A JVaniing-Color Reaction Experimentally Established. 



291 



The three series shown in detail in table 11 are summarized in table 12, 

 to show the total number of atherinas of each sort offered and the total num- 

 ber falling in each category. Series I requires no further comment. Series 

 II has little bearing on the general result. It was introduced to determine 

 whether the experience of the snappers with tentacled reds in series I had 

 been of such a character as to lead them to refuse red atherinas even when 

 not tentacled. This did not yet prove to be the case and all the red fish 

 offered were taken, though less readily than the imcolored formalin normals. 



* The fish that remained untaken floated; although none of the formalin normals that floated 

 remained untaken. 



t Nos. I, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 13, 15. X Including Nos. 143 to 158. § All these fish sank. 



All the atherinas used in series III were made to sink, so that tentacled 

 fish that had been refused sank slowly through the colony of snappers and 

 lay afterward on the bottom untouched. Seven formalin reds (without ten- 

 tacles) were then offered and all were refused and remained untouched on 

 the bottom. Immediately afterward 30 formalin normals were thrown. My 

 notes record " all were taken as fast as fed, the first few with slight hesita- 

 tion, the others immediately." The hesitation referred to was so slight that 

 it does not appear in table 11. 



An association betzvcen red and unpalatability thus appears to have been 

 established in the individuals of this colony of 1^0 snappers. If we exclude 

 series II this has resulted from 178 experiences of swallowing the ten- 

 tacled fish. This is an average of but little more than one experience to 

 each snapper. Series II closed at 11'' 30" a. m. At 12" 15" p. m. a few 

 formalin normals were thrown. The first were taken with a little hesita- 

 tion, the others with a rush and without hesitation. Three formalin ten- 

 tacled reds were then thrown ; the first was taken with some hesitation, while 



