34 



THE GOLDFISH 



THE CHINESE SCALELESS TELESCOPE GOLDFISH 



As before stated, "scaleless" is somewhat of a misnomer, the fish 

 being transparently scaled, making the scales difficult to detect. We 

 use the word "scaleless" in its accepted popular sense. 



Fishes of this general division are divided into two color classes 

 — Plain Scaleless and Calico. The Plain Scaleless is red, white or a 

 combination of the two. Red in scaleless fishes is quite different from 

 that in scaled varieties, being more of an oxblood color, producing a 

 highly refined appearance. In scaleless fishes the bodies do not have 

 a metallic lustre. The colors seem as though they had been laid on 



Fig. 22. Chinese Scaleless Telescope (Dorsal vieiv) 



by the delicate hand of a water-color artist. These fishes have white 

 fins, sometimes dotted with black. During the first few months the 

 roots of the tails are usually dark, but this gradually disappears. 



The Calico Telescope is the consideration of first importance, not 

 only in this group, but among all fancy goldfishes in America. Its 

 name is suggestive of its coloring, but the colors are by no means in 

 geometrical arrangement, as they are in the fabric. Red, yellow, 

 brown, gray, black, blue and lavender are laid in fantastic blotches and 

 spots over the body, usually on a lighter background. Many small 

 dots of black are sprinkled over the body and fins. In extra fine speci- 

 mens red dots will also appear in the fins. The color chiefly sought is 

 blue, and the more blue the more valued the fish. Probably every 



