thrown into the ponds. Tlie balls are light and for a few minutes float like corks while the fish 

 push them about with their m.ises in the efforts to eat them; after a time, becoming water soaked, 

 they gradually disintegiate, sink, and are de\-oured. 



The goldfish is a C(jmnion theme in Japanese dcci)rali\e and induslrial art, and is a favorite 

 subject for bii ili.igical in\-estigation. Snme of the leading men oi science of Japan ha\'e delved into 

 the natural hister}- r)f this fish, and ha\-e written most entertainingl)- of its \-arious ])hases. Being 

 a plastic material, the goldfish when skillfull}- bied, yields many surprises to the biologist as 

 well as to the culti\'ator. 



Origin of tiic Goldfisit and its Culture in Japan 



]\Ian\- things that ha\'e been firmly established in Japan for centuries in realit)- had their origin 

 in China, and ami mg the mure nntewortln- of these is the highh' colored culti\'ated \-arietv of gold- 

 fish. The g(Mldfish is ]jossil)l\- nati\'e to Ja])an, and hsli ha\ing the dull coloration and simple form 

 of the original wild species arc found in o])en waters all o\er Japan, but in some cases these are 

 as likeh' to have been the prcjgen)' of fish that escaped from ])ri\'ate ])onds and re\'erted \o the wild 



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