1878.] MR. F. DAY ON FEAR AND ANGER IN FISHES. 215 



of dermal appendages under the influence of anger or terror, which 

 last would be analogous to the erection of scales and fin-rays in the 

 class Pisces. Regarding special expressions, as those of joy, pain, 

 astonishment, &c, we could hardly expect to find such so well 

 marked in fishes as in some of the higher animals, in which the 

 play of the features often affords us an insight into their internal 

 emotions. Eyes ' destitute of movable eyelids, cheeks covered 

 with scales, or the head enveloped in dermal plates, can scarcely 

 mantle into a smile or expand into a broad grin. We possess, 

 however, one very distinct expression in fishes, which is absent or 

 but slightly developed in many 2 of the higher animals — namely, 

 change of colour. All are aware that when a fish sickens its 

 brilliant colours fade, but less so how its colour may be aug- 

 mented by anger, and a loss of it be occasioned by depression 

 the result of being vanquished by a foe. Some forms also emit 

 sounds when actuated by terror, and perhaps in times of anger ; but 

 of this last I possess no decided proofs. 



" As regards manifestations of anger, Dr. Cantor makes the 

 following remarks on the Macropodus pugnax 3 : — ' When the fish 

 is in a state of quiet, with the fins at rest, the dull colours present 

 nothing remarkable. But if two are brought within sight of each 

 other, or if one sees its own image in a looking-glass, the little 

 creature becomes suddenly excited, the raised fins and the whole 

 body shine with metallic colours of dazzling beauty, while the pro- 

 jected gilt membranes, waving like a black frill round the throat, 

 add something grotesque to the general appearance. In this state 

 it makes repeated darts at its real or reflected antagonist. But 

 both, when taken out of each other's sight, instantly become quiet. 

 .... The Siamese are as infatuated with the combats as the Malays 

 are with their cock-fights, and stake considerable sums, and some- 

 times their own persons and their families. The license of exhibit- 

 ing fish-fights is farmed, and affords a considerable annual revenue 

 to the King of Siam.' 



" The foregoing extract shows anger in fishes demonstrated by 

 change in colour and the erection of the fins and gill-membranes. I 

 will now give an observation respecting the three-spined Stickle- 

 back 4 . After a fight between two examples • a strange alteration takes 

 place almost immediately in the defeated party : his gallant bearing 

 forsakes him ; his gay colours fade away ; he becomes again speckled 

 and ugly ; and he hides his disgrace amongst his peaceable com- 

 panions, who occupy together that part of the tub which their 

 tyrants have not taken possession of ; he is, moreover, for some 

 time the constant object of his conqueror's persecution.' In fact we 

 here perceive how the disgrace of defeat affects the spirits of the 



1 Couch (Illustrations. &c, p. 305) says, " The faculty of giving forth brilliant 

 light from the eyes, as in a cat, is said to have been observed by fishermen in 

 the Blue Shark." 



2 Numerous examples of the Saurians are exceptions. 



3 Cantor, Catal. Mai. Pish, 1850, p. 87. Sir J. Bowring, in his account of 

 Siam, p. 155, gives a very similar account of the battles of these fiehee. 



4 Couch, 'British Fishes,' 1865, vol. iv. p. 172. 



