CYPRINID^. 167 



-telescope goldfisli, and this may be conjoined to a three or four-lobed tail fin. Sir 

 R. Heron (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1841, p. 42) remarks respecting his menagerie that 

 two out of five of the specimens of gold-fish hatched are deficient of the dorsal fin, 

 and about two in a hundred, or rather more, have triple tail fins, and as many 

 have the anal fin double. All the deformed fish are separated from the others, 

 and placed in a pond by themselves, but they do not produce a greater proportion 

 of deformed oifspring than the parent fish. 



As already observed, the Garassius auratus in its wild state is greenish. It 

 may assume a yellow colour termed leuamthiopism or xanthochroism : or a red 

 colour, erythrism : or a white colour, albinism : or black, melanism ; and these 

 changes are not invariably produced by the same causes. The temperature of the 

 water in which they reside influences colour, gold denoting the warmest, as from 

 80° to 88°, and here they increase most rapidly, while bronze or silver is the tint 

 most observable in those that are kept in the open air. In an account of the 

 mode in which one of the gold-fish breeding establishments at Oldenburg is 

 carried on, the correspondent remarks (Land and Water, May 3rd, 1879) that for 

 the purpose of inducing colour the three chief materials needed are iron, gall-nuts, 

 and tan. A fish originally red and white can by proper treatment be rendered 

 black, white and red ; but some fail, and these are consigned to a large shallow 

 pond, where they are more exposed to the sun's rays, which have a strong 

 colouring influence ; but the treatment is somewhat hazardous, often killing the 

 fish, and that quite suddenly. 



Names. — Gold-fish : Gold carp. Eurhysg, Welsh. Le Carassin Bore, French. 

 Hahits. — Much the same as the crucian, but more domesticated. In manu- 

 facturing districts, where there is an inadequg-te supply of cold water for the 

 condensation of the steam employed in the engines, recourse, observes Tarrell, is 

 had to what are termed engine-dams or ponds, into which the water from the 

 steam-engine is thrown for the purpose of being cooled ; in these dams, the 

 average temperature of which is about 80°, it is common to keep gold-fish ; and 

 here it multiplies very rapidly, and becomes useful in consuming the refuse 

 grease, which by accumulating on the surface would impede the cooling of the 

 water. 



It appears to thrive upon insects, but if it is found necessary to supplement 

 artificial fare, blood and refuse meat, worms, or even barley are recommended. 

 Kept in confinement, well or pump water seems to suit it the best, and only in 

 emergencies should stream or river water be employed, while rain-water is quite 

 unsuitable. 



Breeding — in May or June. In breeding, many influences exercise an effect 

 upon this fish, thus Thompson observes that " in some ponds near Belfast this 

 species bred the first year of its introduction ; in others not for several years ; 

 and in one the fishes have never increased. The temperature of the water in the 

 first was warmest, and in the last coldest." As a general rule the gold carp does 

 not spawn in transparent vessels ; it requires ponds in which the bottom is not 

 too smooth and where there are weeds suitable for its purpose. In the almost 

 stagnant water of the breeding ponds at Oldenburg, should a little invigorating of 

 the fish be deemed necessary, augmented aeration is found to have this effect^ and 

 after receiving a current of aerated water it frequently begins to spawn within an 

 hour's time ; by stimulating, a considerable proportion of the fish may be made to 

 reproduce their species when not over twelve months of age. While bv high 

 feeding, frequent distribution of the parent fish (the same males and fern; les not 

 being allowed to " keep company " long together), and occasional aeration of the 

 water, it is found possible to pre-arrange the dates of spawning almost to a day, 

 and also to raise a large crop from a comparatively small breeding stock. The 

 first brood is raised in March or April, the second in July or earlier, and the 

 third about the end of August or commencement of September. Many thus 

 stimulated become prematurely barren, but even when comparatively less 

 stimulated it is the exception to use the fish as spawners more than two years. 

 M. Carbonnier (Compt. Rend. 1872, p. 1127) has recorded how he has observed 

 the male of the telescope variety acting as accoucheur to the female. Three 



