2^0 



^3 



The Colors of Fishes 



among the fronds of ulva, and olive-green among Sargassum 

 or fucus, the markings and often the form corresponding to the 

 nature of the alga; in which the species makes its home. 



Sexual Coloration. — In many groups of fishes the sexes are 

 differently^ colored. In some cases bright-red, blue, or black 

 markings characterize the male, the female having similar 

 marks, but less distinct, and the bright colors replaced by olive. 



Fig. 169. — Lizard-skipper, Alticus fsaliens (Forster). A blenny which lies out of 

 watiT on la'wa-rocli.-j, leaping from one to another witli great agility. From 

 nature; specimen from Point Distress, Tutuila Island, Samoa. (About one- 

 half size.) 



brown, or gray. In a fcAv cases, however, the female has marks 

 of a ti>tally diflerent nature, and scarcely less bright than those 

 of the male. 



Nuptial Coloration. — Nuptial colors are those which appear 

 on the male in the breeding season only, the pigment after- 

 wards vanishing, leaving the sexes essentially alike. Such 

 colors are found on most of the minnows and dace (Cvpruuihr) 

 of the rivers and to a less degree in some other fresh-water 

 fishes, as the darters {Ethcostoiiiiiia:) and the trout. In the 



