SEEN WITH THE EYE OF A FISH 27 
the amount of light reflected by the back, and so the 
whole fish is of a uniform shade, be that shade light or 
dark. 
The foregoing remarks on concealment refer only to 
fish when seen from somewhere about the same level 
in the water. When a fish is observed from above, his 
dark back makes him difficult to detect against the dark 
bottom, and, as will be seen later, should the bottom 
against which he is seen vary, the shade of his back will 
also vary to suit his surroundings. 
The only position in which a fish is conspicuous is 
when seen from below, for then he appears silhouetted 
against the light of the sky. 
I show a photograph of a shoal of young rudd seen 
from below and outlined against the surface of the 
water. This is how they would appear to a pike patiently 
waiting on the bottom and watching for his prey. The 
rudd are seen to be wheeling round to the right. The 
three lowest fish, which have already commenced the 
wheeling movement by slightly turning on their left 
sides, reflect the dark water below them, and are seen 
as silhouettes against the sky. The right sides of the 
fish above them are catching the light, and appear to 
be living bars of silver. It will be noticed that the lead- 
ing rudd on the top line is again coming on to a level 
keel, and in consequence reflects less light. 
When walking along the river bank, or standing by 
the side of a pond, where small fish abound, many of us 
have. no doubt, seen a certain spot in the water which 
