Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-25
COLOR IN BIRDS EGGS
A SECRET OF NATURE WHICH
COMPOUNDS SCIENTISTS.
Naturalistss Acknowledge That the
Problem Battles Thena-Reason
for Strange Markings.

From the Pail Mall Gazette
1t Is not often that science acknowledges
herself at fault in an apparently simple
matter, but she frankly does SO in regard
TO the color and marking Of a large pro-
poruon OF birds eggs. A reason there must
De Tor their infinite Oversight cannot be
an aesthetic one; and all We can say with
any confidence Is that the ever-pervading
instinct of dfstrust Is probably exhibited in
egg smells as in more important things, and
the main idea in their scheme Of colora-
uon mas been the securing of safety from
| many enemies by harmonizing them with
tnelr surroundings. But it is a scheme full
OF perpiexing exceptions, which any one can
study for himself at this charming season
An Easy Problem.
To take very easy instance first. The
doves present problem which works out
satisfactorily if we keep natures extreme
conservativeness of habits in view, and take
the cavern building rock doves, in this coun-
try at all events, as representing the an
cestral stock. The color of all pigeons eggs
is white, while the structure Of their nests
Is fimsy in the extreme
The original rock doves laid white eggs
IN obedience to a law ordainng that color
for most species nesting in the dark, pos
siply with the object of the mother bird
readily perceiving their position as she
comes into the gloom And these cliff pig
cons made their nests of the most Access
sible material-namely, dry hard fronds of
seaWeed from prehistoric beaches. To sup
pose that they would use moss or WOOL or
study compactness in those dusky corners
where no eyes followed them or winds
blew, would be unreasonable. When for
some forgotten reason the species left their
precipice recess they brought away their
old traditions with them
The stock p-bi oh he found this
month on almost any extensive warren still
show their ancient habits by taking to de-
serted rabbit burrows for the rearing OF
their young. and even the domestic dovecote
is a concession to a Granny haunting IN
Stlnct. One and all. the pigeons continued,
with that persistence so often characteriz-
ing the workings of nature, to lay white
shells and build nests identical in form and
of the lkest material-name!y, dead, dry
twigs alone-to the wrack Of their pri-
mogenitors.
Protective Colors.
The owls lay eggs as palid as the doves
doubtless for the same reason; they breed
in the dark. If the co'oration of shells
were all simple this the matter would
be easy enough. but no sooner have We disc
posed of the two families above than we
find the ducks, which have, so far as we
know, always frequented the most open
places, also laying shells without markings,
We may note, however. that there is a
great tendency among them to revert to
olive browns or sandy tints, and if we sup |
pose the first ducks laid along ancient
sea margins or by shngly splits. this would
be the very hue to preserve their eggs from
observation.
The same end, of course, is served by the
beautiful marblihg of most of the beach |
breeding powers and WaderS; by the russell
produce of cartridges and pheasantS who
nest among, dead grass and fallen leaves
and by the sage-colOred eggs of the night
ingale, which forsakng the bush-buildng
habits of its kind. Instantly forsakes also
the generic colOratfon OF their eggs for that
OF it's new grounding associates. Nor can
there be reasonable doubt that protective
miniicry is active in the nests of grouse
and moorfowl where the contents match
admira bly, with the brown stems of heather
and scales from pine trees among which
they lie. AS for the broodng nightjar,
both mother bird and eggs are the beau
ideal of protective deceit
Not content with a bare resemblance to
her surroundings the former appears to
take into nice consideration the very pat
tern and shade of her gray plumage and,
choosing for a nesting pace some tangled
spot where a fire has reduced a patch of
gorSe to charcoal. covers there over the
leaden-hued eggs in the ashes so like the
things about her that the keenest eyes of
hawk deceived.
Altogether this speculation of the egg
shell is a fascinating one It is alurng
because it looks so simple. and yet has been
pronounced mysterious by the most adj
vaneed naturaliSts. It is fascinating In the
field and engrossing at home: any investi-
gator who has an illustrated book on the
subject, can visit some collection such as
the splendid one at South Kensington, may
start his own theory on the subject and,
lastly, for all its apparent simplicity it is
probable that the who solves it's
meaning correctly will at the same time
solve half a dozen other mysteries that
have leading Influences on natural life in
this planet of ours