The Scientific Method Applied to Understanding the Evolution of Coral Snake Coloration. The following example is based on a study by Brodie. The observation that provides a basis for this study is that coral snakes are both highly venomous and brightly colored, with black, red, and yellow stripes, as shown here.
Bright color warns away potential predators.
Predictions can be developed from these two hypotheses. First, we could ask what they predict about the degree of natural predation on coral snakes as compared to other snakes. This is not a useful prediction for testing between the hypotheses since both predict the same thing. He made model snakes out of a soft plastic. He made some models that were brown and others that looked like coral snakes.