Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-03-20
BY PROF. j. f. ELSoM.
Characteristics of All Animal Life.

Characteristics of All Animal Life.
In the beginning the student of nat
urai history is taught that there are
various ways of distinguishing the lower
forms of animal life from the vegeta-
BILE. In the struggle for existence, for
life itself, even, which is going on per-
petually throughout the whole of ami
mate creation, as the rivers of life
murmur ceaselessly of the storied past,
it is perfectly wonderful to notice the
phenomenal provisions made by nature
for the preservation of the weaker and
more helpless animals. In many cases
the color of the creature is adapted in
a wonderful way to it's mode of living
and it's place of concealment, contrib
uting very materially to its safety. ALI
who live among the green fields, which,
by the way, is the way to live properly,
know how difficult it is to distinguish
the grasshopper from the leaf or blade
of vegetation upon which he is at rest,
until he betrays himself by moving.
Those birds which sing in the hedgerow
have feathers upon their backs which
harmonize with the color of the leaves
about and among which they fit, while
the feathers on their breasts borrow
the white hue from the clouds above
them. The partridge can hardly be
distinguished from the stubble where
it makes its nest, while in the more
northern countries the winter dress of
the hare and ptarmigan is white,
like the snow with which the land
scape is usually covered, and upon
which these animals are seen. Among
marine animals the same natural pro-
visions prevail, and go down, however
deep, into the water, animal life the
same color will be found. The frogs,
living in the stagnant pools and muddy
bitches by the roadside, are known to
vary their color in order to harmonize
with the sand or mud in which they
live. The little tree frog, on the other
hand, is green, and thus is with diff
Guilty distinguished from the tree to
which it adheres. Fish, especially
those which inhabit fresh water, are
SO like in color to the weeds and stones
among which they lie that it is often
very difficult to detect their presence.
One of the most wonderful instances
Of natures care in providing for the
protection of the more defenseless
creatures is found in the apparatus fol
defense with which the cutie fish is
provided. The very instant its quick
eye catches glimpse of an approach.
ing enemy, knowing by instinct alone
it is absurd to speak of reason in con.
,nection with these low forms of animal
,life-the impossibility of seeking safety
by flight, and having no means of de-
tense whatever, it prepares at once to
seek safety in concealment. To this
end it sinks downward rapidly, throw.
ing out from vessel with which it is
provided, and nature taught it to use, a
stream of fluid with which the blackest
paint is light in comparison. This soon
colors the water far around, and effect.
ually conceals the animal and at the
same time is very repulsive to all
forms of animal life feeding upon it /;
and, as it takes considerable time for
this to disperse and the water to clear
itself, the enemy is generally batfled.
If, however, as is sometimes the case, q
reasoning animal -man-is in pursuit,
and the cuttle-fsh is still in danger, it
pours out another and larger flood of
ink, and remains perfectly quiet until
the danger is past, when it moves off in
a circle, making larger and larger
turn until outside the black water its
ink has made.