Queer Fish 119 
The anemone, in its fully extended state, may measure as much as from a_ foot 
to eighteen inches or more in diameter, and 1s variously tinted. The colours of 
the fish, however, are still more brilliant and in striking contrast to those of its 
adopted host. While the anemone is more commonly grey or brown, or it may 
be apple-green, the dominant colour of the fish is a bright orange-scarlet or vermilion, 
variegated with broad bands of the purest white. There are several varieties or 
species of this anemone-consorting fish, which are referred technically to the genus 
Amphiprion. Hach of these species, moreover, is found to consort with an allied 
but distinct variety of sea anemone. In some of the species, as many as three white 
bands intersect the orange-scarlet ground-tint of the fish’s body; in another variety 
there may be but two such bands, while in a third form only one band obtains. In 
the last-named instance this single white band crosses the head and cheeks of the fish 
im such a manner as to impart to it the grotesque aspect of haying its face bandaged 
for the toothache. So apparently incongruous 
and apart from the uniform colourimg of 
the general surface of the fish’s body is 
this cross band, that on making the first 
acquaintance of an example of the species, 
bringing it up in a dredge with other 
specimens at Port Darwin, the impression 
was forced upon the writer that a fragment 
of white paper had accidentally got mixed 
up with the dredge’s contents and was 
adhering to the fish’s head. It was only on 
attempting to remove the supposed adherent 
matter that the illusion was dispelled. 
While the Amphiprions are habitually 
associated with the anemones, their relation- 
ship with the zoophytes are essentially those 
of lodging and not of boarding guests. In the 
coral pools that they frequent the fish may 
be found cruismg round in sport or in search . . et - 
of rood ar some Kittle Gisiaimnes Prom nets From a Photograph by W. Saville-Kent, F.Z.S. 
: FIERASFER. 
host, to whose sheltering protection MOVES Aremer ive meni enatiiives an a eoracite within jelly-febess 
hastily return on the advent of any disturbing béche-leaner and pearl oysters. In this example the 
influence. The possession of abnormally — "y within's winding sheet of its own pearly substance. 
briliant contrasting colours by fish and other 
animals has been interpreted by the light of modern biological knowledge to be 
commonly indicative of their unedible or it may be more directly baneful properties, 
and im such manner they are protected, bemg assured immunity from the attacks 
of many would-be devourers. Whether the little fish under discussion are poisonous 
or otherwise as food has not been determined, but in the former instance it might 
be supposed that the fishes’ colours alone would suffice as a warning to over rash 
ageressors, and that there would be no need of the additional protection yielded 
by the sea anemone. As a simply protective provision, however, the bright hues of 
' Amphiprion are probably amply efficient. It can be readily understood that a larger fish 
or other marine creature that in hot pursuit of its prey suddenly finds itself as it 
were precipitated into a bed of stinging nettles will in the future give the gaudy little 
Amphiprions a wide berth. The marvel is that the anemone refrains from exerting its 
stinging powers upon and from killing and devouring its little pensioner. Seemingly the 
relationship betwixt the two 1s much the same as that between the shark and the pilot 
Fs 
