23 



The Colors of Fishes 



among the fronds of ulva, and olive-green among Sargassum 

 or fucus, the markings and often the form corresponding to the 

 nature of the algae in which the species makes its home. 



Sexual Coloration. In many groups of fishes the sexes are 

 differently colored. In some cases bright-red, blue, or black 

 markings characterize the male, the female having similar 

 marks, but less distinct, and the bright colors replaced by olive, 



FIG. 169. Lizard-skipper, Alticus saliens (Forster). A blenny which lies out of 

 water on lava-rocks, leaping from one to another with great agility. From 

 nature; specimen from Point Distress, Tutuila Island, Samoa. (About one- 

 half size.) 



brown, or gray. In a few cases, however, the female has marks 

 of a totally different nature, and scarcely less bright than those 

 of the male. 



Nuptial Coloration. Nuptial colors are those which appear 

 on the male in the breeding season only, the pigment after- 

 wards vanishing, leaving the sexes essentially alike. Such 

 colors are found on most of the minnows and dace (Cyprimda) 

 of the rivers and to a less degree in some other fresh-water 

 fishes, as the darters (Etheostomina} and the trout. In the 



