CuapTer IV. 
CHINESE GOLDFISHES. 
(Carassius orientalis ) 
CHINESISCHE GOLDFISCHE. PoIssON D'ORIENT. 
The Ghinese species of goldfish differ more from each other in 
color than in the shape of the body and fins, the contrary being the 
dominant characteristic of the Japanese species, described above. 
So startling are these colors that one is almost immediately 
reminded of the story in the ‘‘Arabian Nights’ Entertainments” 
of the enchanted lake, the fish in which were of four colors, yellow, 
blue, red and white, and were people of four races, who had in 
some way incurred the displeasure of a genius, who, in revenge, 
had thus transformed them. 
The Chinese reckon seven distinct species, each with its sub- 
varieties, the most of them very beautiful indeed. Of the species 
King-Yu, the variety called 
THE MOTTLED BEAUTY 
is very remarkable. Beneath, the fish is simply silvered, but on the 
back and sides it is mottled with rich hues of blue, yellow, black and 
rose, the latter color deepening into pure crimson at the gills. 
Along the ridge of the back, especially near the tail, the black 
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