302 A HISTORY OF FISHES 



colours and quivering with intense excitement." Should the 

 female ignore his attentions, as sometimes happens, he becomes 

 enraged, and not infrequently chases her until she is obliged 

 to jump out of the water to escape him. 



Among marine fishes courtship is rare, but the Common 

 Dragonet {Callionymus) of our own coasts indulges in elaborate 

 nuptial displays, yet afterwards leaves the eggs to float about in 

 the sea, showing no concern whatsoever for the fate of the 

 offspring. The male is about twelve inches in length, yellowish 

 or orange, with two blue stripes along each side of the body and 

 a row of light-blue or green spots above; the head is marked with 

 spots or stripes of violet or blue, and the fins, which are larger 

 than those of the female, the first dorsal being greatly prolonged, 

 are variously spotted and banded with yellow, green and blue 

 (Fig. 109A). The mature female is about eight inches long, 

 dull yellowish-brown passing into white beneath, ornamented 

 with greenish spots enclosed in dark-brown rings. So different 

 are the two sexes that they were originally regarded as distinct 

 species, and known as the Gemmeous and Sordid Dragonet 

 respectively. At the time of courting the male rushes about in 

 a state of great excitement, endeavouring to frighten other 

 males in the vicinity; he then swims round the female, erecting 

 all his fins, and displaying for her benefit his highly intensified 

 colours. Finally, these antics excite her admiration, and she 

 yields to his importunities. The male lifts his mate by placing 

 his pelvic fin beneath hers, and the two fishes swim vertically 

 towards the surface of the water side by side, the eggs and 

 milt being extruded at the same moment; fertilisation takes 

 place in the water, and the ova float to the surface. 



In many species the males become very pugnacious during 

 the breeding period, indulging in fierce combats for the pos- 

 session of a favoured female or in defence of their nests. Thus, 

 the Siamese Fighting-fish {Betta) are pitted against one another 

 by the natives for sport, after the manner of fighting-cocks. 

 Considerable sums of money, to say nothing of their own 

 persons and families, are wagered on the results of the combats, 

 and the issue of licences to exhibit "fish fights" provides a 

 source of considerable revenue for the King of Siam. In a state 

 of quiet the colours of this fish are rather dull, but if two be 

 placed in the same aquarium, or if one sees its own image in the 

 looking-glass, the fins and whole body shine with dazzling, 

 metallic hues, and it will make repeated darts at its real or 

 fancied antagonist. 



