Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-03-20
WHENCE FISHES coLoRs COME.
why They Arc tho Most Decorative OF
Animals In This World.

oS@~
the other day to a writer for the Wash
ington Star. "Fhe surface of the scales
ordinarily is covered with thin, silver
coating, which derives its brilliant me-
tallic luster from the presence of many
crystals composed Of lime and a sub
stance known as 'guanin.' This coat
ing is easily rubbed off, and in one sort
OF European carp, called the bleak
the crystals are SO numerous that n me
talllc pigment is derived from them,
known in the arts as argentine which
Is used to impart luster to the glass
globules sold under the name of Roman
pearls When the silver coating is alb
sent the scales of fish are lusterless
and transparent, as in the case of the
smelt, the abdominal cavity of which,
however, has brilliant, silvery lining
composed Of the same substance.
Every one knows from observation
that the fishes of the world are the most
gorgeous OF animals in point of color
ing. The colors they exhibit are often
due to a simple arrangement of pig
ment cells, but the brilliant and change
able hues, which constitute the great
est beauty of these creatures, are de-
rived from two causes very wide apart
An illustration Of one of these may be
observed in the scales of the herring,
shad or maclserel, being a true rides
cence, similar to that seen in the pearl,
and due to the refraction of the rays OF
light as they glance off the surfaces Of
the thin plates of which the scales are
composed. More frequently, however,
the coloration is dependent on the ar
rangement of the pigment cells that are
In the lower layers of the outer skin of
the fish.
sin fish, when the black pigment
predominates, the color is somber, as in
the adult tautog. A slight admixture
OF yellow gives the bronze-like hue to
the eel, and a little more of the same,
If you please, results in the brighter
green of the black bass and the blue
fish. Red pigments intermixed with
black give the dingy brown of the
carp and some of the catfishes. When
the yellow and red outnumber the black
cells there result the tawny colors of
the sunfishes, the cusks and of some
varieties of the cod. Red pigment cells
in the lower strata of the outer skin
alone cause the brilliant scarlet of the
red snapper and the rosefish, and when
these are interspersed with black the
deeper colors of the mangrove snapper
and the ruddy variety of the sea raven
result. When the pigment cells gather
into separate groups according to color,
bands, stripes, spots and shadings, inf
mite in their variety, are found.
'In fish, as in other animals, albinoes
occur. Very curious are the albino
haddocks occasionally taken on our
coasts. The same phenomenon is also
observed in founders, carp and eels. In
the depths of the sea, where light is
scanty, many fishes appear to remain
permanently albinoes.
"Fishes very commonly change their
! colors to harmonize with the bottoms on
which they live, for the sake of conceal
ment. This is accomplished by the
| special secretion OF the proper pig.
ments. On certain lodges along the
| New England shore the rocks are cov-
cred with dense growths of scarlet and
crimson seaweed, and the fishes which
frequent their neighborhood become
tinted accordingly. 1t has been sug-
gested, by the way, that the pink of the
Balmon's flesh is due to the absorption
of the coloring matter of the crusta-
ccans they feed upon. Probably the
brilliant coloration Of many kinds Of
fishes is designed by nature to attract
' the opposite sex, as the beauty Of a
peacock's tail is intended for the same
purpose. Fear or other emotions will
often change the colors of fishes rap
idly.
! at is in tropical seas that the most
brilliantly colored and beautiful fishes
, of the world are to be found. Warmth
and light are favorable to brilliancy
and variety of hues always. The fishes
of the polar regions and those living at
considerable depth are usually SOM
Der, and when you get down TO tho
dark abysses of the ocean they arc oil
' 1t