Bulletin of the Bureau of Fisheries . O itO 3 u CULTIVATION OF MAKINK AND FRESH-WATER ANIMALS IN JAPAN. 269 fish, when fully grown, arc apt to strike their eyes against the sides of the ponds,tubs, etc., in which they arc kept, and to injure them so that they often becomeblind. In nature, therefore, such a protuding eye must be a distinct disadvantage,and would never have been produced except by artificial selection. 7. The dem^-ranchu (cut -i). This variety is not yet naturalized in Japan,having been imported from China only within the last two or three years. Of allthe extraordinary and odd-
Bulletin of the Bureau of Fisheries . O itO 3 u CULTIVATION OF MAKINK AND FRESH-WATER ANIMALS IN JAPAN. 269 fish, when fully grown, arc apt to strike their eyes against the sides of the ponds,tubs, etc., in which they arc kept, and to injure them so that they often becomeblind. In nature, therefore, such a protuding eye must be a distinct disadvantage,and would never have been produced except by artificial selection. 7. The dem^-ranchu (cut -i). This variety is not yet naturalized in Japan,having been imported from China only within the last two or three years. Of allthe extraordinary and odd-looking fishes, it certainly is far in the lead in manyrespects, and is interesting as showing how far man can proceed in modifyingnature. It is a telescope-fish with a short globular body resembling the ranchu,and, like it. without the dorsal fin. The eyes have assumed a most extraordinaryposition. The ordinary telescope-fish is odd enough, with the eyes protruding, but in. Cut i.—The demfi-ranchu. this variety dislocation has gone one step further. The eyes have not only startedout of the head, but have turned upward 90 degrees and have their pupils lookingstraight skyward. For this reason 1 should be inclined to call this astronomicaltelescope-fish. As a fish, it is so monstrous that it gives one almost uncomfortable feelings. It is an interesting fact that in the forms without any dorsal fin, many more or less traces of that fin. Sometimes there may be only the first spine,at other times only a few spines, at still others a little bit of a tin. showing thatthe fin must have been bred off comparatively recently. There can be no doubt that of these varieties the wakin is the most primitive,as can be seen from its shape, as well as from the fact that it is much hardier than the 270 BULLETIN OK THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. others, and therefore easier to rear. The ryukin is next the wakin in itsnearness to the original < arassi/us. It i
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectfisheries, bookyear19
