The Inhabitants of the Aquarium 117 



halves, each ending in a graceful waving, 

 drooping veil of a very delicate tissue. 

 When in motion the tail should form a 

 cloudlike mass with a well rounded outline. 

 The anal and ventral fins should also be well 

 developed, thereby adding to the beauty, 

 grace and value of their possessor. Being 

 the product of most careful and continual ar- 

 tificially controlled breeding, the differences 

 in color, shape and size of this fish are num- 

 berless. It may be said that it is almost 

 impossible to find two specimens exactly 

 alike in every respect. While the Fringe- 

 tail can be found in all colors in which the 

 gold fish appears, a clear crimson is espe- 

 cially in demand. Fishes combining all the 

 good points of this variety bring very high 

 prices. Before purchasing one of these ex- 

 pensive fishes, the buyer should examine 

 carefully the development of the dorsal fin. 

 Sometimes the latter is crippled, marring the 

 beauty of the fish and considerably decreas- 

 ing its value. The Fringe-tail requires two 



