2 THE COLOUR OF FISH. [CHAT-, i. 



gressing through the water, as may be seen from its form, which 

 has been imitated more or less closely by the builders of ships, 

 the makers of weavers' shuttles, and others. Fish are ex- 

 ceedingly beautiful as regards both form and colour. There 

 are comparatively few persons, however, who have an oppor- 

 tunity of seeing them at the moment of their greatest brilliancy, 

 namely, just when they are brought out of the water. I allude 

 more particularly to some of our sea fish as the herring, 

 mackerel, etc. The power of a fish to take on the colour of its 

 hiding-place may be mentioned. I found, a few weeks ago, some 

 young fish of various kinds in the Tweed at Stobo, which 

 were, when in the water, quite undistinguishable from the vege- 

 table matter among which they were taking shelter. It is not 

 an easy matter to paint a fish so as accurately to transmit to 

 canvas its exquisite shape and glowing colours. The moment 

 it is taken from its own element its form alters and its deli- 

 cate hues fade ; and in different localities fish have, like the 

 chameleon, different colours, so that the artist must have a 

 quick eye and a responding hand to catch the rapidly-fleeting 

 tints of the animal. Nothing, for instance, can reveal more 

 beautiful masses of colour than the hauling into the boat of a 

 drift of herring-nets. As breadth after breadth emerges from 

 the water the magnificent ensemble of the fish flashes with 

 ever-changing hues upon the eye a wondrous pantomimic 

 mixture of glancing blue and gold, and silver and purple, 

 blended into one great burning glow of harmonious colour, 

 lighted into brilliant life by the soft rays of the newly-risen 

 sun. But, alas for the painter ! unless he can instantaneously 

 fix the burnished mass on his canvas, the light of its colour 

 will be extinguished, and its beauty be dimmed, long before 

 the boat has reached the harbour. The brightly -coloured 

 fish of the tropics are indeed gorgeous, as is the plumage of 

 tropical birds ; but as regards excellence of flavour, beautifully- 

 blended colours, and especially as a food power, they cannot 



