The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-14
HOW Certain Animals Change Color
New York Sun] ...s

.+ lSeWI IfOrE sun,
us the change q physiological
secret?" -. :
mot at all. We havs well,defned
ideas concerning it. In the first place,
we know that many animals change
their color at moments notice, espec-
tally fishes and reptiles. Among the
former the stickleback, porch, serra-
nus and dolphin are tho most remarka-
BILE. In many this change is evidently
made at the option of the fish. This is
also true of the reptiles, and now for
the explanation. Here is micro
scopical section of frogs skin. You
see it consists of two distinct portions,
the epidermis and tho cults. The for
mer is made up of cells, while the latter
contains nerves, fibres, and cav
tiles for cell clements. These
coils are filed with pigment or.
coloring matter, and are known as
chromatophoses, and to their contrac-
tlon and expansion is due the coloring
of various animals, for all, from man
down, have them, differing in color in
different individuals and in various
parts of the body. Different colors or
degrees of intensity seem to cause a
contraction or expansion Of tho cells.
Thus, in the gobins, the pigment cells,
that are yellow when distended, as
sumo an nge-colorod huo when con-
tracted, and the orange or red cells
when shrunk become brown or black,
as the case may be. Now, when o fish
that habitually lives on white bottom
passes on to q black one the change is
conveyed by the eye to the brain, and
telegraphod, so to speak, to the pigment
cells by. way of what are called the
sympathetic nerves, and the change is
produced
Glow do wo know this? By Watching
blind fish pass from one colored
ground to another In such q case
there is no, change at oil. The eye is
the medium, yet there is probably no
intelligent appreciation on the part of
the animal that the change has been
made. The experiments with the SYM
pathetic nerves arc veIy remarkable
by cutting one n fish has Leen shown
spotted on one side and striped on the
other, and, in fact, the coloring IS at the
Will OF the skilled anatomist. The ano-
lis, our common southern lizard, that
seems to take the place of the chame-
leon, is the most wonderful in its power
of changing color, adapting itself to q
variety of hues.'
Never Joke If You Would be Great,
Washington Critic.l
When The Toledo Telegram SAYS
that eff s. S. Cox had never made O
joke he might be the next speaker of
the house." it is only putting in SEN
tentious form which is heard in many
forms all about Washington every hour
nowadays. Why is it that man who
adds to great power and clearnesf, in
the discussion of great questions the
ability to amuse as he goes along should
be 80 underrated by the public? It is a
singular fact, but fact it is, and always
has been. Tom Corwin was probably
the greatest man Ohio ever produced.
but because he could amuse as we'll as
instruct he was always sneered at by
the owls of politics as a "joker." 1t
took two elections and q martyrs grave
to give Abraham Lincoln any other
reputation than that of Joker and story
teller
When Oliver p. Morton was starting
in 1856 upon that wonderful career that
made him one of tho most conspicuous
figures of tho war period, he com.
menced by seeking to enliven that ex,
traordinary logical eloquence Gf such 6
term is admissiblo) possessed by him in
such great degree by anecdote and Wit
ticism. He had happy turn that way
At Terre Haute, after o brilliant effort
that commended itself to his followers
O venerable and famous politician tool
the young orator to task:
Young man, if you want to be re
garded as great man, o great leader
mover tell O story, never utter q Joke
look solemn and pound the table,"