The Outline of Science, Vol. 1 (of 4): A Plain Story Simply ToldThomson, J. Arthur (John Arthur)
Science
The Outline of Science, Vol. 1 (of 4): A Plain Story Simply Told
Thomson, J. Arthur (John Arthur)
Science
There is no doubt that a chameleon may make itself more inconspicuous by
changing its colour, being affected by the play of light on its eyes. A
bright-green hue is often seen on those that are sitting among strongly
illumined green leaves. But the colour also changes with the time of day
and with the animal's moods. A sudden irritation may bring about a rapid
change; in other cases the transformation comes about very gradually.
When the colour-change expresses the chameleon's feelings it might be
compared to blushing, but that is due to an expansion of the arteries of
the face, allowing more blood to get into the capillaries of the
under-skin. The case of the chameleon is peculiarly interesting because
the animal has two kinds of tactics--self-effacement on the one hand and
bluffing on the other. There can be little doubt that the power of
colour-change sometimes justifies itself by driving off intruders. Dr.
Cyril Crossland observed that a chameleon attacked by a fox-terrier
"turned round and opened its great pink mouth in the face of the
advancing dog, at the same time rapidly changing colour, becoming almost
black. This ruse succeeded every time, the dog turning off at once." In
natural leafy surroundings the startling effect would be much greater--a
sudden throwing off of the mantle of invisibility and the exposure of a
conspicuous black body with a large red mouth.
Sec. 4
Likeness to Other Things
Dr. H. O. Forbes tells of a flat spider which presents a striking
resemblance to a bird's dropping on a leaf. Years after he first
found it he was watching in a forest in the Far East when his eye fell
on a leaf before him which had been blotched by a bird. He wondered idly
why he had not seen for so long another specimen of the bird-dropping
spider (_Ornithoscatoides decipiens_), and drew the leaf towards him.
Instantaneously he got a characteristic sharp nip; it was the spider
after all! Here the colour-resemblance was enhanced by a
form-resemblance.
[Illustration: A. PROTECTIVE COLORATION OR CAMOUFLAGING, GIVING ANIMALS
A GARMENT OF INVISIBILITY
At the foot of the plate is a Nightjar, with plumage like bark and
withering leaves; to the right, resting on a branch, is shown a
Chameleon in a green phase amid green surroundings; the insects on the
reeds are Locusts; while a green Frog, merged into its surroundings,
rests on a leaf near the centre at the top of the picture.
B. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF PROTECTIVE COLORATION OR CAMOUFLAGE
A shore scene showing Trout in the pool almost invisible against their
background. The Stone Curlews, both adult and young, are very
inconspicuous among the stones on the beach.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account