THE SCHOOL OF THE SHORE 53 



differ so much in fishes from the same 

 reef. 



So it has been suggested that they are 

 warning colours, useful in impressing enemies 

 with the fact that many of these brilliant fishes 

 are unpalatable and best left alone. And 

 another view is that coral - reef fishes are 

 so safe, with so many holes and corners to 

 play hide-and-seek in, that they can afford to 

 be any colour. On this view, the colours are 

 of no more use than the colours of withering 

 leaves. 



On the other hand, Mr. W. H. Longley, 

 who has walked about on the floor of the coral 

 sea and watched the fishes for hours, maintains 

 that many of the most brilliantly coloured are 

 very well camouflaged when they are in the 

 particular kind of corner that they like best as 

 a home. Some have two kinds of coloured 

 pattern, suited for two haunts a sort of Jekyll 

 and Hyde business. Some are longitudinally 

 striped or with no pattern when on the move 

 and cross-striped when they settle down. It 

 looks as if there was a great deal of useful 

 camouflaging. 



