WCP776

[1]

12 Royal Crescent, Jersey

Octo[ber] 2^nd 1903

Dear Sir,

I trust that you will pardon the liberty I am taking in writing to you and when I tell you that I am and old, and enthusiastic naturalist I feel pretty confident that you will do so.

I have lately been discussing the question of protective colouring among marine animals, with an old friend (W. bash F.L.S.¹ of Halifax) and in the course of this I have returned to criticise one or two small permits in "Darwinism"²

It is at the suggestion of my friend that I am writing, as he says he is sure you will not take this amuse, and that if there is anything in the point I suggest it may lead to their being further [2] integrated against the publication of a further edition of the book.

In the section on Warning Colours p266. it says "among the animals that probably have warning colours as a sign of inedibility are the brilliantly coloured Nudibranchiate Mollusca, those curious annelids the Nereis and the Aphrodite or sea mouse"*

Now Nereis is by no means inedible. That it is eagerly sought for by pretty well all the shore frequenting fishes — (Labridae. Gadidae Pleuronectidae et etc) and its forms together with its larger relative the great-Eunice (or Marphysa) Sanguinea the most valued bias — for general fishing among the fisherman of this coast at least. One Nereis. the bright — 'N. diversicolor' is by the fishermen called the "Red cat worm" It is also the bait used here by all the amateur anglers Even such a selective fish as [3] as the grey Mullet (M. cephalus) taking it eagerly.

Nor are the colours, coupled with the form of these worms imitative of any indelible organism. for the other forms they resemble (glycera Phyllodoce Lumbrineris eli) for there are equally prized by fishes.

Then as the Aphrodites — The brightly coloured one sphere coasts Aphrodita Aculeata, is not armed, to any amount an I have often found remains of it in the stomachs of the big Dogfish (Scyllum Catulus) while on the hand the strongly armed one, A. (or Hermione) hystrix, with its sharp barbed and brittle setae (a really dangerous thing to touch) is dull coloured & quite without the iridescent hues of its relative.

The other point is on p. 196. where it says "Some Crustaceans change colour, and the pincer is much developed [4] in the Chameleon Shrimp (Mysis chamaeleon)" etc.

Now is not Mysis here confused with Hippolyte, one of the Crangonidae?

I have opportunity ([1 word illeg.]) of seeing Mysis in quantity and have kept and reared numbers of them for observations on their peculiar larval states, but apart from the grey & the translucent tints — which with the line of pigmented spots, (one on each somite & which colours are constant I have seen no variation.

While Hippolyte changes colours readily to suit its surroundings Red (deep red) to vivid green, when the change is from Rhodoserms to Chlorosperms, takes place in one hour. Green to Red — (when changed in reverse order) occupies about 3 to 4 hours. and my son-in-law Hornell³ have noticed that this change can take place in (what [5] to our senses) is absolute darkness viz: at night, in a closed cupboard vide; Microscopical Studies in Marine zoology — (Hornell) vol 1. p113)⁴

There is one long and plain Hippolyte, I forget its name, but I think Mulne Edwards⁵(?) calls it viridis viridis — which in general outline would be taken by a casual observer for one of the larger Mysids or perhaps it is this that has led to confusion.

Some of the smaller Hippolytes H. pascifera & H. Cranchii, I have never noticed Changes in (I have not experimented on them — but have seen but one colouration among them in there[sic] homes) they are coralline dwellers, and are marked with Chocolate blotches on a transplant ground, in precise imitation of the nodular endings of the branchlets of the corallinus.

Should you be still [6] investigating, and have time for inclination to look into such small details, it would afford me infinite pleasure to send you some living specimens of there[sic] creature — Hippolytes & Mysids with the weeds left[?] in such condition that you could easily keep them alive for some time.

Again apologizing for this liberty & giving for my reasons for writing the great-interest I take in these matters.

I remain | yours faithfully | J. Sinel [signature]