THE FEELERS OF THE BARBED MULLET 



coloured cells which contain pigments called " chro- 

 matophores " or " colour-bearers " may be found in 

 the skin of most fishes, but they seldom display, as 

 they do in the mullet, such an intensity of shade and 

 such a rapid change. 



These modifications are noticeable in normal life. 

 On specimens kept in an aquarium we may see patches 

 appear, persist for a moment, then fade out or dis- 

 appear, or perhaps move elsewhere. The sides of the 

 head redden like the cheeks; the white bellies become 

 scarlet; the brown backs grow pale and turn a pearly 

 grey. Here we have transformations of colour which 

 become stronger, more numerous, more intense during 

 the frantic struggles of the fish when it is taken from 

 its element. Then they vary at different times and 

 in individuals. In some, the whole belly becomes a 

 bright red, leaving only a narrow band of palest rose 

 in the middle. In others, we find purple bronze 

 patches, sometimes many in number and close together; 

 sometimes broad and spaced out. These patches appear, 

 spread, gradually grow stronger, then weaken and fade 

 away. As death approaches, these bright hues grow 

 dim and become mixed; the pink becomes leaden in 

 places; and, when the end has come and the fish is 

 motionless, the body takes on its last vermilion, a 

 shade which it will keep thereafter, from which it gets 

 its name. 



When once we have seen this extremely interesting 

 death, we can understand the attraction such a sight 

 had for the Romans. What escapes us today, or what 

 seems useless, had an interest and a meaning to them. 

 We must bear in mind, remembering their stories, or 

 after visiting what is left of their houses, say at Pompeii, 

 the extreme importance they attached to complete 

 satisfaction of the senses, the most vulgar as well as 

 the most delicate. Brutal and refined, both to excess; 

 that is what most of them were. Their wealth, their 

 might, their domination, enabled them to realize their 



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