THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE, II 
The popular name “goldfish” was given to the entire genus 
because the first that were brought to Europe were of a golden 
color and. lustre, and we now speak of a crimson, yellow, pink, 
blue or black goldfish with as much propriety as we specify the 
color of the rose. “My cousin drives a rose-colored horse,” 
said a girl—the horse was a white one. Was that girl wrong? 
The general characteristics of the genus, which all the 
types and its varieties have in unison, are: Body covered with 
uniformly-sized, firmly attached scales (the ‘‘nudies” which are 
scaleless are an exception); head small and including the gill- 
covers not covered with scales; lips well developed and with- 
out barbles; mouth toothless; abdomen rounded; one long 
dorsal fin, with one spine and many soft rays, extending from 
the middle of the back to a point opposite of the end of the 
anal fin. The lateral line is prominent, running in a graceful 
curve in accordance with the shape of the specimen. The 
entire body being covered with a coat of slime. 
The size of the goldfish varies according to the locality in which 
they are raised, and the circumstances surrounding them, it being 
possible for them to attain a length of eighteen inches and a height 
of six inches. It is said that they may live to be a hundred years 
old, but this may be an exaggeration. 
Goldfish enjoy a warm temperature, in bodies of water without 
a current; just such water as ponds afford suit them best, though 
they will make themselves at home in streams and multiply exceed- 
ingly. They are very hardy, and thrive well under circumstances ° 
that would be fatal to many other fish, this quality particularly 
adapting them for life in the aquarium, specimens having been 
successfully kept in this way, in good condition and health, from ten 
to sixteen years. So far as food is concerned, the goldfish will feed 
upon almost all kinds of vegetable matter, insects, worms, etc., even 
