A first book in organic evolutionShute, D. Kerfoot (Daniel Kerfoot)
Science
A first book in organic evolution
Shute, D. Kerfoot (Daniel Kerfoot)
Evolution
=Protective Coloration, or Local Color Adaptation.= In forest-haunting
animals of large size, such as forest-cats, and forest-deer, rounded
spots are frequently noticed. Animals like the tiger, that spend a great
deal of their time among high grasses and reeds, are striped vertically.
The combined artistic effects of these spots and stripes, in connection
with the lights and shades of the forest and the reeds, are such as quite
effectually to conceal the animals from view: for the black stripes of
the tiger, for instance, correspond with the black shadows of the reeds
or grasses; and his yellow stripes with the yellow of the reeds. In like
manner the rounded spots of the forest-deer harmonize with the spotty
shadows of the leaves in the forest. An experienced tiger hunter has
stated that in following up a wounded tiger the natives saw the animal
at a distance of about twenty meters, under a tree among the reeds, and
pointed out the animal to him; but the color effects of the stripes of
the tiger so harmonized with the artistic effect of the light and shade
of the reeds as to effectually prevent his seeing the animal for a minute
or so. The zebra, which is such a conspicuous animal in our zoölogical
gardens, on its native soil and in a bright star-light night, may be
so close to one as to be heard breathing, and yet cannot be seen, so
completely are its color patterns in harmony with its native habitat.
Marine organisms that float on the surface of the water are beautifully
tinged with blue in harmony with the color of the ocean as it appears to
their enemies above, the birds; while, looked at from below, they are
white, thus harmonizing with the white clouds and the foam as seen by
enemies from below.
There are many animals that are very conspicuous when removed from their
native haunts, yet when in their proper environment are invisible or
detected with the greatest difficulty. Such a large animal as the giraffe
is effectually concealed by its form and color when standing among the
broken and dead trees that exist on the edges of the thickets where it
may be seeking its food. The odd shape of the head, with its horns that
resemble broken branches, and the blotchy spots on the skin, so harmonize
with its surroundings that even the keen eyes of the natives sometimes
mistake giraffes for trees and trees for giraffes.
There is a bat (_Kerivoula picta_) found in the island of Formosa that
has a very conspicuous black and orange color. The body of this bat is
of an orange color, and its wings are black and orange-yellow. When
resting it suspends itself, head downwards, from the branches of an
evergreen tree. During all the year some part of the foliage of this tree
is undergoing decay, so that many of the leaves assume tints of orange
and black. When the bat is suspended among such decaying leaves its
colors and those of the leaves so harmonize that the animal is perfectly
concealed, and thus eludes its enemies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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