(25. Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist. Oct. 1852.), as being then
beautiful beyond description. The back and eyes of the female are
simply brown, and the belly white. The eyes of the male, on the other
hand, are of the most splendid green, having a metallic lustre like
the green feathers of some 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 were somewhat translucent and glowed with an internal
incandescence. After the breeding season these colours all change, the
throat and belly become of a paler red, the back more green, and the
glowing tints subside.
With respect to the courtship of fishes, other cases have been observed
since the first edition of this book appeared, besides that already
given of the stickleback. Mr. W.S. Kent says that the male of the
Labrus mixtus, which, as we have seen, differs in colour from the
female, makes a deep hollow in the sand of the tank, and then
endeavours in the most persuasive manner to induce a female of the same
species to share it with him, swimming backwards and forwards between
her and the completed nest, and plainly exhibiting the greatest anxiety
for her to follow. The males of Cantharus lineatus become, during the
breeding-season, of deep leaden-black; they then retire from the shoal,
and excavate a hollow as a nest. Each male now mounts vigilant guard
over his respective hollow, and vigorously attacks and drives away any
other fish of the same sex. Towards his companions of the opposite sex
his conduct is far different; many of the latter are now distended with
spawn, and these he endeavours by all the means in his power to lure
singly to his prepared hollow, and there to deposit the myriad ova with
which they are laden, which he then protects and guards with the
greatest care. (26. Nature, May 1873, p. 25.)
A more striking case of courtship, as well as of display, by the males
of a Chinese Macropus has been given by M. Carbonnier, who carefully
observed these fishes under confinement. (27. Bulletin de la Societe
d Acclimat. Paris, July 1869, and Jan. 1870.) The males are most
beautifully coloured, more so than the females. During the
breeding-season they contend for the possession of the females; and, in
the act of courtship, expand their fins, which are spotted and
ornamented with brightly coloured rays, in the same manner, according
to M. Carbonnier, as the peacock. They then also bound about the
females with much vivacity, and appear by l etalage de leurs vives
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