The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-02-01
ALBliNOS ARE SCARCE,
Why THERE ARE FEW WILD c9(9eEA-
TUNES THAT ARE WHITE.

Fhsir Color Renders Them an Easy
Prsy % Othsrs Of their Kind, ana
to Man-Wiss Precaution One q
Natures Laws.
An albino quail was recently pre-
scented to the New York Geological
park by Charles Payne Of Wichita,
Kan. There was white peacock IN
Central park. Shortly before IT'D
death, a few days ago, this curious
creature excited remarks among some
would-be naturalists who were looking
ut 1t.
81 wonder why albino animals and
birds are so rare?" said n ct them.
Each Of the party gave a different
reason. none Of which seemed to be
satisfactory, until a man who is we'll
known in the sporting world - 9
hunter and pigeon shot, said: #
Il used to wonder about this until
I discovered for myself in the hunting
field the reason. My first experience
was q. few years ago when on a hunt
ing trip in the west. was staying at
the ranch of a friend and my hunting
was to be for prairie chickens. One.
morning my friend said: Have you
ever seen an albino prairie chicken"
When I said No. he took me to the
e Of his house and pointed away
in the field to a white speck. We
started toward it, but the chicken saw
,s afar of and scurried for shelter.
Walking slowly,we soon came upon
the bird, which was squattingl close to
the ground among the brown leaves
and sticks. He was obeying the in
stinct Of his race in hiding, not know,
ing that his white winged plumage
made him conspicuous. We were
much amused and walked very close.
The bird crouched closer to the
ground, not moving until we almost
stepped upon 1t. Now, had it been OF
the ordinary brown, we could not have,
told itsfrom the leaves, grass and
sticks among which it crouched.
THAT is the reason why albinos are
so scarce. They can be seen by man,
and by beasts Of prey. Man rarely!
has any pity, and his desire to possess
the pelt or plumage of such rare ami
mails makes him kill them. AS for
other animals. they simply find. a meal,
easier than usual to get and they
lake It.
Another incident that showed this
Is the true explanation of the rarely
Of albinos happened to mi in Maine.
| was hunting deer, when n day /
saw a patch of white clearly outlined
against a bank Of earth.
Looking closer, 7 oon traced the
outlines OF a deer. It stood perfectly
still until 1 got into such a position
that there was no chance for H9 to
miss. To-day I would have allowed it.
10 escape, but then l was ANXIOUS TO
nave its pelt. / fired, and it dropped
in its tracks. 1t was a young doe. Its
skin is one of my most valued posses
IONS
Nov, had that deer been of ordi-
nary color, It would have blended SO
perfectly with the earth behind it that
h would have passed 1t without ever
seeing IT,.
The colors Of animals are not pick
sd out for them ready-made by nature.
They arc the result of years of exter-
mination, only animals Of those colors
living whose plumage or hide best
suits them to escape their enemies.
Gradually the best color has become
fixed SO when a bird or animal with q
white skin is born, following the IN
stinct Of ages, he hides and soon falls
] victim to man or beast. Even q
white lion or a white hawk or eagle
would soon starve to death In HIS ma
tive haunts for their skin and plum
age would make them so conspicuous
that they would find It almost impos-
sible to catch, their prey. 7 think that
this explains why albinos are so rare
among wild animals and birds It
may not satisfy the scientist. but It
satisfies me, and I have spent half Of
my life ii the woods.,-New York
Times.