OR, THE HOME-CULTTTEE OF FRESH-WATER PLANTS. 
is quite chameleon-like. The conqueror in a com¬ 
bat, from being a speckled dull greenish-looking fish, 
assumes the rich colouring described, which varies 
according to varying circumstances. The belly and 
lower jaws frequently becoming brilliant crimson, 
and the hack sometimes white, or a beautiful cream 
colour, hut more frequently a fine clear apple green. 
These fish, indeed, vary much even in their ordi¬ 
nary colouring, some being very nearly black. The 
little sable warriors, however, only become blacker 
during a combat, and somewhat paler if defeated. 
The effect of passion upon the colouring of this 
tribe is strongly illustrated by the existence of a 
similar power in the marine species, the fifteen- 
spined Stickleback. This pretty fish is of a fine 
full olive on the back, becoming rich golden be¬ 
neath ; but from sudden terror it has been known 
to turn to a pale dirty white for eighteen hours, 
afterwards regaining its usual colour. 
This singular kind of susceptibility in the Stickle¬ 
back may be curiously illustrated by placing some 
of the most brightly coloured in a white vessel, in 
the dark, when they quickly become nearly white, 
regaining their colour when exposed in an ordinary 
vessel to the light. It is said they will assume, in 
a greater or less degree, the colour of any vessel in 
73 
