescope-fish is odd enough, 

 with the eyes protruding, but in this variety dislocation has gone one 

 step farther. The eyes have not only started out of the head, but 

 have turned upward ninety degrees, and have their pupils looking 

 straight skyward. For this reason I should be inclined to call this 



