TIIIRTERXTII ANNUAL REPORT 117 



Phase 4. l')Otly dusky brown, heavily mottled everywhere — 

 a phase connected with fright (see plate opposite page 392, 

 .■liiicriciDi Food cnid Game Fishes.) 



The above are the princi])al phases to be seen any day. l)ut there 

 are several variations. 



Tiger Rockfish, {Myctcropcrca lign's). Two phases are 

 usually to be seen at the same time among the specimens in the 

 exhibition tank. Tn one the general coloration is brownish, the 

 bands which distinguish the species being pale and indistinct. 

 I\Iost of the brown effect is produced by very numerous brown 

 spots everywhere. 



In the other phase the body is almost black, the bands are 

 pure white, and there is more or less white mottling on the tail. 

 This coloration is the one assumed when the fishes are disturbed. 



Blue Taxg, iTciithis cocrulcus). There are two striking- 

 phases of coloration assumed by this species, one a bright blue, 

 the other pure creamy white. In the latter there may be at 

 times faint bluish margins to all the fins except the pectorals. 



The blue phase is the one usually seen, since it is assumed 

 whenever the fish is in the least disturbed by visitors passing the 

 tank, and this lasts all day long (fig. 2, plate 9). 



The other phase is seldom seen until the building is free from 

 visitors, then the fish may settle down toward the white sand 

 bottom and take on a ghostly whiteness (fig. i, plate 9), but any 

 disturbance instantly brings back the blue color. 



No amount of experiment in the photographic tank ever pro- 

 duces anything but an intensely blue fish. The figure showing 

 the white phase (plate 9) w^as made with the help of the en- 

 graver from a photograph of a blue specimen, it being impossible 

 to photogra})h it. 



Doctor Fish, (Teuthis hrpoius). Pale phase: Pale white in- 

 cluding pectorals and dorsal, the caudal and lower fins faintly 

 bluish on the edges, ^"ertical bands faint. 



Dark phase : A'ery dark, blue of fins almost obscured. A white 

 band around caudal peduncle behind lancet. A^'ertical bands very 

 dim. 



Olive phase : Body and fins pale olive. \*ertical bands sharp 

 and distinct. Alouth white. 



CoxEV OR XiGGER FiSH, {Bodiaiius fiilvits). This species is 

 siibject to many and frequent changes in apjiearance. A com- 

 mon resting color, shows the upper third of head and body very 



