FISHES 



203 



the moment of starting, and at the same time the jaws were 

 protruded to the utmost, the gill-covers were expanded, and 

 the pelvic fins held rigidly forward and outward. The fish in 

 this movement scarcely left the ground, the anal fins being 

 depressed and invisible. The movement was produced by the 

 pectoral and caudal fins, sometimes by a stroke of the whole 

 tail. The yellow bands were more brilliant than before the 

 commencement of sexual activity, but did not change with 

 the erection of the dorsal fins, and became less brilliant after 

 the first few days. The blue bands on the sides flashed out 

 with intense brilliance as the fins were erected, but became 

 paler again before they were lowered ; these bands also became 

 less vivid after the first few days. 



The rushes of the male fish were sometimes not directed to a 

 special object; sometimes, if females or young males were near, 

 the adult male darted at them, and they fled away from him. 

 Occasionally the two males met in full display, and then one 

 lowered his fins and swam hastily away. Only one female at 

 first was breeding ; she was 6f inches long. She showed no 

 signs of great excitement. When one of the males approached 

 her, he seemed to recognise her sex and condition, gliding 

 past her or circling in front of her, or sometimes resting still 

 in front of her with all his finery displayed. 



The behaviour described was evidently an invitation to the 

 female ; when she was willing she swam to the side of the male, 

 who immediately lowered his fins and retracted his jaws and 

 gill-covers. The two swam slowly side by side along the 

 ground, the male raised the fore-part of his body by the action 

 of his pectorals, and the female placed- one of her pelvics on 

 that of the male, and pressed as close as possible into the 

 hollow between his gill-cover and lateral fins. The hinder 

 part of the second dorsal and ventral fins in the male were 

 erected, and the whole of these fins in the female. The male 

 then slowly raised himself and his partner into a vertical 



