234 MARVELS OF THE ANIMAL WORLD 



in shape, but several extraordinary and freakish 

 types have been evolved in which the tail, fins, 

 and even the eyes have undergone a transformation. 

 By far the most curious varieties are those known 

 as pop-eyed goldfish or telescope fish, and the star- 

 gazers, the enormous and protruding eyes of which 

 frequently attain to the size of an ordinary marble ; 

 those of the former projecting sideways from the 

 head, while those of the latter are directed upwards. 

 The creatures are further remarkable on account 

 of the fact that the dorsal fin is frequently absent. 

 Owing to their rarity, these monstrosities command 

 a good price and may cost as much as £5 each ; 

 but they can hardly be recommended for their good 

 looks. 



Very different, however, are the veil-tailed and 

 the fan-tailed goldfish which may certainly be ranked 

 amongst the beauties of the finny tribe. As 

 suggested by their names, the caudal appendages 

 of these fish are developed to a very marked degree, 

 that of the veil-tailed variety being sometimes 

 double, at other times three-lobed, and hanging 

 down in graceful folds ; whUe that of the fan-tail 

 assumes a fan-like form. 



The ' tumbler ' is another curious type inasmuch 

 as its head and tail bends upwards to such an extent 

 as to cause the fish to tumble and roll about in the 

 water when it is swimming ; but the latest novelty 

 in the goldfish line is that known as the ' hon-head,' 

 a variety which comes from Japan and receives 

 its name from the swoUen and wrinkled nature 

 of its face, suggesting the mane of a Hon. It 



