GOLDFISH BREEDS 



THE CHINESE LETTERED TELESCOPE GOLDFISH 



Carassius auratus, var. chinensis scriptus. Fig. 27 



Another instance of the patient labors of the Chinese in developing 

 desired characteristics in the goldfish is evident in the Lettered Telescope, 

 a very rare fish, as but two specimens, both females, have come to the 

 knowledge of the author, both owned in Philadelphia. No recent author- 

 ity describes this fish, the following is a description of the two mentioned 

 specimens. 



The form and eye development is similar to that of the Tiger Tele- 

 scope, though the body is rather more rounded and not so triangular in 

 section. The eyes are distinctly tubular and directed forward at each side 

 of the snout with a slightly upward trend, and the cornea is also directed 

 forward and slightly upward. The head and snout are very short, the 



FIG. 27 — Chinese Lettered Telescope Goldfish 

 Carassius auraius, var. chinensis scriptus. Two-thirds life size 



body thick and quite as broad as high, with the fins and double tail fairly well 

 developed, and the pectorals and ventrals extend almost straight out at the 

 sides of the fish. Theanal fin is double, as is also the tail, which is dis- 

 tinctly spread and divided to the base. The anal fins are used like the 

 ventrals in swimming. 



The chief peculiarity of this fish consists of the colors and markings. 

 The transparently scaled body is dark olive-green on the back, citron- 

 yellow on the sides, and yellowish-white under the abdomen ; covered with 

 brown markings which have the appearance of Chinese characters written 

 in sepia. 



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