THE GOLD-FISH 113 



seen in a domesticated condition, they have become perfectly- 

 naturalised in certain places. In others, it is true, where they 

 have made themselves perfectly at home, their inheritance is a 

 precarious one, depending on the high temperature imparted to 

 mill-ponds by the waste steam from the engines of manufactories. 



The wild type, which inhabits the rivers of China and the 

 warmer parts of Japan, very closely resembles the crucian carp, 

 both in colour and form ; so much so, that some naturalists 

 refuse to recognise any specific distinction between the two 

 races, and consider the remarkable metamorphosis of colour 

 manifested in gold-fish merely as the result of domestication 

 acting on the characteristic variability of the family. At all 

 events, the change from dark colouring to gold may be 

 regarded as an incipient stage of albinism, which in certain 

 individuals proceeds so far as to reach white, when they are 

 familiarly known as "silver-fish," although not really half so 

 silvery as a fresh-run salmon or a bleak. 



Not only is the gold-fish prone to change its colour, but it 

 is liable to strange variation in form, leading to the production 

 of monstrosities with contorted bodies, goggle-eyes, or exag- 

 gerated fins, known as Japanese fan-tails, telescope fish, etc. 



In size the gold-fish averages the same as the crucian carp, 

 and its natural habits are identical with those of that fish ; but 

 its behaviour under abnormal conditions calls for some attention. 



First, as to the endurance by the gold-fish of a temperature 

 so high as to be destructive of most forms of aqueous life. 

 Dr. John Davy, brother of Sir Humphry, left on record a 

 series of observations which should establish once and for all the 

 truth in this matter, and leave no excuse for further cruel 

 experiments : 



" A gold-fish of average size, taken from an aquarium and 

 put into water at 96^ Fahrenheit, immediately became restless, 

 swimming about hurriedly and making violent leaps, as if 

 attempting to escape. Gradually it became languid, swimming 

 on its side, the caudal fin seldom acting. After a few minutes, 



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