COLOKATION. 61 



fish, which in early youth is black or dark colored, and 

 only assumes its beautiful golden hue at maturity. 



During the breeding season of fishes their colors become 

 much heightened, but they lose their brightness and bril- 

 liancy in many cases when the season is over. A salmon 

 fresh-run from the sea is Justly considered the most beauti- 

 ful of fishes, but after the spawning season there is none 

 more sorry and ill-looking. Darwin mentions some very 

 interesting particulars, among which, that the pike, espe- 

 cially the male, during the breeding season, exhibits colors 

 exceedingly intense, brilliant and iridescent. 



Another striking instance out of many is afforded by the 

 male stickleback, which is described by Mr. Warrington 

 (England) as being then beautiful beyond description : 



" The back and eyes of the female, on the other hand, are the 

 most splended green, having a metallic luster like the green feather 

 of humming-birds. The throat and belly are of a bright crimson, 

 the back of an ashy green, and the whole fish appears as though 

 it was somewhat translucent, and glowed with an internal in- 

 candescence. After the breeding season, these colors all change; 

 the throat and belly become of a paler red, the back more green, 

 and the glowing tints subside." 



The well-known and beautiful spring, or breeding 

 dresses, of many of our darters and minnows, are common 

 illustrations of the influence of the breeding season upon 

 the change of color in fishes. 



The coloration of the young of the small-mouth bass 

 is light green, with golden reflections, and with numerous 

 small dots or punctulations, which aggregate in small clus- 

 ters, approaching somewhat the appearance of vertical bars. 

 The iris is golden. The base of the caudal fin is yellowish, 

 the tip whitish, and dark olivaceous or blackish in the 

 middle. 



