l6 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 



tail, which is even then large enough to be distinguished, hinders 

 the tiny creatures (but one-quarter of an inch in length) in their 

 movements in the water. Should they find sufficient food to make a 

 bountiful meal, matters become still worse, they lose their balance 

 and can not go at all until digestion is completed, in the meanwhile 

 falling an easy and welcome prey to numerous enemies. 



For this reason, which is the main one, and because the fish is 

 very difficult to propagate, it is exceedingly rare, even in Japan. 



When mature, the telescope fish is about the size of a man's fist. 



THE FRINGE-TAIL. 



The body of the fringe-tail is short, egg-shaped and slightly com- 

 pressed ; the eyes normal, but very variable in the color of the iris, 

 which is that .curtain in the anterior portion of the eye that by its 

 contraction and dilation, regulates the quantity of light that enters 

 the optic. In this fish the color of the iris may be any color, except- 

 ing green only, in different individuals. 



The fins are large and of very fine structure; the anal fin is 

 double, while the caudal may be either double, treble or quadruple, 

 as the case may be, and is larger than the body, drooping very grace- 

 fully. (See illustration.) These special characteristics, among all the 

 fancy varieties, are not fully developed until the second year. In 

 the coloring of the body and 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 vermillion, the abdomen, throat and eyes of rich gold, while 

 all the fins are milk white. Others again will be found presenting a 

 rich vermillion on that part of the body forward of the dorsal fin 

 including the throat, part of the abdomen, and the respective fins, 

 while all back of that is pure white. Some there are with body all 



