The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-05-04
COLOR OF ANIMALS.
HeW Nature Provides For Their
Safety.
SOME TRUTHS NOT OFTEN TOLL
Instances Which Speak Strongly of O
Creators Proyident Care For the
Objects of His Love.
For THE SUNDAY HERALD

lnGs is by no means original with man
Nature has provided for some of he
humblest creatures numerous protectiy
conditions, many of which are de oenden
upon the inability of the enemy to recogniz
its victim. This is an old subject O
thought, yet none the less instructive be
cause OF its age. Interest has recent,
been revived in it through contribution
thereto by Mr.. William Sexton who ha
cited number of instances somewha
apart from the most frequently quoted
cases.
A common example is found
in the difference between the sum
mer and winter dresses of the
weasel. From spring until autumn the
outer covering of this creature is dull il
color. mostly of greyish or brownish tints
put When winter approaches the hail
grows lighter, and by the time snow falls
the weasel is almost perfectly white This
change is not due to the falling of one Goa,
OF hair and the growth of another of q
lighter tint, but to an actual whitening OF
the original coat. With the return OF
warm weather, the dull tints of the pre-.
cedlng year are resumed
The foxes and the ilares of the arctic re.
glons change color also in accordance with
the requirements of the season. The polar
bear is white, and in this peculiar
lty ii distinguishes itself from all other
members of the great bear fam
lily. White is the tint best adapted to
animals living in snow-covered regions.
by harnfonlzing most perfectly with the
prevailing hue OF the landscape. Not all
ANIMALS that lnhabit cold places are white.
however; yet the exceptions declare
wisdom as deep as that exhibited in the
instances already noted.
Inc Siberian sable is an animal closely
related TO the weasel, and remarkable for
the hneness gifts hair; this creature under
goes no marked variations in color as the
seasons change. The sable, however. sub
sists during the cold weather upon berries
and small birds. The former can be secured
without the exercise of such skill or craft
as Is required Tor the capture of animals,
and the extreme agility of The sable enables
1t to take birds with good success.
Animals that feed upon carrion seldom
snow any close adaptation in color to their
but the necessity for dispuise
and concealment does not exist in their
cases; their prey will not escape. and
nature, in the line of her apparent abhor
renee OF superhuitieS, refuses or neglects
to supply such creatures with unnecessary
Shdu5Co u
Travellers from India and Africa have
told US OF the ease with which the lion can
conceal itself by simply crouching upon tbe
ground OF the open desert; its sandy color
making close harmony with the soil. TIGER
hunters testify to the difficulty of dis
their game because of the blend
ing OF tie creatures brilliant stripes with
the upright rushes and grasses of the
llngte. Most wild animals of the feline
tribes nave spotted skins, and this feature
greatly AIDS IN harmonizing their appear
ance with that of the foliage amongst
winch they naturally dwell The pima
has been cited as an exception to this
seeming rule, this animal possessing fur of
an ashy brown color, resembling bark
father tnan leaves; and the wisdom of this
provision is apparent from study of the
creatures habits of clinging closely to the
ooughs of trees and waiting for its prev to
pass beneath. The spotted appearance is
Illustrated again in the dress of the fawn
of our mountain deer. Before this timid
creature has acquired the strength neces-
'ary TO the exercise of its special gifts of
speed, 1t Is strongly protected by the re-
semblance between its colors and those of
The foliage in the midst of which it hides.
When removed from their natural sur
roundlngS, many animals which at home
aae easily able to conceal themselves an
pear Strlklngly conspicuous OF these the
zebra has been often referred to. II has
oeen argued by many that the brilliant
stripes OF this creature are of decided dis
to 1t because of the ease with
winch Ii can be recognized by its savage
enemies, the leopard and the lion. sir
Ialton, who has devoted considerable s+udv
20 the animal in its home, tells us that IN
The daytime the zebra has little to fear. be-
ng OF wary nature and extremely sIyifk
u loot; and during the hours of twilight
Vhen zebras are most exposed, the black
md white stripes blend perfectly into a
iull grayish tint almost Observation-Disclosures
wen at short range. Hunters of big game
Jay that even the giraffe, with its varie-
sated SKIN, long neck, angular head and
'ough, stunted horns, is almost perfectly
when standing among ieafless
reeS.
Mr.. Seton, before quoted, has called Of
ention to the difference in color in tho
exes of birds. AS a rule the female bird
OF duller and less attractive hue than
he male, and this is of undoubted benefit
o the species by affording protection to the
len while incubating. To this. however
here are some exceptions, as among tn |
voodpecker, tucans, parrots and others in
which the sexes are equally conspicuous:
out these birds are known to breed in COW, |
red nests wherein the sitter is almost |
ompleteiy hidden. In very rare cases the |
nale is found to be less conspicnon sI
olored than his mate; but in ali |
UGH the male assumes the most of the |
abor OF sitting on the eggs. The green !
oiors OF certain grass-loving snakes, and |
he spotted appearance of arboreal ser. |
ents, whereby protective blending with |
he surrounding objects is secured. are
yithout doubt commonly known. 4 few
rec snakes are brown in color. with mo
pproach to green; but these are nocturnal
l habit, rarely leaving their holes during
ne hours OF daylight. The chameleon is
roverolal on account OF its power of
apldly changing color to corresnond
Iosely to the objects on which it rests.
hen among green leaves the creature is
reen, on grey soil it is grey, on brown
-ood it IS brown. A marine crustacean
nown as the chameleon shrimp possesses
very similar power
The dull hues Of the backs of fishes ron
er these tinny creatures while in the water
visible from above except to the prac.
sed eye; and on the other hand the light
nts OF the under surface of the fish when
ewed from below harmonizes so perfectly
It'll the glaring brilliancy of the Sky ss tn |
axe the recognition of the creature nv
Iuatic enemies below a matter of great
ficulty.
Many OF these examples of adaptation
ave been often quoted before The rank
-olutionist refers to such as but cases of
lrmony with the environment : nv
hich the survival of all that is bene-
,ial in nature is brought about.
srtain it is, all Instances of the Kind (,
eak strongly of Creators provident
re for the objects of his love. It is in the
listing order of things that animals should {,
ey upon one another; slaughter is in
any cases the price of the food of life II