TIIIRTEEXTII ANN'UAL REPORT 109 



cially if disturbed by its companions, will turn [)alc below, the 

 red c[uite disappearing, while the darkness of the upper parts 

 remains. 



When the change from the dark to the pale phase takes place 

 slowly, say in four or five seconds, the obliteration of the differ- 

 ent marks and colors can be easily followed with the eye. More 

 often the change is instantaneous. When the two extremes of 

 coloration are shown in separate fishes, as is often the case, the 

 casual observer naturally supposes there are two species in the 

 tank. 



Between the extremes of coloration there are several inter- 

 mediate phases, one of which shows a pale fish, quite lacking the 

 white scales and the red underparts, but with the free margins 

 of all scales so dark that they are outlined with a distinctness 

 not to be seen in any other species known to me. 



The phase shown in the colored plate of this species (Xo. 38) 

 in the Fishes of Porto Rico has not been observed in the Aqua- 

 rium, even after repeated experiments in the large and small 

 tanks. The painting was made from a dead fish and is herewith 

 reproduced on (plate 5, fig. 4). 



Fig. I, Plate 4, shows the red parrot-fisli in a half pale phase, 

 with the white spots appearing faintly, all red color having dis- 

 appeared. Fig. 2 is the same fish, photographed two minutes 

 later, after the photographer had changed the plate. The rich 

 brown color, white spots and gorgeous red were produced in- 

 stantly for the benefit of the photographer by touching the fish 

 with a stick. Roth views were secured in the portable photo- 

 graphic tank. 



A flashlight photograph by Mr. Spencer of the large exhibition 

 tank shows the red parrot-fish in two additional phases to those 

 described above: the left figure (plate 5) is a half-mottled dark 

 phase, w'ith the head pale and underparts red. The right figure, 

 a slightly-mottled pale phase, only partly red below. 



Another phase is sometimes assumed when the fish is at rest. 

 the dark upper color and the red under color being separated by 

 a pure white band extending from the upper jaw, through the 

 eye to the lower half of the tail, the fringe of the opercle turning 

 jet black. 



The palest phase of this species was not observed in the tanks 

 of the Bermuda Aquarium, probably because none of the tanks 

 were supplied with white sand bottoms. 



Green Parrot-fish^ (Sparisoiua riridi). This species while 

 not capable of the many changes in color so constantly practiced 



