68 CHANGES OF COLOUR. 



with constantly varying force into cavities in the sub- 

 stance of the skin, of ever-changing dimensions. 

 Now the spots become rings, like the markings of a 

 panthey's skin ; and, as the little creature moves slightly, 

 either side beneath the fin is seen to glow with metal- 

 lic lustre, like that of gold-leaf seen through horn. 

 Again, the rings unite and coalesce, and form a beau- 

 tiful netted pattern of brown, which colour increasing, 

 leaves the interspaces a series of white spots on the 

 rich dark ground. These and other phases are every 

 instant interchanging, and passing suddenly and mo- 

 mentarily into each other with the utmost irregularity. 

 But here is a change ! One is hovering in quiescence, 

 his colour pale, almost white ; one of his fellows 

 shoots along just over him ; with the quickness of 

 thought, the alarmed creature turns from white to an 

 uniform deep brown, the rich full colour suffusing the 

 skin in a second, like a blush on a young maiden's 

 face. The hue is very beautiful ; it is the fine, deep 

 sienna-tint of tortoise-shell ; a substance which, in- 

 deed, the mingling clouds of brown and pellucid 

 horn closely resemble in the intermediate phases of 

 colour. 



Hitherto we have seen the Sepiola only in the pail 

 of water into which it was turned out of the net. After 

 a little while it drops upon the bottom, and, crouching 

 up, remains motionless ; if you rouse it, it will again 

 swim for a few moments, but presently seeks some 

 comer, into which it thrusts its rear, and huddles up 

 as before. This is all that you will see of its habits 

 under such circumstances ; for in all probability the 

 morning will reveal your little protegS a lump of white 



