Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-01-03
THE COLOR OF AKIMALs.

hhJ ohC abeohuinH u SVOiobfNof b"'-
den or noticing any large collection Of
animals is at once struck by the varie-
ty Of colors, both of the plumage and
hide or skin, says the Cincinnati En-
qufrer. Some animals are highly col
ored, others have hues somber and
dark. What Is the reason of this?
Why are some animals colored? What
Is the use Of any coloringp These
questions can only be answered by a
consideration of the habits of the
animals, the means provided for their
procuring food, and the weapons they
have for defense. The coloring of an
imals is to large extent protective.
II enables animals to hide from
their enemies, who would other
wise extinguish their species. and in
other instances, where they have means
of defense that warn other animals
to keep away, they are highly colored.
so that other animals are warned 10
/ give them a wide berth. For instance
/ rats. mice. bats and moles, which seek
for food at night. are dark, of dusky
hues. while in the light of day they
/ conceal themselves in their holes. Yet
I the skunk, which is a nocturnal ami
NAL, has much white about IL, and
large white tail which it carries erect
I but the horrible odor II carries makes
IL universally dreaded, and its conspic-
uous white tail Is signal-hag to all
carnivorous animals not 20 attack II,
which they seldom do.
All the bears in the world arc either
brown or black, except the polar bear
/ which is white. So are most of the an
finals Of the polar region white. that
I Is. Of the same color az the snow and
ice they inhabit, which similarity Of
I color is means Of protection from
/ their enemies, inasmuch as they are
not so readily seen. Perhaps the
musk OK. or musk sheep, which is OF
dark brown color. would seem an
exception. but the habits Of the ami.
nal explain this They are grega-
/ rious. live in ilocks. and this is their
means Of protection. hence. IL one
strays away from the flock it is neces-
sary that they he OF dark color, so
that 1t can see It's comrades at dis
tance. The raven is another instance:
I 1t Is black. yet It inhabits the regions
Z Of snow and ice; but IL feeds on car
rion. and has no enemies that think its
/ body TT for food. Armed insects are
+ highly colorcd. such as wasps and
/ bees. Their very high coloring shows
TO other animals what they are. and
their poison protects them. Some in
sects have 50 hard a covering that they
are practically uneatable. These are
( frequently highly colored. Others can
T fly rapidly. and this is a protection, so
they are given a gaudy coloring, like
the swift-ilying ruse.chafcr. Butter
flies are gaiIy colorel. but they are un-
lit for eating; even when given to
young turkeys they spit them out. In
seCts are often found on trees and
leaves which are the exact color Of the
/ food that they seek. This is protec-
\ ton. The voice of the tree toad is
heard before the rain. yet so exactly Is
! II the color Of the limb on which it lies
that II is hard to find IL. Green cater
pillars feed on the green leaves. and
their very food serves 90 hide them
from their enemies Certain insects
called loopcrs can stick themselves out
rigidly like sticks. which they so much
resemble ~ 10 be taken for them.
Green and brown caterpillars are
gTeedily eaten by birds. and even by
frogs. lizards and spiders. hence they
generally feed at night, and during
the day remain motionless upon the
leaves or tvdgs of the same color as
themselves. Bright colored caterpil.
lars, however. are discarded by birds
and always refused by frogs. lizards
and spiders. as il they tasted bad TO
them. Parrots that live in the dense
foliage Of green trees are invariably
green. and the birds Of high-colored
plumagc are tropical where the colors
of the flowers and shrubs are brilliant.
Birds that abound in the region Of de-
ciduous trees are never green, but
brown or olive IL the prevailing color.
This tint is least perceptible among
the leahess trees and bushes which
prevail for the greater portion Of the
year. when protection is so much need
ell. There is butterfly called the or
ange-tipped; when on the wing IL is
most conspicuous. but when in the
1 A