COLORATION OF THE BLACK BASS. 149 



tinguished, such as the forest or stone trout, the alpine or 

 mountain trout, the gold or pond trout, the lake trout, and, 

 according to the lighter or darker coloring, the white 

 trout, the black trout, etc." Truly almost as polyonomous 

 as our Black Bass. 



That difference in food produces difference in coloration 

 does not admit of a doubt. Those of the Salmonidce which 

 feed upon Crustacea and larvae exhibit the most brilliant 

 colors, while those which live upon insects, minnows, 

 worms, etc., are much duller in hue. 



Sir Humphrey Davy, in his familiar work, "Salmonia," 

 says : " I think it possible when trout feed much on hard 

 substances, such as larvae and their cases, and the ova of 

 other fish, they have more red spots and redder fins. This 

 is the case with the gillaroo and the char, who feed on 

 analogous substances; and the trout that have similar 

 habits might be expected to resemble them. When trout 

 feed on small fish, as minnows, and on flies, they have 

 more tendency to become spotted with small black spots, 

 and are generally more silvery/' 



The well-known artist and angler, Charles Lanman, 

 states : <( Various causes have been assigned for the great 

 variety in the color of the brook trout. One great cause 

 is the difference of food ; such as live upon fresh water 

 shrimps and other Crustacea, are the brightest ; those which 

 feed upon May-flies and other aquatic insects are the next; 

 and those which feed upon worms are the dullest and dark- 

 est of all." 



Dr. A. T. Thompson, the author of " Treasury of Nat- 

 ural History," observes: "That each species of trout has 

 its peculiarities of color, but the common trout is the most 

 beautiful of its class ; the variations of its tints and spots, 



