Instincts, Habits, and Adaptations 165 



cation of another by Rev. S. J. Whitmee, describing the behavior 

 of aquarium fishes in Samoa. 



The means of expression in animals adverted to by Mr. 

 Darwin (excluding those of the ears, which would be out of 

 place in fishes) are: sounds, vocally or otherwise produced; the 

 erection of dermal appendages under the influence of anger or 

 terror, which last would be analogous to the erection of scales 

 and fin-rays among fishes. Regarding special expressions, as 

 those of joy, pain, astonishment, etc., we could hardly expect 

 such so well marked in fishes as in some of the higher animals, in 

 which the play of the features often affords us an insight into 

 their internal emotions. Eyes* destitute of movable eyelids, 

 cheeks covered with scales, or the head enveloped in dermal 

 plates, can scarcely mantle into a smile or expand into a broad 

 grin. We possess, however, one very distinct expression in 

 fishes which is absent or but slightly developed in most of 

 the higher animals, namely, change of color. All are aware 

 that when a fish sickens, its brilliant colors fade, but less so 

 how its color may be augmented by anger, and a loss of it be 

 occasioned by depression, the result of being vanquished by a 

 foe. Some forms also emit sounds when actuated by terror, 

 and perhaps in times of anger; but of this last I possess no 

 decided proofs. 



Similar to the expression of anger in Betta is that of the 

 three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus] ,f After a fight 

 between two examples, according to Couch, "a strange altera- 

 tion takes place almost immediately in the defeated party: his 

 gallant bearing forsakes him; his gay colors fade away; he 

 becomes again speckled and ugly; and he hides his disgrace 

 amongst his peaceable companions who occupy together that 

 part of the tub which their tyrants have not taken possession 

 of; he is, moreover, for some time the constant object of his 

 conqueror's persecution." 



Fear is shown by fish in many ways. There is not an angler 

 unacquainted with the natural timidity of fishes, nor a keeper in 



* Couch (Illustrations, etc., p. 305) says: "The faculty of giving forth bril- 

 liant light from the eyes is said to have been observed by fishermen in the 

 blue shark, as in a cat." 



| Couch, " British Fishes," 1865, vol. iv. p. 172. 



